Luke McCloud’s practice focuses on complex civil matters, with an emphasis on patent litigation. Luke has tried cases to judgment in federal and state courts. His clients have included global pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers, leading technology companies, financial institutions, law firms, and individuals. In 2023, Luke was recognized as a “Leading Lawyer” by The Legal 500, a “Rising Star” by Law360 and The National Law Journal, and among Bloomberg Law’s “40 Under 40” list. He has also been named a “Rising Star—General Commercial Disputes” by The Legal 500 (2020-2022), and a Managing IP “Rising Star” (2020).   

Luke is also an experienced appellate advocate. He has argued twice in the U.S. Supreme Court and in multiple federal courts of appeals, and has filed dozens of briefs in high-stakes cases throughout the federal system. His appellate oral advocacy was praised by The Recorder as “poised and polished.” In the October Term 2014, Luke served as a law clerk to Justice Sonia M. Sotomayor on the Supreme Court of the United States. He previously clerked for then Judge Brett M. Kavanaugh of the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit and Judge Paul V. Niemeyer of the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit.  

A native of eastern Kentucky, Luke earned a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and a J.D. from Harvard Law School, where he was Vice President & Treasurer of the Harvard Law Review and a finalist in the Ames Moot Court Competition. He currently serves as a member of the firm’s Hiring and Pro Bono Committees, and was previously a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. Luke maintains an active pro bono practice focusing on veterans’ causes and landlord-tenant matters. 

In 2023, Luke left the firm to join the U.S. Department of Justice as Assistant to the Solicitor General, where he was honored with the Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award for his work on Food and Drug Administration v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine. Luke rejoined Williams & Connolly in 2024.

Representative Experience

  • Trial and appellate counsel for biopharmaceutical company in BPCIA dispute.
  • Trial counsel for multinational diagnostics company in patent dispute.
  • Trial counsel for pharmaceutical company in multi-district antitrust litigation.
  • Successfully argued appeal in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit, obtaining affirmance of district court’s dismissal of $300 million tort and fraud claims against pharmaceutical company.
  • Successfully argued in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, obtaining vacatur of order denying writ of mandamus filed by veteran’s widow.
  • Successfully defended multiple appeals on behalf of pharmaceutical company in Hatch-Waxman litigation involving an anti-cancer treatment.
  • Appellate counsel for Fortune 500 company before the U.S. Supreme Court and Fifth Circuit in arbitration dispute.
  • Trial counsel for biopharmaceutical company in contract dispute regarding intellectual property and joint venture agreement.
  • Counsel for major bank in connection with criminal investigation relating to alleged financial reporting issues.
  • Counsel for pharmaceutical company in a securities fraud class action.

Education

Clerkships

Recognitions

"Attorney General’s Distinguished Service Award," U.S. Department of Justice, 2023

“Leading Lawyer,” The Legal 500, 2023

"Future Star," Benchmark Litigation, 2023

"D.C. Rising Star," The National Law Journal, 2022

"Rising Star" for Appellate, Law360, 2022

Named to Bloomberg Law's “40 Under 40,” 2022

“40 & Under Hot List”, Benchmark Litigation, 2022-2023

"Rising Star" for General Commercial Disputes, The Legal 500, 2020-2022

"Notable Practitioner," Managing IP, 2022

"Rising Star," Managing IP, 2020

Admissions

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