Nuances in patent law with respect to the semiconductor industry can be as intricate as the transistors, circuits, sensors, and chips, they protect. And with rapid of advancements in this field, our a team of skilled attorneys and agents can quickly and effectively help you develop a robust US and international portfolio. Many on our team at Seed IP have valuable industry experience, making us an ideal strategic partner for building, maintaining, and protecting your company’s intellectual property portfolio from the packaging to the firmware embedded into your chips. Our team has experience working with semiconductor, electrical engineering, and materials science inventors across the world; helping these inventors harvest and acquire extensive intellectual property. Not only do we know the law and the science, we understand your business.
Semiconductors expertise:
Hayley devotes her time to strategic intellectual property (IP) counseling for her clients with a focus on efficient and effective patent prosecution, licensing, and validity and infringement studies. She has assisted clients on a great number of patent applications covering a wide range of technologies, including the electrical, software, and mechanical arts. With a background in electrical engineering, Hayley can confidently assist any company, both domestically and internationally, with their IP and patent strategy.
Senior Associate
Baha's practice focuses on electrical/electronic engineering and software patent procurement, and patent analysis, and due diligence matters. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering (2002) from Temple University and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering (2005) from Villanova University. He was honored as Valedictorian of the College of Engineering at Temple University.
Partner
As a patent attorney focused on electrical engineering matters, Blake brings not only well-rounded technical experience having worked for leading aerospace and telecommunication companies, but as a patent examiner for the USPTO. While there he honed his skills reviewing patent applications in the field of resource allocation and inter-process communications for computer systems and acquired a keen understanding of how successful patent applications are drawn. Now, as a partner with Seed IP, Blake collaborates with his clients on strategic IP issues, and counsels them on patent prosecution, due-diligence of their patent portfolios, as well as patent infringement and validity opinions. Blake has a natural affinity for a wide range of technologies including semiconductors, electrical & computer hardware, wireless telecommunication systems, medical devices, electric vehicles, and display devices.
Blake received a M.S. and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington. He was awarded a J.D. (magna cum laude) from Seattle University School of Law where he served as Associate Editor for the Seattle University Law Review. Blake also received the National Order of Scribes Award for Excellence in Legal Writing and the CALI Award for Legal Writing.
Partner
Bobby focuses his practice on helping clients with U.S. and foreign patent prosecution filings and the development of robust patent portfolios. With a deep background in electrical engineering, Bobby specializes in translating complex prosecution matters into understandable legal strategies that align with his clients’ business interests. e also excels at patent infringement and invalidity opinions, licensing, and strategic portfolio management. Bobby represents a diverse range of clients, from innovative startups to multinational corporations, ensuring their intellectual property assets are effectively secured and managed.
Bobby hails from the great state of Oklahoma, and received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma (2001), followed by an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University (2003). He then returned to OU for his J.D. at the University of Oklahoma College of Law (2007).
Partner
Brooke focuses on strategically counseling his clients on intellectual property matters and portfolio development, including patent, trademark, and copyright law. He routinely works on patent procurement, due diligence investigations, enforcement, and licensing, as well as other transactional intellectual property matters.
Brooke received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Southern California in 1992. He received his J.D. from University of Texas at Austin in 1997.
Associate
Carl focuses his practice on patent prosecution in the computer science and telecommunications sectors. He earned a B.A. in Computer Science from Williams College in 2018. Carl’s senior thesis was on machine learning, with a focus on multitask learning in few-shot scenarios, particularly in image classification. He received his J.D. from University of Washington School of Law in 2023.
Senior Associate
Christopher has over 13 years of experience as a patent professional representing clients primarily in pharmaceutical, biotechnology and material technology sectors. He focuses his practice on patent preparation and prosecution, global portfolio strategy and management, and providing legal opinions. In 1996, Chris received his M.S. in Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where his research focused on the design and synthesis of self-complimentary molecules capable of molecular self-assembly. Chris also practiced as a business litigator in Honolulu, Hawaii, upon receiving his J.D. from the William S. Richardson School of Law, University of Hawai´i (Mānoa) in 2009. He received a B.S. in Chemistry from California State University in 1994. Chris served in the United States Navy as a nuclear propulsion plant operator aboard an Ohio-class submarine.
Of Counsel
David's practice focuses on foreign and domestic patent prosecution as well as infringement and invalidity studies. He received a B.S. in Physics (with an emphasis in Nanotechnology) and a minor in Mathematics from Brigham Young University in 2005. David also received an M.E. in Electrical Engineering (emphasizing Integrated Circuit Design and Fabrication) from the University of Utah in 2007. He was awarded his J.D. from the J. Reuben Clark Law School of Brigham Young University in 2010.
