Theresa Dawson’s practice focuses on complex intellectual property litigation, with an emphasis on high-stakes patent cases. She has represented numerous clients in federal courts around the country in patent disputes involving a wide range of technologies, including e-commerce, computer software and hardware, semiconductors, Bluetooth technology, IoT, encryption, telecommunications, network architecture, and mobile applications. Theresa’s intellectual property litigation practice has involved multiple appeals, including arguing cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth and Federal Circuits. Theresa has also successfully handled numerous inter partes review matters before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Prior to joining the firm, Theresa worked for an AM Law Top 100 law firm where she represented clients in complex patent litigation disputes at the federal district and appellate court levels and in the ITC. She was formerly a Special Assistant United States Attorney in the Southern District of Illinois where she prosecuted white-collar criminal cases and represented the United States in several appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and two criminal jury trials. She served as a law clerk for Judge Peter T. Fay of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit. Theresa earned her J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. Theresa earned her M.S. in computer science and B.S. from Northern Illinois University. Prior to law school, she gained several years of experience as a software programmer and analyst.
Theresa is admitted to practice in Illinois, Texas, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois, the U.S. District Court for the Northern, Western, and Eastern Districts of Texas, the U.S. District Court for the Western and Eastern Districts of Wisconsin, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Seventh, Eleventh and Federal Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court. She is not admitted to practice law in California, and her practice is supervised by partners of the firm admitted in California.
02/26/2025
The Daily Journal has named Keker, Van Nest & Peters's trial win for Real Intent among the 2024 Top Verdicts in California. Read more
02/18/2025
Keker, Van Nest & Peters partners Bob Van Nest, Sharif Jacob, Sophie Hood and Ryan Wong reflect on the firm’s biggest trial wins which earned its place among Law360’s 2024 Trials Groups of the Year. Read more
10/30/2024
A Keker trial team, led by Bob Van Nest, successfully defended Real Intent, Inc. in a San Jose federal court, achieving a favorable outcome in a complex breach of contract case. After securing a decisive copyright fair use ruling in August 2024, they convinced the jury to award only nominal damages, far less than the claimant’s demands. Read more
08/15/2024
The 2025 edition of The Best Lawyers in America® and the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® in America featured 25 KVP attorneys. Read more
Presenter, “Intro to Intellectual Property,” Texas Bar CLE, In-House Counsel 101, San Antonio, Texas, August 2, 2023