Sara Tonnies Horton, Co-Chair of Willkie’s Intellectual Property Litigation Practice Group, was named “Patent Litigator of the Year – Midwest” at the Managing IP Americas Awards 2026, according to an announcement on April 17.
The recognition highlights Horton’s standing as one of the country’s leading patent litigators and first-chair trial attorneys. The award reflects her success in handling complex disputes involving technologies such as pharmaceuticals, polymers, packaging, alloys, and food manufacturing.
Horton recently led a Willkie team that defended a multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology corporation against a patent infringement case related to the COVID-19 vaccine. This effort brought multiple years of litigation to an end in favor of her client.
In addition to her legal practice, Horton was among six partners who launched Willkie’s Chicago office in March 2020. She has contributed to its development into a prominent market presence. Outside her firm responsibilities, she serves on the Children’s Research Fund’s Board of Directors, teaches trial advocacy at Harvard Law School, and is a member of the Richard Linn American Inn of Court.
A full list of honorees for this year’s Managing IP Americas Awards can be found through Managing IP.
