WILLIAM P. RAMEY, III

ATTORNEYS
WILLIAM P. RAMEY, III

WILLIAM P. RAMEY, III

Managing Partner

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OFC: 713-426-3923
Office: Houston

We strive to provide superior client service by properly anticipating our clients’ needs, and properly identifying the scope of work and the necessary resources to meet the clients’ goals.
~ Bill Ramey

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William P. Ramey III has now been selected to the Super Lawyers list consecutive years from 2014-2020, a Houston Top Lawyer for 2013-2020 as selected by H-Texas magazine and Houstonia Top Lawyer 2013-2020 as selected by Houstonia magazine is the founding partner of Ramey & Schwaller, LLP. His practice concentrates on obtaining, enforcing and licensing intellectual property, including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. He also has extensive technical and patent prosecution/preparation experience. Bill has successfully navigated numerous patent, trade secret, trademark and copyright disputes. His experience includes the preparation of numerous opinions on intellectual property rights regarding validity, infringement and freedom to operate. He has written more than 300 patents and prosecuted many more…Prior to founding Ramey & Schwaller, LLP, Bill was an associate chair of the litigation practice group at a 70-person intellectual property boutique. He has substantial experience as a first-chair lawyer litigating intellectual property and related trade secret disputes, and developing a specialty in complex business processes, including software logical architecture (such as ERP systems of SAP, MRO, Ariba, IBM, and Oracle components, including SAP R/3, SAP ECC(6.0), SAP EBP, SAP SRM 4.0 and 5.0, SAP SUS, SAP MDM, SAP BW, SAP XI, IBM Maximo in a purchase-to pay environment, electronic procurement). Bill’s experience further includes drafting and prosecuting patent applications, conducting prior art searches and drafting opinions, including patentability, non-infringement/infringement, validity and freedom to practice.Over the course of Bill’s legal practice, he has gained outstanding experience with numerous technologies:

Biochemistry
Cell immunology
Small molecule and cell biology
Mechanical, including oil field technology and service tools
Medical devices
Complex mechanical applications related to downhole applications and methods
Chemical, including applications related to the polymer arts and agricultural chemicals and equipment; and electrical, including computer programs and semiconductors
Bill also worked as a patent attorney for a Fortune 500 firm, where he performed due diligence for clients; assessment of portfolios for acquisition of new technologies and assessing the patent positions of the entities for acquisition; negotiating and reviewing contracts; drafting and advising on Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) procedures; and conducting intellectual property related training to maximize the capture of the company’s IP.

Bill enjoys reading and is a voracious gardener. When he and his family travel, they enjoy camping, hunting, fishing and mountain climbing, particularly in northern Utah’s High Uintas. He is active in St. Martins Episcopal Church, Texas Master Naturalists, Houston Zoo, Houston Wellness Project and Sharks-R-Us (a Houston Rodeo Bar-B-Q team), and is a master mason in the Freemasons.

ADMISSIONS

  • State Bar of Texas
  • State Bar of Utah
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. District Courts for the Northern, Southern, Western and Eastern Districts of Texas
  • U.S. District Court of Utah
  • 5th Circuit Court of Appeals
  • Federal Circuit Court of Appeals

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • State Bar of Texas Editor for the Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal
  • Amicus Committee member for HIPLA
  • Giles Rich Moot Court Southern Region AIPLA Coordinator
  • Society of Petroleum Engineers (2005 to the present)
  • American Intellectual Property Law Society
  • The Houston Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Houston Bar Association
  • Houston Trial Lawyers Association
  • Board Member, Aggie Angel Network, Texas A&M University Engineering and Entrepreneurship Steering Council

COMMUNITY

  • General Counsel and Board Member, The Houston Wellness Project
  • St. Martins Episcopal Church
  • Houston Striders running club
  • Texas Master Naturalists
  • Houston Zoo
  • Sharks-R-Us (a Houston Rodeo Bar-B-Q team)
  • Freemasons – Master Mason
  • Homeless on Houston, volunteer lawyer

