Our Professionals
As a boutique IP firm, we combine our legal and professional experience with the latest data about USPTO Examiners to strategically plan each step during patent prosecution. As professionals with technical backgrounds across the technical spectrum, we draft patents on just about every type of innovation under the sun. Our experienced trademark professionals handle everything from new trademark filings to litigation before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB) and appeals to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
Partners
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Hawkes KevinKevin Hawkes Patent Attorney Send message »
As a registered patent attorney, Kevin Hawke’s innate ability to understand how things work and how to solve problems has proven critical in securing valuable intellectual property rights before the USPTO. A firm partner, Kevin has been involved in the successful prosecution of hundreds of patent applications across a wide range of technologies. A chemist prior to becoming a patent attorney, he has extensive experience working with anything from simple mechanical devices to complex computer network systems.
Kevin studied and reviewed thousands of decisions issued by the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). This has provided Kevin with in-depth insight into examiner behavior and which arguments and strategies succeed in obtaining a patent. Such experience allows him to make better-informed decisions when prosecuting patent applications, which can translate into cost savings and better patents for his clients. Kevin has extensive experience in successfully handling appeals before the PTAB.
In addition to patents, Kevin works extensively in trademark prosecution and enforcement-related matters. Kevin has been involved in the successful cancellation of trademark registrations as well as the defense of trademarks involved in cancellation proceedings before the TTAB. Kevin has also been involved in preparing and arguing trademark matters before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
Prior to joining the firm, Kevin worked in-house with the intellectual property legal department of Fortune 500 semiconductor manufacturer, onsemi (formerly ON Semiconductor). While at onsemi, Kevin experienced first-hand how to strategically protect a multi-national company’s intellectual property on a national and international scale leveraging the intellectual property for success. Kevin daily uses his experience to help other companies, whether publicly traded companies or start-ups, work to meet their goals and aspirations.
Kevin is also a member of the Intellectual Property Owner’s Association (IPO) and actively participates with other leading IP professionals across the country in IPO’s U.S. Patent Office Practice Committee.
Kevin has been named as a Rising Star by Southwest Super Lawyers (ThomsonReuters) each year since 2020.
When not working, you can usually find Kevin chasing any one of his four children or lost in the desert on his mountain bike.
Kevin is licensed as an attorney in Arizona and Utah and is admitted to practice before the USPTO, in federal court in the District of Arizona, and at the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals.
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McDowell SeanSean McDowell Patent Attorney Send message »
Sean is a registered patent and trademark attorney at IPTechLaw, specializing in intellectual property matters related to patent preparation and prosecution. With a strong foundation in engineering, Sean brings a unique perspective to his practice and adeptly navigates the intricacies of intellectual property law. His extensive experience as a sales and electrical engineer at Schneider Electric provides him with a deep understanding of electrical power distribution systems and related technologies.
Sean holds a Juris Doctor from Belmont University College of Law and a Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering from Arizona State University. Sean is licensed as an attorney in Arizona and is admitted to practice before the USPTO.
Outside work, Sean enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters and is an avid Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner.
Professionals
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Smith BillBill Smith Former Administrative Patent Judge
Bill’s first career included serving over thirty years at the USPTO, the last nineteen of which were as an administrative patent judge at the now Patent Trial and Appeal Board (“PTAB”). While serving as an administrative patent judge, Bill was responsible for reaching final agency decisions in interferences and on ex parte appeals involving original and reissue applications and reexamination proceedings. The cases assigned to Bill involved diverse technologies including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, diagnostics, and medical devices. While at the USPTO, Bill taught at the Patent Academy, developed and presented seminars on appeal practice, appeal conferences, and claim construction to patent managers and examiners.
In his practice, Bill assists clients with complex prosecution matters and consults as an expert in patent litigation on patentability, PTO practice and procedure, claim construction, and inequitable conduct issues as well as in AIA post-grant trials. Bill has also served as a special master for a district court for claim construction purposes and as a third party neutral in an interference proceeding. Bill is also experienced in consulting as an expert on issues in appeals before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
Bill draws on his extensive knowledge of patent prosecution law, practice, and procedure to develop innovative plans for moving patent applications that are “stuck” in the USPTO forward in a positive direction. Bill makes appropriate use of examiner interviews, petitions, and appeals, as well as modern patent prosecution data analytics profiling the patent examiner and art unit in these efforts to help provide cost-effective counseling.
Bill frequently addresses bar and professional associations on appeals before the PTAB and other topics. Bill received a BChE degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology, a J.D from the University of Baltimore and was admitted to practice in Virginia (now on retired status). He is currently a patent agent before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
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Amberson DianneDianne Amberson Senior IP Paralegal Send message »
Dianne was born and raised in Bournemouth, England, and spent three years living in Ludwigsburg, Germany. After moving permanently to the United States, Dianne began her career in intellectual property (IP) working in a boutique IP law firm in the Phoenix area. Over the next 21 years, Dianne expanded her knowledge and expertise in the intellectual property arena working with numerous domestic and foreign clients in many countries of the world, including China. Dianne is skilled in trademark prosecution, trademark infringement, patent prosecution, patent litigation, and foreign patent and trademark prosecution. Her passion and expertise lie in assisting clients from around the world with their global IP needs. When not at work, Dianne enjoys travel, martial arts, writing, and volunteering in the community, but her favorite activity is spending time with her family.
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Patel DharaDhara Patel IP Paralegal Send message »
Dhara is a highly skilled and dedicated paralegal with exceptional attention to detail, strong organizational skills, and an upbeat, positive attitude. She is becoming well-versed in the latest intellectual property strategies for domestic and international patent and trademark practices and is dedicated to supporting our clients throughout the entire patent and trademark lifecycle.
Dhara graduated from Arizona State University with a BS in criminal justice and criminology and is devoted to expanding her knowledge and skills in the field of intellectual property law.
In her free time, Dhara enjoys spending time with her family and friends. An avid thrill seeker, she can be found huddled under a warm blanket late at night watching true crime documentaries and the latest suspense thrillers.
