What We Do
Patterson + Sheridan is a full-service intellectual property (IP) firm, offering every possible strategy to protect and enforce IP within the U.S. and abroad. Since 1996, we've successfully secured patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and other critical assets for exceptional technology innovators, ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies. We are among the world's top ten writers of original U.S. patent applications and have received accolades and high rankings over the years from U.S. News, The Business Journals, Super Lawyers, and other independent IP sources. With over 33,000+ patents granted, more than 1000 trademark applications filed and extensive trial experience. This is Patterson + Sheridan.
Patent Preparation + Prosecution
We are one of the nation’s leading intellectual property and technology law firms, securing hundreds of patents every year for some of the world’s largest, most innovative companies. In the most recent rankings of the nation’s top IP law firms, we were ranked 30th for the number of patents prosecuted per year.
Trademark + Brand Protection
Your trademark is the heart of your brand. It’s an invaluable business tool and a hallmark of your marketing and branding strategies — that’s why it deserves unique attention and unyielding defense. Trust your trademarks to the team that high-profile brands around the world depend on.
Litigation + Dispute Resolution
Protection of technology is a critical business tool. Your valuable patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other IP rights would be meaningless without the ability to successfully enforce them. If not effectively managed, however, intellectual property litigation can be needlessly time-consuming and expensive. As an intellectual property and technology law firm with former big-firm litigators, we are uniquely positioned to win cases—and to do so in a cost-efficient way.
Technology, Licensing + IP Transactions
In addition to our deep technical knowledge and effectiveness in patent and trademark preparation and prosecution, Patterson + Sheridan has the knowledge and resources to effectively manage all aspects of a company’s IP portfolio.
Mergers + Acquisitions
Protection of technology is a critical business tool. Your valuable patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and other IP rights would be meaningless without the ability to successfully enforce them. If not effectively managed, however, intellectual property litigation can be needlessly time-consuming and expensive. As an intellectual property and technology law firm with former big-firm litigators, we are uniquely positioned to win cases—and to do so in a cost-efficient way.
Risk Assessment + Compliance
In addition to its deep technical knowledge and effectiveness in patent and trademark preparation and prosecution, Patterson + Sheridan has the knowledge and resources to effectively manage all aspects of a company’s IP portfolio.
Our Technical Services
Strategic thinking and counsel for all things IP.
Our Technical Services
Strategic thinking and counsel for all things IP
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Featured Case Studies
An IP-driven approach to M&A: How we helped a Fortune 500 company seek out a strategic business partner
An IP-driven approach to M&A: How we helped a Fortune 500 company seek out a strategic business partner A Fortune 500 global trading and investment company had an idea: a…
Successfully defending a patent against two IPRs
Successfully defending a patent against two IPRs An inter partes review (IPR) can often be a death sentence for a patent. In fact, the majority of all filed IPRs ultimately…
Ten Years of Tools: Helping Olympia International develop new products and avoid litigation from competitors
Ten Years of Tools: Helping Olympia International develop new products and avoid litigation from competitors For more than a decade, Patterson + Sheridan has helped Olympia grow from a small…
Examiner Interviews: How Our Collaborative Approach Benefits Clients
At Patterson + Sheridan, building strong professional relationships is just as important as developing solid patent applications — the two go hand in hand. Our unique, long-standing relationships with patent…
How to Develop a Good Defense Against Challenges to a Patent for Nonobviousness
Any company that has developed a valuable patent should prepare in advance for the possibility that the patent could be challenged. The best offense in this case is a soundly…
How we helped a tech company protect a new revenue stream with a design patent
A Fortune 100 technology company was preparing to release a new wireless access point (WAP), and wanted to ensure they had filed patent applications that covered the various improvements over…
Defending a Fortune 500 chemical company against multimillion-dollar patent infringement allegations
