At Seed IP, intellectual property is all we do. In fact, we have been handling intellectual property disputes for over 50 years. So when our clients come to us to handle a dispute, they know they benefit directly from our exceptional depth of experience in this area.
We regularly represent clients in litigation matters involving all areas of intellectual property. Our team includes experienced trial attorneys who appear on behalf of clients in courts throughout the country, including at both the trial and appellate level. We also routinely handle matters at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, including proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB). We have an experienced and dedicated PTAB team that handles post-grant proceedings before the PTAB, including Inter Partes Reviews (IPR). Our PTAB team draws on vast technical knowledge of our patent prosecution professionals and experienced IP litigators to successfully handle post-grant proceedings before the PTAB. Having handled many post-grant proceedings, including a number of IPRs, our PTAB team can counsel clients on strategic considerations of navigating through PTAB trials. While we are always prepared to see a matter through to a final verdict, we also understand that our clients’ objectives may be best served by alternative resolutions, such as early settlement, arbitration or mediation.
Indeed, our strength lies in our ability to use small, focused teams of attorneys who work closely with our clients to develop an in-depth understanding of their business and litigation needs. This approach not only allows for more streamlined litigation management and decision-making to help us achieve optimal results for our clients, but also keeps expenses down. Our lawyers collaborate in ways that increase efficiency and value, not costs. We have over 50 patent attorneys and agents, nearly half of whom have advanced degrees, covering a full spectrum of technical backgrounds ranging from electrical and mechanical engineering to biochemistry and immunology. This gives us the technical depth and resources to effectively develop strategies and arguments that our clients need to win their cases.
Our litigation attorneys are dedicated to providing the highest level of representation for our clients and delivering exceptional value in handling their intellectual property disputes.
Our intellectual property litigation & enforcement expertise:
Marc C. Levy's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and enforcement, emphasizing trademark and unfair competition matters. Marc applies his extensive litigation and trial experience towards helping his clients protect and enforce their brands by providing strategic brand management counseling. He received his A.B. in Philosophy from the University of California–Berkeley in 1986, and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1989.
Partner
Bobby's practice focuses on the U.S. and foreign patent prosecution of electrical engineering and computer software matters and patent litigation, infringement opinions, licensing, and strategic portfolio management. He received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma (2001), and an M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Oklahoma State University (2003). Bobby holds a J.D. from the University of Oklahoma College of Law (2007).
Associate
Brigid focuses her practice on the registration and enforcement of trademarks across a variety of industry groups. She received a B.A. (magna cum laude) in International Studies from the University of Miami (2014), and her J.D. from UCLA School of Law (2018). Brigid has also studied abroad at Charles University (Prague, Czech Republic) and American University (Rome, Italy).
Partner
Brooke Quist's practice focuses on domestic and foreign intellectual property, including patent preparation and prosecution, litigation, preparation of patent invalidity and non-infringement opinions, client counseling, strategic portfolio development, due diligence investigations, and licensing, as well as other transactional intellectual property matters.
Brooke counsels clients in patent law, trademark law, copyright law, and related intellectual property matters. He received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Southern California in 1992 and his J.D. from the University of Texas at Austin in 1997.
Partner
Chandra received her J.D. from the University of California, Berkeley in 2004, and earned B.A.s in Biology and Spanish from Indiana University, Bloomington, in 1998. Before law school, Chandra was a research assistant with the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (Biology & Biotechnology Research Program) and a research and development assistant with a pharmaceutical company making recombinant protein therapeutics.
Partner
Chair of the Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Group
David's practice focuses on electrical, software, and mechanical patent matters, including obtaining, licensing, and litigating patents. He has a great deal of practical experience providing strategic planning to protect a client's technology. He can prepare a strategy to assist your company in obtaining patent coverage on your key inventions. If you need to enforce these patents or defend a lawsuit against your company, he has extensive experience assisting companies protecting themselves and their IP.
Partner
Duncan’s practice focuses on the U.S. and foreign patent prosecution of mechanical-related technologies, including medical devices and consumer products. He received a B.S. (summa cum laude) in Civil Engineering in 2008 and an M.S. in Civil Engineering in 2009, both from Oregon State University. Duncan also holds a J.D. with High Honors and Order of the Coif from the University of Washington School of Law in 2012.
Senior Partner
Russ Tarleton has assisted clients in the procurement and enforcement of patents, trademarks, and copyrights for almost 30 years. Before attending law school, Russ worked as a court reporter in federal and state court and as a technician with National Semiconductor maintaining microchip manufacturing equipment.
