Leslie Les Payne

Litigation - Intellectual Property

4.0 (1 reviews)

Houston, Texas

33+ years experience

Heim, Payne & Chorush LLP

Updated: Jan 03, 2026

Contact Information

713-221-2000

https://www.hpcllp.com/attorneys/payne-leslie/

609 Main Street, Suite 3200, Houston, TX 77002

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Bio

Co-founder of Houston-based Heim, Payne & Chorush, Les has helped build a nationally respected team of lawyers and has led litigation resulting in numerous 8- and 9- figure verdicts and settlements. As patent law has evolved with inter partes review validity challenges at the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Les has become particularly effective representing both patent owners and accused infringers in this rapidly changing landscape. Heim, Payne & Chorush staffs its litigation for appeal, and Les has an active caseload at the Federal Circuit and played a direct role in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Commil v USA decision, which has been described as among the most important SCOTUS IP rulings in a generation. He is a diligent and thorough trial lawyer who routinely wins strategic victories throughout the course of litigation, including two patent infringement verdicts featured in the VerdictSearch Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame.Practice Areas:Intellectual Property LitigationPatentTrademarkUnfair CompetitionTrade Secret Law Co-founder of Houston-based Heim, Payne & Chorush, Les has helped build a nationally respected team of lawyers and has led litigation resulting in numerous 8- and 9- figure verdicts and settlements. As patent law has evolved with inter partes review validity challenges at the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Les has become particularly effective representing both patent owners and accused infringers in this rapidly changing landscape. Heim, Payne & Chorush staffs its litigation for appeal, and Les has an active caseload at the Federal Circuit and played a direct role in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Commil v USA decision, which has been described as among the most important SCOTUS IP rulings in a generation. He is a diligent and thorough trial lawyer who routinely wins strategic victories throughout the course of litigation, including two patent infringement verdicts featured in the VerdictSearch Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame.Practice Areas:Intellectual Property LitigationPatentTrademarkUnfair CompetitionTrade Secret Law Co-founder of Houston-based Heim, Payne & Chorush, Les has helped build a nationally respected team of lawyers and has led litigation resulting in numerous 8- and 9- figure verdicts and settlements. As patent law has evolved with inter partes review validity challenges at the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board, Les has become particularly effective representing both patent owners and accused infringers in this rapidly changing landscape. Heim, Payne & Chorush staffs its litigation for appeal, and Les has an active caseload at the Federal Circuit and played a direct role in the U.S. Supreme Court’s Commil v USA decision, which has been described as among the most important SCOTUS IP rulings in a generation. He is a diligent and thorough trial lawyer who routinely wins strategic victories throughout the course of litigation, including two patent infringement verdicts featured in the VerdictSearch Texas Verdicts Hall of Fame. Practice Areas:

Practice Areas

Litigation - Intellectual Property

Awards & Recognition

Recognized: Litigation - Intellectual Property
Practice Area: Litigation - Patent
Chambers USA, 2005-2021, America's Leading Lawyers for Business
IAM Patent 1000 - Recommended Individual, 2021
Texas Lawyer Plaintiffs Trailblazer, 2020
Best Lawyers in America, 2018-2021
Texas Super Lawyers by Thomson Reuters, 2012-2021
Ranked among the Best Law Firms by US News & World Report and Best Lawyers, 2016-2021
Preeminent AV Rated by Martindale-Hubbell
Best Lawyers in Houston, 2006, 2010-2011, 2013-2019, by H Texas Magazine
Texas Rising Stars by Thomson Reuters/Super Lawyers, as published in Texas Monthly, 2004-2006

Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2018

Education

Vanderbilt University, J.D., graduated 1992
The University of Tennessee, B.S. in Electrical Engineering, magna cum laude, graduated 1989

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Reviews

Richard Morgan

2 weeks ago

A formidable advocate for complex technical litigation

Les Payne and his team at Heim, Payne & Chorush provided exceptional representation for our company in a high-stakes patent infringement dispute. His unique background as an electrical engineer was immediately apparent; he grasped the intricate technology of our semiconductor process far faster than any other attorney we consulted. This technical fluency, combined with his 30+ years of litigation experience, allowed him to craft a devastatingly effective strategy that led to a highly favorable eight-figure settlement. His recognition by Chambers USA is well-deserved. The entire process was handled with a level of strategic sophistication we deeply valued. If there was one minor critique, it would be that communication from his office during non-critical phases could sometimes lag by a day or two, though his direct involvement was always timely and decisive. For any business facing complex IP litigation, Les is a tremendous asset.