When an international manufacturer and supplier of chemicals was facing claims of patent infringement, they turned to John Barr, Jay Yates and their team to help navigate the litigation process.…
Protecting AI-Based Inventions Despite Recent Legal Hurdles
The next wave in technological advancement Artificial intelligence (AI) is redefining the next technological age. It’s estimated that 38 percent of all businesses are implementing AI in some form, and…
Strategic Patent Reviews Help an Oilfield Products Company Cut Costs and Streamline Portfolio
It’s not uncommon for a company to have a sizeable patent portfolio but not have an in-house intellectual property attorney. This was the case for one international oilfield products company…
3 Ways Patterson + Sheridan Helps a Fortune 50 Tech Company Develop the Highest Quality Patents
When clients turn to Patterson + Sheridan, our attorneys go “all in” to deliver the highest quality strategic counseling and most thorough patent applications. Sometimes that means flying across the…
Resolving a Reissue Standoff: Proving Patent Eligibility in the Face of the ‘Abstract Idea’ Argument
The owner of a 3D printing company found himself in a bind when applying for a reissue of the patent central to his business. Originally filed a decade earlier before…
How We Draft and Enforce Non-Traditional Trademarks for America’s No. 1 Acoustic Guitar-Maker
At Patterson + Sheridan, our trademark services go above and beyond words. We have deep experience drafting and enforcing non-traditional trademarks that can protect a product’s shape, pattern or color.…
How Persistence and Storytelling Helped Secure a Federal Preliminary Injunction to Protect Trade Secrets
Facts are paramount in any case, but how they are leveraged is what wins cases. While technology is second nature to us, in litigation, we also craft stories that make…
3 Reasons In-person Client Meetings Produce Stronger Patent Applications
The key to developing a strong patent application? Understanding an invention from the inside out. Our secret weapon to truly understanding a new invention? Complimentary in-person client input meetings. Over…
Using Subject-Matter Eligibility as a Sword and Shield When Protecting Clients’ IP
Patent law is constantly evolving, due in large part to subject-matter eligibility. The latest Supreme Court decision on this subject, known as the “Alice” case (Alice Corp v CLS Bank),…
Patterson + Sheridan Speeds Time to Market for Fortune 100 Client’s New Polymer
During product research, one of our Fortune 100 technology clients created a new polymer with durable qualities. This meant the new polymer would be highly valuable across a wide range…
Patterson + Sheridan Team’s Deep ‘Means-Plus-Function’ Knowledge Instrumental in Infringement Suit Dismissal for Large Tech Client
Patent law is complex and ever changing, especially in the rapidly growing technology sector. When one of our global clients was sued in federal court along with 14 other defendants…
Strategic Analysis Leads to Quick Settlement of Patent Infringement Claim
A small oil field services company was sued by a behemoth in its industry for patent infringement. Facing a costly and time-intensive uphill battle, the company turned to us, looking…
Sale of Industry-Leading Patent Portfolio Funds Client’s Next Product
For nearly a decade, we have represented a prominent company in the video analytics space, building a high quality portfolio of patents protecting its industry-leading product. The portfolio was so…
Technical Knowledge, Team Approach Key in Managing Complex Patent Portfolio Transactions
In today’s deal-driven technology sector, a transaction’s value rests heavily in a target’s active patent portfolio. Often, the portfolio is the competitive edge the acquiring company is after in the first…
Final Rejection of Claims to cDNA Withdrawn After Filing Appeal Briefs
First Examiner finally rejected all pending claims because a few claims covered cDNA derived from a naturally occurring source (mRNA from a dog). The Examiner asserted that the cDNA as…
Maximizing Patent Value Through Scaling Up Process
A large state university approached us about an important process for carbon dioxide capture it had developed. The inventors were scheduled to present the technology at a conference within a…
Bilingual Attorneys Help Overseas Clients Overcome Language Barrier, Increase Quality of Patent Applications
In today’s global economy, patent applications often are filed in the United States after they have been filed abroad. With 14 bilingual attorneys and agents fluent in languages including Japanese,…
Strategic Approach Enables Client to Dramatically Increase Annual Patent Filings
Our clients’ patent filing expectations change each year. Sometimes, they can change dramatically in response to product releases, mergers, acquisitions and the like. Recently, a client drastically increased its annual…
