Intellectual Property: Oregon

THE FIRM This boutique has the oldest IP practice in Oregon and remains at the head of the pack, handling contentious and noncontentious work for clients both locally and nationally. The firm has strong connections with the biotechnology, software and chemical industries, and has worked with marquee names such as Amazon.com and Microsoft.

Sources say: "It has a sophisticated practice which extends well outside Oregon in terms of cases and clients." 

KEY INDIVIDUALS William Noonan is a "very skilled and accomplished patent prosecutor." He has a degree in medicine, which makes him an invaluable resource for universities and research institutes such as the Center for Disease Control & Prevention.

John Vandenberg is considered by authoritative sources to be "one of the top patent litigators in Oregon, if not the country." A veteran of the IP Bar, he has a distinguished record representing clients such as Microsoft. 

Scott Davis acts primarily for clients in the chemical, electronic and mechanical industries. Other notable clients include Columbia River Knife & Tool and Vestas-American Wind Technology. 

THE FIRM Stoel Rives is widely acknowledged as being one of the region's leading providers of legal services, and its IP practice, based in Portland, is no exception. The team's patent prosecution work draws praise, particularly within areas such as LCD display, laser technology and life sciences. The team is also accomplished in contentious matters and has recently been representing Datalogic Scanning in patent reexamination proceedings brought by Honeywell Scanning & Mobility.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Paul Angello has a background in electronic engineering, and much of his practice is devoted to the prosecution of patents and infringement litigation in that field. He has recently filed various patent applications on behalf of Electro Scientific Industries.

Kassim Ferris engages in patent prosecution, trademark registration and infringement litigation. He has experience in a number of areas, from optics, electronics, image processing and garments to building supplies. He represents Leupold & Stevens in all patent and trademark matters, including prosecution, licensing and litigation.

"Excellent trial lawyer" Randolph Foster litigates in patent infringement and other IP disputes for clients in industries as varied as electronics, biotechnology, forest products, healthcare and telecom. He has been representing ESCO Corporation in an ICC international arbitration dispute with its Australian licensee.

John Rafter is a seasoned patent lawyer, who manages portfolios, gives opinions and prosecutes patents for clients in computing, software, medical devices and renewable energy production. He is leading on the Datalogic Scanning matter mentioned above.

Gary Glisson advises on the IP and corporate requirements faced by emerging businesses in the tech space. He is an experienced counselor on patent, trademark and copyright issues. 

Wally Van Valkenburg's expertise lie where IP and corporate law converge. He often works on M&A and other transactions involving technology transfers, licensing, joint development and internet-related agreements.

Anne Glazer is described as being "wonderful - very thoughtful, thorough and pragmatic." She provides counseling and advice on patents, trademarks, trade secrets, software and entertainment law.

THE FIRM This dedicated IP boutique maintains a strong and loyal following among businesses across the West Coast. The attorneys - most of whom have science and technology backgrounds - help prepare, prosecute and manage patents for clients in the electronics, chemical, mechanical engineering, apparel and software industries, among others. It also offers expertise in trademarks and copyrights.  

KEY INDIVIDUALS Alexander Johnson is "one of the long-time deans of the local patent Bar," according to sources. He is adept in infringement litigation and also helps clients to prepare and prosecute their patents and manage their portfolios. 

THE FIRM The eight-strong team enjoys a well-deserved reputation for its work across the spectrum of IP, including copyright, software licensing, trademark registration, trade secrets, patents prosecution and litigation. The team is currently representing Tektrak - the developer of software that enables the user to remotely track their mobile device - in a trademark infringement action filed against it by a competitor, ActiveTrak.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Vicki Ballou advises clients on how to safeguard and exploit their IP assets. She has particular renown in engagements involving transactional licensing and contract work, and distributors' agreements. She has recently been handling licensing agreements for software company Jenkon.

David Aman is "a very fine litigator" specializing in defendant and plaintiff copyright, patent and trademark infringement actions, as well as cases regarding the violation of trade secrets and noncompete agreements. He has been in charge of the Tektrak representation.

THE FIRM This boutique is composed of lawyers with science and engineering degrees as well as legal qualifications, putting it in an excellent position to promote, prosecute and defend the integrity of its clients' inventions and IP assets. Its clients hail largely from the hi-tech, electronic and mechanical engineering spheres, and the team has experience in a considerable number of domestic and international jurisdictions.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Jacob Vilhauer advises the makers of mechanical and electrical products, as well as sports and leisure equipment, on patents, trademarks, licensing and infringement litigation.

"Strong, capable litigator" Peter Staples impresses with the versatility of his practice, which also takes in the full spectrum of noncontentious IP advice. 

THE FIRM The Portland office of this national firm takes engagements from clients across the industrial landscape, and is particularly well known for its work in the biotech and pharmaceutical sectors, as well as in cases involving software, hardware and mechanical engineering. The emphasis is mainly on litigation, although the team also does noncontentious licensing work.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Scott Eads concentrates exclusively on litigation, for the most part in patent cases, with the remainder of his practice being taken up with trademark, copyright and trade secret suits.

THE FIRM This firm enters the rankings on the strength of its IP team's record and experience helping clients in the biochemistry, biotechnology, clean technology, medical device, industrial plant and manufacturing fields protect and profit from their IP assets. It has the capacity to take on patent prosecution, trademark registration, litigation and all manner of other IP-related work.

KEY INDIVIDUALS Peter Heuser has an excellent reputation as a patent infringement litigator, although he also handles patent prosecution and litigation involving trademarks, copyrights and other related matters.

David Axelrod "has the confidence of his clients for litigation," particularly that involving patent and trade secret disputes.