Partner Joseph Mueller, co-chair of WilmerHale's Trial Practice, was honored by Bloomberg Law with inclusion on its 2026 list of "Unrivaled" litigators. The recognition celebrates 25 trial lawyers who lead the legal industry in high-stakes verdicts and settlements on impactful matters for clients.
In a Q&A with the publication, Mueller discussed his representation of Apple in Optis v. Apple, a long-running patent dispute in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. In February 2025, after three jury trials and a successful appeal before the Federal Circuit, his team secured a unanimous "no infringement" verdict on all five patents at issue, defeating claims for $583 million in royalties. "We had always believed the facts were on our side, and we took a number of steps to help the third jury understand those facts and why they compelled a verdict in Apple's favor," Mueller said.
He described how the team made a complex technical case both educational and engaging, calling multiple Apple engineers to explain their own innovations and taking several unconventional steps—including deferring his opening statement until after the plaintiff's case and rethinking the order of witnesses. As Mueller explained, the goal was to find "every opportunity to take fresh angles at presenting the evidence."
Mueller also reflected on his broader philosophy of trial work, which he traces to a lifelong love of teaching. He said effective advocacy means engaging with juries, judges and witnesses on a human level to help them understand the evidence, and that success in the courtroom rests on credibility, clarity and creativity. His advice to young trial lawyers: study the craft relentlessly. "Read transcripts from other trials, attend seminars, read books," he said. "Learn a broad spectrum of techniques—then decide what works for you."