Patterson + Sheridan Conducts an IP Mining Workshop for an Emerging Company, Which Led to the Company Identifying Key New Patentable Ideas
One of our multi-national diversified clients had invested in an emerging alternative energy company (the “Company”). This client was concerned the Company’s effort developing an IP portfolio was of less…
Patterson + Sheridan Conducts an IP Mining Workshop for an Emerging Company, Which Led to The Company Identifying Key New Patentable Ideas
International Experience and Technical/Legal Expertise Allows us to Quickly Protect a Client from Infringement Accusations
One of our large multi-national clients approached us when a competitor accused it of selling a device that infringed on the competitor’s Chinese patent. The device was made in Europe…
Closely Partnering with our Client Leads to Multiple Patent Applications and Earlier Filing Dates
One of our clients, a Fortune 500 equipment manufacturing company, regularly conducts engineering design review sessions that include Patterson + Sheridan attorneys. The client includes us in these sessions to…
A Global Approach to Serving Clients
One of our US-based clients is a consumer products company with affiliates in China; the Chinese affiliates produce goods for sale in the US and Chinese markets. Protecting intellectual property…
Filing Amicus Briefs with the U.S. Supreme Court
Lawyers from Patterson + Sheridan have filed amicus briefs on behalf of clients at the Federal Circuit and the United States Supreme Court. In Limelight Networks, Inc. v. Akamai Techs.,…
Successful Trial Work for Satisfied Clients
Patterson + Sheridan has established a strong track record of performing repeat trial work for satisfied clients. Working in close consultation with our clients, we use strategic motions to maximize…
Evaluating Portfolios, Assessing Risks
Patterson + Sheridan has extensive experience in helping clients identify and evaluate intellectual property portfolios for possible acquisition. Recognizing the need to move swiftly in the competitive IP marketplace, we…
Helping Pioneering Start-Ups Develop IP Portfolios Worth Millions
Patterson + Sheridan is well-versed in helping start-up companies develop – and maximize the value of – their patent portfolios. During the infancy of online social networks, we helped one…
Improving Efficiency, Reducing Costs for Asia-based Client
Patterson + Sheridan manages the patent prosecution process for one of the world’s top 10 U.S. patent issuers. While other law firms might be deterred by language barriers and travel…
Drafting and Filing Five Patent Applications in Five Days
One of our large Fortune 500 clients came to us with a unique problem — a new product was shipping in a week and not a single patent had been…
Pushing Back to Patent Critical MEMS Technology
Even the most well-executed patent applications can be rejected based on the perspective of the examiner who processes them. In this case, our high-profile MEMS client received a rejection from…
Virtual Patent Counsel for Small Motor Leader
Long before fluid dynamic bearings became the popular motor for hard drives, Patterson + Sheridan began working with a client with aims to enter the small motor technology industry. We…
Virtual Patent Counsel for Disk-Drive Technology Company
At its peak, the disk drive industry had more than 50 companies, including major players such as IBM, Samsung, Hitachi, Toshiba and others. Today, however, only three firms remain. We…
M&A Due Diligence Saves Company Millions
By identifying potentially problematic third-party patents in the early due diligence stages of an M&A transaction, Patterson + Sheridan helped lower the overall acquisition cost by tens of millions of…
U.S. Patent Applications for Foreign Clients and Law Firms
Non-U.S. IP firms and clients want their patent applications filed in the U.S. for a competitive fee and without the monthly billing that so often accompanies U.S. practice. Under a…
Cisco Systems, Inc. – Flip Video Camera Design Patents
In 2009, Cisco Systems acquired the technology company that pioneered the original “Flip Video” cameras. Cisco turned to Patterson + Sheridan to protect the ornamental appearance of the point-and-shoot video…
World Energy Systems, Inc. – Patent Portfolio Development
Patterson + Sheridan has secured numerous patents for World Energy Systems, Inc., a developer of enhanced oil & gas recovery technologies. During this process, we developed an in-depth knowledge of…
Autodesk / Avid Technologies Technology Acquisition Due Diligence
When Autodesk, a global leader in 2D and 3D design software, purchased the 3D animation graphics assets of Avid Technologies, a worldwide leader in editing and animation tools for film,…
Avanex Patent Portfolio Mining and Analysis
When optical networking supplier Avanex (now Oclaro) bought the optical component businesses of Alcatel and Corning in a share deal valued at about $63.5 million, it acquired more than 1,000…