PKH Delivers Unprecedented Success in IPR Challenges for Champion Power Equipment
Perilla Knox & Hildebrandt LLP (PKH) Continues to Set the Standard in Patent Defense
In a significant development for patent owners, Law360 has spotlighted PKH's pivotal role in two high-profile inter partes review (IPR) proceedings that were recently overturned by U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Director John Squires. The February 6, 2026, article, "Squires Rules Inconsistent Claim Constructions Doom 3 IPRs," details how Director Squires vacated Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) decisions instituting reviews of two Champion Power Equipment Inc. patents challenged by Generac Power Systems Inc.
At the heart of these victories was PKH's strategic advocacy, which exposed inconsistencies in the challenger’s claim construction arguments between the IPR petitions and parallel district court litigation. Director Squires emphasized that petitioners must provide clear explanations for divergent positions to avoid undermining the predictability and certainty of the patent system, a principle PKH effectively leveraged to protect our client’s innovations.
This triumph is part of PKH’s broader success defending Champion Power Equipment. We are currently handling 13 IPR petitions on behalf of the patent owner. Of the 11 institution decisions received to date:
9 petitions were denied institution outright, and
The 2 that were initially instituted by the PTAB were overturned by Director Squires.
As a result, PKH secured victories in all 11 decisions.
These outcomes underscore our firm's deep expertise in navigating the complexities of IPR proceedings, from claim construction disputes to director reviews. Representing Champion in these matters were PKH litigators Joseph W. Staley, Scott P. Amy, and Thomas Finch, alongside co-counsel Timothy J. Ziolkowski and Jacob M. Fritz of Ziolkowski Patent Solutions Group SC.
As intellectual property litigators dedicated to safeguarding innovation, PKH remains at the forefront of defending against aggressive patent challenges. Whether facing IPRs, district court actions, or USPTO proceedings, our team delivers results that matter.
Read the full Law360 article here.
About Perilla Knox & Hildebrandt LLP. PKH is a boutique law firm specializing in intellectual property law. With a team of dedicated attorneys, the firm provides comprehensive legal services in patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters. PKH is committed to delivering innovative and strategic solutions to protect and enforce its clients' intellectual property rights.
