Areas of Practice
IP LITIGATION/IP ENFORCEMENT
SSL understands that, oftentimes, a company’s intellectual property is the bedrock of its business. The firm assists in the enforcement of IP rights (such as copyright, patent, etc.), sending cease-and-desist/demand letters to infringers and negotiating licenses to the intellectual property. If the pre-litigation route is ineffective, the firm is not afraid to file suit and protect its clients’ IP rights in court. SSL's managing attorney, Stefanie Scott Shah, has extensive experience representing patent owners and corporations in patent litigations filed nationwide, in both trial and appellate courts.
GENERAL COUNSEL SERVICES
SSL's clients include growing companies (with complex legal issues) that don’t yet have a need for in-house counsel. For these clients, the firm handles all their legal needs, including managing all aspects of litigation; advising on employment issues and agreements to ensure compliance with state and federal law; advising on intellectual property strategy; advising on corporate formation and business operation strategy; and drafting, reviewing, and negotiating contracts.
COMPLEX COMMERCIAL LITIGATION
SSL has experience representing companies in a wide variety of complex commercial litigation issues—from partnership disputes to breach of contract to business torts to breach of fiduciary duty to securities fraud. Although complex issues can be intimidating to clients, SSL welcomes the opportunity to craft creative, compelling arguments and theories in support of their cases.
EMPLOYMENT LITIGATION AND CONSULTATION
Unlike most firms, SSL represents both employers who need help navigating state and federal employment laws and employees who have been unlawfully mistreated during their employment. On the employer side, the firm's practice ranges from providing advice in terminating / firing / disciplining / etc. to helping craft employment policies / handbooks / NDAs / offer letters / termination letters / separation agreements / etc. On the employee side, the firm's practice includes advising on possible next steps when an employer has failed to comply with state or federal law, including steps to take prior to commencing litigation. SSL represents both employees and employers in negotiating the settlement of claims and, if all else fails, in litigation.
APPELLATE
SSL's managing attorney, Stefanie Scott Shah, has experience drafting appellate briefs on complex legal issues in cases filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit. Additionally, the firm's appellate practice includes oral argument before the Federal Circuit.
LOCAL COUNSEL
SSL has represented clients in local federal and state courts and is in tune with the culture, jury pool, and political culture of Austin and surrounding areas. At the federal level, the firm's managing attorney, Stefanie Scott Shah, has experience handling cases filed in the Western District of Texas (W.D. Tex.) and the Eastern District of Texas (E.D. Tex.). At the state court level, the firm has experience handling cases in Travis County’s court system, which—with its central docket and unique local rules—can be difficult for a non-Austinite to navigate. SSL is here to guide out-of-town attorneys and in-house counsel through the intricacies of practicing in local state and federal courts, providing advice and assistance on all aspects of litigation from filing, scheduling, discovery matters, motions practice, judicial temperament and preference, jury selection and trial.