A federal judge has ordered partners at Ramey LLP, a Texas intellectual property law firm, to justify why they should not face disciplinary measures for potential unauthorized practice of law in connection with a patent infringement lawsuit. The suit is against Renesas Electronics America Inc., a semiconductor manufacturer based in California. The order from Magistrate Judge Peter Kang came after it was revealed that partners William Ramey III, Susan Kalra, and Jeffrey Kubiak did not conduct a requisite pre-filing investigation and failed to file for pro hac vice admission within the three months since the complaint was filed. This information was detailed in Magistrate Judge Peter Kang’s show cause order issued on August 29, 2024, in the U.S. District Court.
Failure to adhere to these procedural norms has put the Ramey LLP partners at risk of sanctions and potential disciplinary referrals to the state bar. This case highlights the critical importance of compliance with procedural rules and ethical obligations in the legal profession, especially in high-stakes patent litigation.
More details can be found on Bloomberg Law.