Our runners up for Litigator of the Week include Paul Brinkman and Joe Loy of Kirkland & Ellis, who deserve a toast for their win on behalf of Heineken in a patent fight with Anheuser-Busch InBev. On the eve of trial at the International Trade Commission, AB InBev abruptly dismissed its entire case accusing Heineken of infringing its patents for technology related to “bag-in containers”—where beer is stored inside a bag that’s inside a bottle. (Apparently it keeps the beer fresher.)
The dismissal followed a Markman order and rulings on numerous motions and objections that largely favored Heineken. Meanwhile, a decision in Heineken’s ITC case against AB InBev for infringing its patent related to a drink dispenser for carbonated beverages is pending.
