SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Apple Inc&&9;s chief patent counsel Will soon leave the company, at a time When the company IS fighting Numerous legal battles around the world, a source familiar According To with the situation.

Apple IS Engaged in year Expanding web of litigation smartphone Regarding patents, with phonemakers Mostly using Google&&9;s Android software, and Why It Was unclear Richard "Chip" Lutton Jr., Who Manage the iPhone maker&&9;s patent portfolio, IS leaving the company.

However, BJ Watrous, deputy general counsel to form with Hewlett Packard, Is Now listed as Apple&&9;s chief IP counsel on LinkedIn Watrous&&9;s web page.

Legal battles common in increasingly Have Become the Industry Since Apple cellphone and grabbed a big chunk Google of the lucrative and still fast Growing smartphone market.

Last month Apple joined with Microsoft Corp., BlackBerry maker Research In Motion Ltd. and Three Other tech companies to outbid Google in a $ 4.5 billion deal to ACQUIRE a huge portfolio of technology patents from failed telecoms group Nortel Networks.

Apple on Friday filed a second patent aussi Complaint Against Taiwanese smartphone maker HTC Before a U.S.trade panel.

"I believe Apple&&9;s leadership wants to see results now, Especially in connection with Google&&9;s Android mobile operating system," Said Germany-based intellectual property analyst and blogger Florian Mueller payday advance.

"The second shows HTC Complaints against Apple That Did not feel it handle patent litigation Perfectly STI in the past."

Apple last month lost a major legal battle Against Nokia, agreeing to pay undisclosed royalties and lump sum annually to the Finnish cellphone maker Struggling.

Apple and Samsung Electronics aims are battling over patents in aussi courts around the world, despite the Fact That Is One of Samsung Apple&&9;s key suppliers.

Earlier this month a U.S. Apple Askedjudge to issue a Preliminary injunction Against Some of Samsung&&9;s Galaxy smartphone products.

Lutton Did not Respond to request for comments, and an Apple representative to how Declined.

Lutton&&9;s still set up voicemail WAS at Apple on Monday, aims ET Will Be Leaving Apple in the near future, Perhaps in the next month, the source familiar with Said the situation.

Watrous WAS deputy general counsel at Hewlett-Packard in charge of IP licensing. An HP Spokesman Declined to how.

(Editing by Edwin Chan, Greg Mahlich)

Exclusive: Apple patent lawyer to leave