A coalition of technology companies led by Android developer Google Inc. publicly stepped up to back Samsung Electronics at the Federal Circuit.

The courts have largely ground to a halt for the holidays, though there's still time for few more decisions in 2012 that could ensure a happy or gloomy New Year for the litigators involved. In the meantime, here are some of the biggest rulings we're looking forward to in 2013.

Fifteen banks asked the Second Circuit to intervene in their mammoth legal battle with the Federal Finance Housing Agency, the conservator for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, arguing that U.S. District Judge Denise Cote is unfairly determined to cripple their defense.

The state of Vermont has struck out a second time in its two-year effort to halt the relicensing of its aging Yankee nuclear power plant.

Clients from Intellectual Ventures to LinkedIn want their outside counsel singing from the same hymnal.

Patent reform is coming to Europe. The E.U. is establishing a new patent regime that will allow inventors to file for a single patent valid in almost all of its member states, and that will set up a new patent court with venues in London, Munich, and Paris.

The ruling spells the end of efforts by the Lehman estate and creditors to squeeze billions from Barclays for its alleged secret deals with Lehman insiders. But the news wasn't all good for Barclays: As much as $4.8 billion in disputed cash held in Lehman accounts at the time of the asset sale will return to the estate.