EDUCATION

  • South Texas College of Law, J.D.
  • Texas A&M University, B.S., Chemistry; L-1: Corps of Cadets
  • VaporPoint, LLP v. Nanovapor Fuels Group, Inc. (S.D.TX. 4:11-cv-04639). The case concerns patent infringement by plaintiff over defendant’s US 7,727,310 patent and numerous common law claims including theft of trade secrets. The plaintiff pleaded to change inventorship. The case is in a preliminary dispositive motion period on inventorship.
  • Pension Advisory Group, Inc., et al. v. Country Life Insurance Company (represented plaintiff) U.S. District Court (S.D. Tex 2:10-cv-00278). The case concerned trade secret misappropriation, defamation, tortious interference and breach of contract concerning intellectual property by an insurance company over its client, PAG. As a defense, defendant alleged inventorship of the patent application was incorrect and that its principal should be listed. The defendant settled the case on terms favorable to the plaintiffs and dropped the claim to inventorship. The underlying technology involved intellectual property around a pension disability insurance product and methods of doing business.
  • Grand River Capital, LLP v. Xemplar Energy Corporation, et al. (Tex. State Court, 205thJudicial District Court, Culberson County, Cause No. 5049). The case concerns breach of joint venture/contract related to a $9 million pecan orchard venture. Causes of action are pleadings for breach of contract, theft of trade secrets and fraud. We represent the plaintiff.
  • Pension Advisory Group, Inc. v. Fidelity Security Life, Inc. et al. (Tex. State Court, 343rdJudicial District Court, Aransas County, 12-0179-cv-C). The case concerns libel and slander per se by an insurance carrier and one of its agents related to forgery. We represent the plaintiff.
  • Spindletop Films, et al. v. Cesare Wright (represent plaintiff) U.S. District Court (S.D. Tex 4:10 cv 04551) and 270th Judicial District Court 2010-23415. The case concerns copyright issues related to the ownership of certain tapes and breach of contract action. Radio personality Chris Baker is a managing member of Spindletop Films. We represent the plaintiff and the case is pending.
  • Wellogix v. BP America, Inc. (represented defendant) U.S. District Court (S.D. Tex). The case concerned trade secret misappropriation, tortious interference and breach of multiple contracts all related to intellectual property concerning ERP software and related functionalities, specifically SAP R/3, SAP ECC(6.0), SAP EBP, SAP SRM 4.0 and 5.0, SAP SUS, SAP MDM, SAP BW, SAP XI, IBM Maximo in a purchase-to pay environment, electronic procurement. We represented the defendant, BP America, Inc. After arbitration before the Honorable Judge Ellison, the case settled with the plaintiff taking nothing.
  • Wellogix v. BP America, Inc., Accenture LLP, and SAP America, Inc. U.S. District Court (S.D. Tex); (represented defendant) U.S. District Court (S.D. Tex); Trade secret misappropriation, conspiracy, tortious interference and breach of contract concerning intellectual property; Technology: ERP software and related functionalities, specifically SAP R/3, SAP ECC(6.0), SAP EBP, SAP SRM 4.0 and 5.0, SAP SUS, SAP MDM, SAP BW, SAP XI, IBM Maximo in a purchase-to pay environment, electronic procurement (severed case from other defendants, removed to arbitration, dismissed enhanced damages claims).
  • Microsoft Corporation v. Ames Holding Corporation (represented defendants) U.S. District Court (E.D. Tex) Schneider; (Copyright infringement, trademark infringement, unfair competition dispute); Technology: software reseller (settled favorably for defendant client).
  • Sandvik Mining and Construction USA, LLP v. Wellbore Energy Solutions, LLP(represented respondent) Trademark cancellation procedure for mark DRILL TECH. Respondent’s mark was upheld.
  • PM Realty Group v. PM Realty Capital (represented plaintiff) U.S. District Court (S.D. Tex); Trademark Infringement; Technology: 4 trademarks (settled favorably for plaintiff client).
  • Bee-Line Delivery Services v. Bee-Line Delivery (represented petitioner). Trademark cancellation procedure; petitioner’s mark was upheld and the respondent’s mark was cancelled.
  • James M. Taylor v. Microsoft Corp. (represented plaintiff) U.S. District Court (E.D. Tex); Schneider; Patent Infringement; Technology: Optimization Software (settled favorably for plaintiff client before Markman).