Associate
Emily focuses her practice on IP litigation and enforcement, as well as patent prosecution, in a variety of technology areas. Emily received her J.D. from Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in 2021, where she was heavily involved with the IP community and secured asylum for four children through the Bluhm Legal Clinic’s Children and Family Justice Center. She received a B.S. (with distinction) in Engineering from Harvey Mudd College in 2014.
Partner
Hai Han focuses her practice on U.S. and foreign chemical and pharmaceutical patent matters with special emphasis on small molecules. She’s trusted by her clients for her valuable insights as a strategic counselor, for IP management and patent procurement.
Hai received a B.S. in Chemistry from Peking University (China) in 1992 and a Ph.D. in Organic and Physical Organic Chemistry from Brown University (1997). She also conducted post-doctoral research at the Department of Chemistry, Northwestern University (1998) and holds a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law (2003).
Partner
Hayley devotes her time to strategic intellectual property (IP) counseling for her clients with a focus on efficient and effective patent prosecution, licensing, and validity and infringement studies. She has assisted clients on a great number of patent applications covering a wide range of technologies, including the electrical, software, and mechanical arts. With a background in electrical engineering, Hayley can confidently assist any company, both domestically and internationally, with their IP and patent strategy.
Senior Associate
Nathan Lee's practice focuses on patent prosecution of technologies related to electrical engineering and computer science. He received a B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Seoul National University in 2008 and earned his Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from Korea National Open University in 2014. Nathan received his Master of Laws (LL.M.) from UC Berkeley School of Law.
Partner
Recognized in both the U.S. and China as a patent attorney, Jianping helps clients on all aspects of worldwide patent portfolio development and monetization, including drafting and prosecuting patents and preparing opinions on patent infringement validity. His practice focuses on electrical and electronic arts, including digital/analog circuitry, MEMS, R.F., telecommunications, data/signal processing, semiconductors, software, and electrical devices.
In 1992, Jianping earned a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology (Beijing, China). He received an L.L.M. from China University of Political Science and Law (Beijing, China) in 1999. Jianping received an M.A. in Criminal Justice from University at Albany (Albany, NY) in 2002. He then received his J.D. (cum laude) from Albany Law School (Albany, NY) in 2005.
Partner
John’s clients call on him for help with patent prosecution in the electrical and mechanical arts. His practice covers a wide range of technologies including computer hardware and software, network communications protocols, medical devices, data encryption, integrated circuit manufacturing, optical systems, image processing devices, hydraulic pumps, and electric motors. John received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Rutgers University (1990), an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Monmouth University (1995), and an M.T.M. in Technology Management from Stevens Institute of Technology (2001). John earned his J.D. from Seton Hall University (2007).
Partner
Kevan's practice is focused on the U.S. and foreign patent prosecution of electrical engineering and computer software matters, including IP agreements and licensing, and strategic portfolio management. He received a B.S. (magna cum laude in Electrical Engineering from Utah State University (1993), and a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Utah State University (1993), with minors in History and Portuguese. Kevan holds a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law (1996).
Senior Associate
Michelle's practice is focused on patent procurement, licensing, and strategic intellectual property portfolio management in electrical and chemical matters.
Examples of expertise include semiconductors, materials science, batteries, electronics, optoelectronics, medical devices, nanotechnology, polymers, organic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics. Michelle has successfully drafted and prosecuted numerous patent applications of U.S. and international patent matters for clients ranging from small startups to large global corporations.
She received a B.S. in Polymer Chemistry from Sichuan University (1992), an M.S. in Polymer Chemistry and Physics from Jilin University (1995), a second M.S. in Organic Chemistry from Northeastern University (1999), and a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering/Nanotechnology from University of Washington (2003). Michelle holds a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law (2011).
Partner
Shoko’s practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in electronics, telecommunications, optics, software, and mechanical engineering. Shoko received a B.S. in Physics from the University of Washington in 1998 and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1997.
Of Counsel
Toshiko Takenaka's practice focuses on domestic and foreign intellectual property matters. She counsels clients in various aspects of patent law and trademark law, litigation, and intellectual property matters. Toshiko received her LL.B. from Seikei University-Tokyo in 1981. She received her LL.M. in 1990 and Ph.D. in Comparative Law in 1992 from the University of Washington School of Law.
Associate
Zachary Sakoi's practice focuses on patent prosecution of semiconductors, semiconductor packaging, semiconductor packaging methods, and mechanical engineering and mechatronics technologies. Zach received his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law in 2018. He served as Vice President of the Intellectual Property Law Society, was a member of the Asian Pacific Islander Law Student Association, and participated in the Trademark Law Clinic at the Ronald A. Peterson Law Clinic. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics, from the University of Washington, in 2015, and was on the Dean's List.