University of Houston Law Center alumnus Bryce Barcelo (J.D. '14)
May 13, 2025 – University of Houston Law Center alumnus Bryce Barcelo (J.D. '14) has been listed as one of Lawdragon’s 2025 “100 Global Leaders in Litigation Finance” for his distinguished career in intellectual property strategy and litigation. His recognition highlights a decade of impactful work in the field at the intersection of innovation, finance, and legal strategy.
Barcelo began his professional career as an electrical engineer, but made a career shift in 2011 when he enrolled at UHLC.
“My research into law schools revealed that UHLC had one of the top IP law programs in the country,” stated Barcelo. “I knew a program that supported IP so well would be a good fit and would allow me to utilize my hard-earned engineering knowledge.”
During his time at the UH Law Center, Barcelo discovered a surprising passion for IP litigation.
“I had next-to-zero intention of working in litigation,” Barcelo said. “But then, as a result of an opportunity to attend an IP Inn of Court dinner, I found myself in the world of litigation, which ultimately led to an interview at Susman Godfrey. It ended up being the right decision.”
Barcelo was with Susman Godfrey LLP for 10 years, representing clients in high-stakes intellectual property litigation. During this time, he was involved in several notable cases, including Finesse Wireless LLC v. AT&T Mobility LLC, where a Texas jury awarded $166.3 million, and Title Source Inc. v. HouseCanary Inc., which received the Top IP Verdict in 2018 from Top Verdict for an amount of $706.2 million.
“Susman throws its young lawyers into the deep end right away,” said Barcelo. “But that sense of responsibility forced me to dedicate myself to learning the ropes and never being satisfied with an answer as 'good enough.’ Sure, the other side is made up of the best lawyers money can buy, but if you care about the case more and work harder, you’re putting yourself into the best position to win.”
Barcelo has since moved over to Certum Group, where he now acts as the Director of Intellectual Property Strategy & Monetization. This recent success has gained Barcelo national and global recognition, from being quoted in Bloomberg Law as an IP litigation expert to being listed as one of the Rising Stars in the Plaintiffs Bar Winners by the National Law Journal.
Alongside his responsibilities at Certum Group, Barcelo also teaches Procedure of Patent Litigation as an adjunct professor at UHLC, a position he deeply enjoys.
“Helping people learn has always been something that has brought me great satisfaction, and even during my law school tenure, I was thinking about how rewarding coming back to UHLC to teach would be,” said Barcelo. “UHLC is a special place in a special city, and the memories and connections that [come] out of it are just as important to me now as they were when I was a student.”
Q&A with Bryce Barcelo
When and why did you decide to pursue a law degree?
BB: It was while I was working as an engineer at Vandenberg Air Force Base in
California. I had just come off of three overtime shifts in two days. I was driving to my next shift—another overnight—and thinking about a role model in my life who had begun his career in science before becoming corporate counsel. That was the catalyst for investigating law and law school and, ultimately, deciding to leave my career as a rocket engineer and head to UHLC.
How did the UH Law Center contribute to your success?
BB: Two things come to mind. First, more than a few instructors contributed to a shared
learning environment where open discussion of the law was elevated to the same importance as the actual caselaw we were reading before class. These were, when I think back, my first advocacy lessons, and [they] contributed towards a creative approach to legal problem solving. Second to that, UHLC’s position in the Houston (and Texas) legal market is highly valued by employers who—rightfully—recognize that the Houston legal market is burgeoning and that in-state knowledge is crucial to winning cases.
How has the UHLC alumni network or community supported you in your career journey?
BB: Several colleagues of mine at Susman Godfrey were actively involved in events like the Law Gala, which led to my involvement as a UHLC adjunct professor, and the broader network of UH alumni are valuable business and market connections and leaders in the Houston area. Further, some of my closest friends are other students I met while at UHLC!
Were there any specific professors or mentors who had a significant impact on your education or career?
BB: Absolutely. Prof. Janicke’s real-world experiences in the law were directly on point to my understanding of my own career path. Prof. Duncan’s tough, but fair, approach to 1Ls provided a cornerstone to my legal education. And Prof. Griffin’s open-forum-style of teaching was the perfect environment for spirited discussion of even the most difficult Constitutional issues.
What advice would you give to UHLC students aspiring to establish themselves as leaders in the legal field?
BB: While the best way to stand apart from your peers in law school is through grades, clinics, competitions, and the like, I think pivoting to a more individual mindset—how one personally approaches their practice and how they place their mark on it—is just as likely to attract attention and help one stand out as a leader in the field.
