Leeran Kasis is an associate at Russ August & Kabat, where he is a member of the firm’s intellectual property, litigation, and mergers and acquisitions groups. Mr. Kasis has represented businesses and individuals in a wide variety of complex disputes, including in the areas of real estate, corporate governance, and business. Mr. Kasis previously practiced in the litigation department of Clark Hill. Mr. Kasis received his J.D. from UCLA School of Law. While in law school, he externed for the Honorable Stephen V. Wilson of the United States District Court for the Central District of California.
Daniel B. Kolko is a litigation associate at Russ August & Kabat.
Daniel is a graduate of the University of California, Irvine School of Law. While in law school, he served as a research fellow to Professor Beatrice A. Tice and provided pro bono legal assistance to Public Counsel. Daniel also competed in the moot court competition and participated in UCI’s Consumer Law Clinic.
Prior to law school, Daniel worked in the conflicts department at Latham & Watkins. Daniel holds a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles.
Jason Wietholter is an associate at Russ August & Kabat, focusing his practice on high technology patent and intellectual property litigation.
Jason was selected to the Super Lawyers Rising Star list in 2024 by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine.
Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, Jason was a trial consultant, garnering experience in more than 100 jury trials in courts across the United States. The subject matter of the cases he consulted on spanned the gamut from personal injury to products liability, from employment law to complex commercial litigation, and included civil rights, white-collar criminal defense, federal securities law, and intellectual property matters. In his role as a trial consultant, Jason crafted presentations that efficiently and effectively communicated complex concepts, developed case themes that resonated with jurors, and formulated trial presentation strategies that persuaded juries and other decision-makers to find in favor of his clients. Jason published several articles and made presentations to law firms, bar associations, and other groups on the topic of effective trial presentation.
Jason earned his law degree from The University of Tulsa College of Law, graduating valedictorian. While at The University of Tulsa, Jason served as Executive IT Editor for the Tulsa Law Review. He wrote an article that was selected for publication in the Tulsa Law Review discussing the unique challenges facing patent holders in matters before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and federal district court. Jason also served as the President of the Board of Advocates overseeing moot court events at the University of Tulsa College of Law and was inducted into the National Order of Barristers for his outstanding participation and performance as a student advocate. In addition, he assisted Professor Russell Christopher with analyzing novel professional responsibility issues impacting lawyers, was honored with the Order of the Curule Chair, and received the Oklahoma Bar Association’s Outstanding Senior Law School Student Award.
David Taran is a partner at Russ August & Kabat. David handles a wide range of real estate litigation matters, including issues related to sale and acquisition, leasing and lease enforcement, development and construction, ADA accessibility, disclosure, fraud, and common interest developments. David has represented clients in Federal Court, State Court, arbitration, mediation, and other ADR proceedings. David also represents clients in real property transactions and his litigation experience is instrumental in drafting and structuring documentation to protects his clients’ interests. David is also a licensed real estate broker.
David has been recognized as a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers Magazine every year since 2016.
Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, David was a partner at Clark Hill.
James Milkey is a partner at Russ August & Kabat, specializing in intellectual property litigation. James has represented clients in patent infringement and licensing disputes before federal courts and the United States International Trade Commission (ITC). James is also a registered patent attorney, and has represented clients in numerous post-grant proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
James’ litigation experience spans a variety of technologies, including Wi-Fi location, machine learning, semiconductor packaging, high-speed telecommunications, haptic feedback, and light-emitting diode technology.
James graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School, where he was the Executive Editor of the Harvard Journal of Law & Technology. He also received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering with highest honors from the University of Texas at Austin. Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, James was an associate at Irell & Manella LLP from 2011 to 2018, and a principal at Noroozi PC from 2019 to 2020.
Representative Matters
- Represented Lighting Science Group at the ITC against ten of the world’s largest LED lighting manufacturers, from pre-filing investigation to post-trial briefing.*
- Represented Lighting Science Group in inter partes review (IPR) proceedings involving patents asserted at the ITC. Obtained non-institution of four out of five IPR petitions filed against Lighting Science’s LED packaging patents.*
- Represented Invensas Corp. in action for infringement of semiconductor packaging patents. During depositions of defendant’s 30(b)(6) and expert witnesses, James obtained key admissions regarding representativeness of accused products and opposing expert’s failure to establish priority date of alleged prior art. Case settled favorably shortly after expert depositions.*
- Represented Rockstar Consortium in a range of PTAB, infringement, and declaratory judgment actions involving patents acquired from the estate of Nortel Networks. The cases were settled for a value approaching $1B.*
*Representation occurred prior to joining Russ August & Kabat.
Jonathan Ma is an associate at Russ August & Kabat. Jonathan’s practice focuses on intellectual property matters and litigation. Jonathan has experience with a variety of technologies, including mobile devices and laptops, networking hardware and software, wireless communications, and targeted online advertising. He has significant experience in all aspects of litigation from pre-filing analysis to post-trial motions. Additionally, Jonathan has served as Special City Prosecutor for the City of Redondo Beach. In that capacity, he first-chaired and won a seven-day jury trial relating to driving under the influence. Prior to joining Russ August & Kabat, Jonathan was an attorney at Kirkland & Ellis LLP.
Jonathan was named a “Rising Star” by the publishers of Los Angeles Magazine from 2022-2024.
Recent Matters
- Represented the plaintiff in patent infringement litigation that won a $122 million jury verdict of infringement and no invalidity against Amazon relating to targeted online advertising. AlmondNet, Inc. v. Amazon.com, Inc., et al., No. 6:21-cv-898 (W.D. Tex.).
- Represented the plaintiff in patent infringement litigation disputes relating to cellular base stations that support 3GPP 5G NR beamforming. See, e.g., Cobblestone Wireless, LLC v. T-Mobile USA, Inc., et al., No. 2:22-cv-477 (E.D. Tex.).
- Represented the plaintiff in patent infringement litigation disputes relating to touchscreen technology, resulting in favorable settlement. See, e.g., Neodron Ltd., v. Cypress Semiconductor Corp., No. 6:20-cv-523 (W.D. Tex.).
- Represented the complainant in an ITC investigation relating to memory devices and power-saving features, resulting in a favorable settlement. Certain Laptops, Desktops, Servers, Mobile Phones, Tablets, and Components Thereof, Inv. No. 337-TA-1280 (ITC).
- Represented technology company providing networking hardware technology in an ITC modification proceeding involving networking hardware technology that proceeded to trial.*
- Represented technology company providing an online customer service platform in an action for trade secret misappropriation and patent infringement.*
- Represented technology company providing wireless communications equipment in an action for patent infringement and FRAND violations.*
*Represents experience at a prior firm.
Clerkships/Externships
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Richard G. Andrews, District Judge for the District of Delaware
- Extern to the Honorable S. James Otero, District Judge for the Central District of California
