California

Patent attorneys in California

California hosts 9,553 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 Fenwick and West, LLP, Cooley LLP, and Kritzer McPhee LLP.

Top cities in California

All practitioners in California

John Thomas McNelis

Reg. 37186

Patent attorney

Fenwick and West, LLP

Mountain View, CA · 94041

650-335-7133

Katherine Ellen McNutt

Reg. 77307

Patent attorney

Cooley LLP

Los Angeles, CA · 90071

213-561-3250

Ryan S. McPhee

Reg. 59752

Patent attorney

Kritzer McPhee LLP

San Diego, CA · 92101

619-758-3600

James L. McPherson

Reg. 63804

Patent attorney

Danville, CA · 94526

925-330-2981

Scott E McPherson

Reg. 53307

Patent attorney

Adli Law Group PC

Los Angeles, CA · 90071

213-623-6546

David C McPhie

Reg. 56412

Patent attorney

Irell & Manella LLP

Newport Beach, CA · 92660

949-760-5216

Jeffrey M McQuiston

Reg. 63109

Patent agent

McQIPLaw

San Diego, CA · 92177

858-232-8923

Susan Arlene McQuiston

Reg. 47787

Patent attorney

Law Office of Susan McQuiston

San Francisco, CA · 94114

415-205-6977

Timothy J. McShane

Reg. 82229

Patent attorney

Auburn, CA · 95602

408-221-1721

Karen K. McSwain

Reg. 64306

Patent agent

Shay Glenn LLP

San Mateo, CA · 94403

650-287-2174

Bryan G McWhorter

Reg. 70780

Patent attorney

Knobbe, Martens, Olson & Bear, LLP

Irvine, CA · 92614

206-779-3071

Shawn O. Meade

Reg. 78308

Patent agent

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-350-2342

Terrance A Meador

Reg. 30298

Patent attorney

Achates Power, Inc.

San Diego, CA · 92121

858-535-9920

Robert R Meads

Reg. 22796

Patent attorney

Redondo Beach, CA · 90277

310-373-7621

Samuel C Means

Reg. 71517

Patent attorney

Greenberg Traurig, LLP

Los Angeles, CA · 90067

310-586-7854

Jonathan A Medina

Reg. 70560

Patent agent

San Pedro, CA · 90731

562-243-7373

Daniel C. Medynski

Reg. 62671

Patent agent

Oakland, CA · 94602

510-387-3800

Michael J Meehan

Reg. 54705

Patent attorney

VLP Law Group LLP

Palo Alto, CA · 94301

650-251-4218

Ronald James Meetin

Reg. 29089

Patent attorney

Mountain View, CA · 94043-4869

650-964-9767

Zaki E Megeed

Reg. 64403

Patent attorney

Genentech, Inc.

South San Francisco, CA · 94080

617-500-3212

Randy D. Mehlenbacher

Reg. 78872

Patent agent

Schox PC

San Francisco, CA · 94107-2768

888-775-9990

Sonia Mehmi

Reg. 84166

Patent agent

Vallejo, CA · 94591

707-334-5850

Sehar B Mehmood

Reg. 69222

Patent agent

Milpitas, CA · 95035

650-681-9052

Michelle L Mehok

Reg. 53314

Patent attorney

San Diego, CA · 92127

858-220-1719

Shailesh Mehra

Reg. 44934

Patent attorney

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP

Palo Alto, CA · 94304

650-849-5282

Amar K Mehta

Reg. 54309

Patent attorney

Google Inc.

Mountain View, CA · 94043

Anuja N. Mehta

Reg. 76408

Patent agent

Jones Day

San Diego, CA · 92121-3134

858-703-3130

Anusha A. Mehta

Reg. 65899

Patent agent

Fremont, CA · 94539

408-832-8845

Krishna Mehta

Reg. 81129

Patent agent

Rambus Inc.

San Jose, CA · 95134-1257

408-807-9659

Mainak H Mehta

Reg. 46924

Patent attorney

Procopio, Cory, Hargreaves & Savitch LLP

Palo Alto, CA · 94304

650-645-9010

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?

9,553 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.