  • Foodie Partners v. Jamba Juice (represented plaintiff) U.S. District Court (E.D. Tex); Davis; Patent Infringement; Technology: Ice Beverage Preparation Apparatus (settled favorably for plaintiff client after Markman).
  • Reedhycalog UK, Ltd., Reedhycalog, LP, Grant Prideco v. Baker Hughes, et al. (worked on team representing defendant Ulterra DN Canadian); U.S. District Court (E.D. Tex); Davis; Patent Infringement; Technology: Diamond Drill Bits (settled favorably for client after Markman)
  • Merial Limited v. Intervet Inc., Intervet International & Akzo Nobel NV (in-house counsel as defendant) U.S. District Court (N.D. GA); Patent Infringement; Technology: swine vaccines (settled).
  • Suhm Spring v. Framatome (represented plaintiff) Harris County, Texas District Court; Trade secret misappropriation; Technology: leaf springs for nuclear reactors (settled favorably for plaintiff) (matter was removed to the USDC S.D. of Texas).
  • Babcock & Wilcox v. Oiltech Services (represented Defendant) U.S. District Court (C.D. CA); Patent Infringement; Technology: Gettered oil tubular for enhancing oil production; finding of no infringement on motion for summary judgment, pre-Markman, case involved 2-year reexamination.
  • Frank’s Casing Crew, et al. v. PMR (represented 9 plaintiffs (defendants) in a related patent infringement action) in motion to correct inventorship on PMR’s patent it was asserting against the firm’s clients) U.S. District Court (W.D. LA); Patent Infringement/Motion to Correct Inventorship; Technology: Oil well logging (inventorship changed on patent, pre-Markman).
  • Workrite Ergonomic Accessories, Inc. v. International Source for Ergonomics, Inc. Represented ISE on allegations of patent infringement for an ergonomic keyboard (2000).
  • Bill Ramey was selected as a Top Houston Lawyer in the area of Intellectual Property for 2013-2016.
  • Bill was selected as a Super Lawyer by his peers from 2014-2016 in the area of Intellectual Property Litigation.
  • Bill was selected as a Houstonia Top Lawyer 2013-2016 as selected by Houstonia magazine.
  • Bill presentations and papers include:
  • 2015 Texas State Bar In-House Counsel seminar on KEEPING COMPANY SECRETS WITH THE USE OF RESTRICTIVE COVENANTS.
  • 2014 Texas State Bar In-House Counsel seminar on What every In-House Counsel Should Know About IP.
  • Presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthamology (ARVO) on May 5, 2013, in Seattle, WA, on a panel covering the topic That Is the Question – Industry Funding for Research and Education. Bill’s topic will specifically cover Intellectual property development from collaborations between industry and academia.
  • Revolving lecture every semester at Texas A&M University May’s School of Business to theEntrepreneurship class on the topic of A Primer in IP.
  • Presented ten tips to lessen liability when physicians prescribe off-label to a crowd of over 1000 at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthamology (ARVO) from May 6-10, 2012 in Fort Lauderdale, Fl. The presentation was published in the June 25, 2012 edition of Ocular Surgery News, Vol. 30, No. 12. http://www.healio.com/ophthalmology/practice-management/news/print/primary-care-optometry-news/%7Be7b955ad-0469-43a1-90fa-f0bfb951acd3%7D/attorney-offers-tips-to-lessen-liability-when-prescribing-off-label
  • “The Stem Cell Controversy: What to Fund after Sherley v. Sebelius,” State Bar of Texas Newsletter: Intellectual Property Law Section, Spring 2011.
  • Rice University presentation on July 25, 2009, “Easy Ways to Identify and Protect Your Intellectual Property” for the 2009 commercialization workshop.
  • Biomedical Technology Club presentation on June 2, 2009, “Easy Ways to Secure Your Intellectual Property.”
  • National Space and Biomedical Research Institute Intellectual Property Primer for the Commercialization Workshop on May 28, 2009.
  • IP Legislative Update, the 2009 Patent Reform Bill, State Bar of Texas CLE, March 5, 2009.
  • Rice University presentation on “Intellectual Property as a Career” in April 2009.
  • “The Exponential Burden of McKesson,” IP Today, Tamsen Valoir and William Ramey, March 2008.
  • BioHouston presentation, September 27, 2007, “Patent Reform and Where We Stand”
  • Small Times Nanotechnology Conference presentation on “The Three-way Train Wreck,” Santa Clara, CA, November 2007
  • Panel Discussion on “Nanotechnology and University Practice,” AUTM Regional, Austin, TX, July, 2007
  • Presentation to NC PMI on October 27, 2003, on “Pharmaceuticals and Generics and the Inter-relation of the Hatch-Waxman Act”