Russ received a B.S. in Aeronautics (cum laude) from Utah State University (1982) and was awarded his J.D. by the University of Utah (1986). Russ received his Master's Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Washington (1998).
Partner
Hai Han focuses her practice on U.S. and foreign chemical and pharmaceutical patent matters with a special emphasis on small molecules.
Partner
Jared Barrett has extensive experience in trademark and mechanical-related patent matters, including portfolio management and strategy. Jared received his B.S. (magna cum laude) in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Washington in 2001, and was awarded his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 2007.
Partner
Jeff focuses his practice on IP enforcement, defense, and litigation matters across all industry groups. In 1999, he received a Bachelor in Electrical Engineering with Highest Honors from Georgia Institute of Technology, where he focused his studies on communication networks and signal processing. Jeff received an M.S. degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of California at Berkeley in 2001, where he focused his studies and research on communication networks. He was awarded his J.D. from the University of California - Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall) in 2005.
Partner
Jeff's practice is focused on strategic intellectual property counseling, patent procurement, and enforcement, licensing, and patent assertion management services to chemical, mechanical, and electro-mechanical companies. He provides these services across a broad range of multi-disciplinary industry sectors, including alternative energy, energy distribution, green technology, semiconductor, wired and wireless communication, transportation, chemical, and medical device industries. He received a B.S. (cum laude) in Chemical Engineering (1982) from the University of Idaho and holds a J.D. (1985), also from the University of Idaho.
Of Counsel
Jessica is an experienced IP attorney with a broad technical background in both the physical and life sciences. She is experienced in all phases of patent portfolio management with particular expertise in the assessment of patent portfolio strengths and weaknesses, technology transactions, and patent disputes within the pharmaceutical industry. Jessica received an M.S. in Biology from Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006, and a B.S. in Physics from University of Utah in 2002.She received her J.D. from Harvard Law School in 2010.
Of Counsel
Recognized in both the U.S. and China as a patent attorney, Jianping helps clients on all aspects of W.W. 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.
Managing Partner
Kevin Costanza's practice focuses on mechanical patent prosecution, trademark clearance, and registration, and intellectual property licensing. He received a B.S. in Engineering from the University of California at Irvine in 1990, concentrating on mechanical engineering and material sciences. Kevin received his J.D. (cum laude) from Seattle University School of Law in 1995.
Partner
Marc C. Levy's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation and enforcement, emphasizing trademark and unfair competition matters. Marc applies his extensive litigation and trial experience towards helping his clients protect and enforce their brands by providing strategic brand management counseling. He received his A.B. in Philosophy from the University of California–Berkeley in 1986, and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School in 1989.
Of Counsel
Michelle LeCointe's practice centers on U.S. and international IP strategies and patent procurement as well as IP agreements for a broad array of technologies, with a focus on pharmaceuticals, biologics, medical devices, and rechargeable batteries. She also has substantial experience in corporate IP due diligence, U.S. and international post-grant contested proceedings, non-infringement and invalidity opinions, and patent litigation.
Michelle received a B.A. (magna cum laude) in Biochemical Sciences from Harvard University, in 1997. She received her J.D. from Columbia Law School, as a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar, in 2000.
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
Russ' practice focuses on trademark and technology law, including strategic trademark and copyright counseling, trade secrets, Internet policy, unfair competition, domain name strategy, and disputes, trademark prosecution and maintenance, licensing, enforcement and litigation. He received his A.B. in Psychology from Stanford University and his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of the Law.
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
Syed's practice focuses on the U.S. and international patent and trademark prosecution, enforcement, licensing, and litigation matters. He received a B.Eng in Aerospace Engineering from Ryerson University (2000) and an M.Eng. in Aerospace Engineering from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University (2003), where his graduate research focused on acoustic emissions monitoring of space shuttle external tanks. Syed earned his J.D. from Seattle University School of Law (2012), where he graduated magna cum laude.
Senior Associate
Tom focuses his practice on intellectual property enforcement, defense and litigation matters. His experience includes patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret cases spanning a wide range of industries and technologies. He received a B.S. degree in Bioengineering from the University of California–Berkeley in 2003 and an M.S. degree in Bioengineering from Arizona State University in 2008. Tom was awarded his J.D. cum laude from the University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law in 2011.
Partner
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.
