California

Patent attorneys in California

California hosts 9,567 active patent practitioners registered with the USPTO Office of Enrollment and Discipline. Patent attorneys and patent agents can both prepare and file patent applications, but only patent attorneys can also offer legal advice on prosecution strategy, freedom-to-operate analyses, and infringement opinions in California. Practitioners are concentrated across 20 cities, with the largest clusters in the metros listed below. Notable firms with multiple registered practitioners in the state include Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP, John Henkhaus, and Foley & Lardner LLP.

Top cities in California

All practitioners in California

Michael P Henick

Reg. 83478

Patent agent

Winchester, CA · 92596

619-200-4403

John D Henkhaus

Reg. 42656

Patent attorney

John Henkhaus

San Jose, CA · 95139

408-578-8556

Kevin C. Hennessy

Reg. 81123

Patent agent

Huntington Beach, CA · 92648

714-625-6311

Caitlin L Henning

Reg. 83505

Patent agent

Foley & Lardner LLP

San Francisco, CA · 94104

415-438-6418

Guy P Henry

Reg. 77061

Patent agent

San Diego, CA · 92129

858-334-8410

James A Henry

Reg. 41064

Patent attorney

Anaheim, CA · 92807

714-615-9484

Clayton R Henson

Reg. 75150

Patent attorney

Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-707-4000

Paul Marvin Hentzel

Reg. 24602

Patent attorney

Palo Alto, CA · 94301

650-326-8254

Richard J Hepner

Reg. 53016

Patent attorney

HepnerLaw

Mission Viejo, CA · 92692

949-280-4800

Susan E. Hepp

Reg. 78022

Patent agent

Morrison & Foerster LLP

San Francisco, CA · 94105

415-268-6019

Scott Alan Herbst

Reg. 35189

Patent attorney

San Francisco, CA · 94114

415-621-4707

Wendy A. Herby

Reg. 59373

Patent attorney

Apple, Inc.

Cupertino, CA · 95014

408-996-1010

James F Herkenhoff

Reg. 51241

Patent attorney

Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-707-4000

Jacob C. Hermann

Reg. 78604

Patent agent

Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP

San Francisco, CA · 94111

415-273-4353

Gregory A Hermanson

Reg. 53018

Patent attorney

Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear LLP

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-707-4000

Fred C Hernandez

Reg. 41832

Patent attorney

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C.

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-314-1518

Ruth Hernandez

Reg. 902996

Limited recognition

University of San Francisco School of Law

San Francisco, CA · 94117-1080

760-626-6531

John R Herr

Reg. 76006

Patent agent

Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson, LLP

Oakland, CA · 94607

818-270-1760

Jaime B Herren

Reg. 65317

Patent agent

Doyle Low LLP

Lafayette, CA · 94549

925-295-1800

Pablo Herrera· Jr.

Reg. 81482

Patent attorney

Applied Materials

Santa Clara, CA · 95054

408-219-9334

Brett A Hertzberg

Reg. 42660

Patent attorney

Dolby Laboratories

San Francisco, CA · 94103-1410

415-558-0200

Deborah M Herzfeld

Reg. 52211

Patent attorney

McNeill PLLC

San Diego, CA · 92108

703-536-1009

James M Heslin

Reg. 29541

Patent attorney

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, PC

Palo Alto, CA · 94304

650-493-9300

Madeline S. Hess

Reg. 79559

Patent agent

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

San Franciso, CA · 94107

641-512-0858

Robert A Hess

Reg. 57411

Patent attorney

Walnut Creek, CA · 94595

Amy L Hessler

Reg. 50310

Patent agent

FibroGen, Inc

San Francisco, CA · 94158

415-978-1742

Michael Hetherington

Reg. 32357

Patent attorney

Palo Alto, CA · 94306

650-275-7476

Jean Ann Hetsko

Reg. 51335

Patent attorney

San Diego, CA · 92126

858-536-1247

Claudia H Hetzer Egger

Reg. 63330

Patent agent

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-314-1489

Benjamin D Heuberger

Reg. 74474

Patent attorney

K & L Gates LLP

Irvine, CA · 92614

949-623-3609

Common questions

Do I need a patent attorney based in California?

No. Every USPTO-registered patent practitioner is licensed to file applications on behalf of inventors in any state, regardless of where the practitioner's office is. Choosing a California-based practitioner can simplify in-person inventor signings, local meetings, and same-time-zone calls, but it is not a legal requirement.

How many patent attorneys are licensed in California?

9,567 active USPTO-registered patent practitioners list a California office address on the OEDCI roster. This includes both patent attorneys (who can also offer legal advice) and patent agents (who can prepare and file patents but not offer broader legal advice).

What is the difference between a patent attorney and a patent agent?

Both pass the USPTO Patent Bar and can prepare, file, and prosecute patent applications. Only patent attorneys also hold a state bar license, meaning they can additionally offer legal advice on infringement, licensing, and litigation strategy. Patent agents tend to charge less per hour and are common at large in-house IP departments.