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 Morrison & Foerster LLP, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C., and Schmidt Patent Law. Inc..

Top cities in California

All practitioners in California

Jeffrey W Schmidt

Reg. 72552

Patent attorney

Morrison & Foerster LLP

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-314-7617

Jennifer J. Schmidt

Reg. 58844

Patent attorney

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, P.C.

San Francisco, CA · 94105

415-947-2059

Jill Jane Schmidt

Reg. 54172

Patent attorney

San Francisco, CA · 94110

415-297-5225

Kathryn A Schmidt

Reg. 47062

Patent attorney

Los Gatos, CA · 95031

Mark E Schmidt

Reg. 47063

Patent attorney

Schmidt Patent Law. Inc.

San Jose, CA · 95134

408-331-2329

Kimberly A Schmitt

Reg. 47065

Patent attorney

Intel Corporation

Santa Clara, CA · 65054

408-765-0521

Ross A Schmitt

Reg. 42529

Patent attorney

Redondo Beach, CA · 90277

310-937-0026

Susan M Schmitt

Reg. 34427

Patent attorney

Santa Rosa, CA · 95409

707-537-8237

Eberhard G H Schmoller

Reg. 25176

Patent attorney

Menlo Park, CA · 94025

650-322-9041

Craig W Schmoyer

Reg. 51007

Patent attorney

Lee, Hong, Degerman, Kang & Waimey

Los Angeles, CA · 90017

213-623-2221

David Schnapf

Reg. 31566

Patent attorney

Greenbrae, CA · 94904

415-925-2516

David M Schneck

Reg. 43094

Patent attorney

Law Offices of Schneck and Schneck

San Jose, CA · 95113

408-297-9733

Thomas Schneck· Jr

Reg. 24518

Patent attorney

Law Offices of Thomas Schneck

San Jose, CA · 95109-0005

408-297-9733

Lauren E Schneider

Reg. 63712

Patent attorney

Frost Brown Todd LLP

Los Angeles, CA · 90071

213-629-7022

Patrick E Schneider

Reg. 81188

Patent agent

Morrison & Foerster

Palo Alto, CA · 94304

650-813-5717

Todd M Schneider

Reg. 57629

Patent attorney

Paul Hastings LLP

Palo Alto, CA · 94304

650-320-1849

John P Schnurer

Reg. 52196

Patent attorney

Foley & Lardner LLP

San Diego, CA · 92130-3334

858-847-6745

Thomas C Schoeffler

Reg. 43385

Patent agent

Canon U.S.A., Inc.

Irvine, CA · 92612-2411

949-932-3141

Ronald J Schoenbaum

Reg. 38297

Patent attorney

Knobbe, Martens, Olson and Bear LLP

Irvine, CA · 92614

949-760-0404

Paula K Schoeneck

Reg. 39362

Patent agent

Ionis Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Carlsbad, CA · 92010

760-893-8258

Jeffrey S Schoenwald

Reg. 60602

Patent agent

Thousand Oaks, CA · 91320

805-844-3347

John Peter Scholl

Reg. 20921

Patent attorney

Sherman Oaks, CA · 91423

818-789-0838

Christian D Scholz

Reg. 58024

Patent attorney

Weaver Austin Villeneuve & Sampson LLP

Oakland, CA · 94607

510-663-1100

Vern D Schooley

Reg. 24649

Patent attorney

Fulwider Patton LLP

Los Angeles, CA · 90802

310-824-5555

Brandon C Schoonover

Reg. 75903

Patent agent

pSemi Corporation

San Diego, CA · 92121

619-723-7651

Scott A Schrader

Reg. 47928

Patent attorney

Covington & Burling

San Francisco, CA · 94111

415-591-7068

Kevin Eric Schraven

Reg. 59231

Patent attorney

Los Angeles, CA · 90048

323--94-4-0206

Donald Edward Schreiber

Reg. 29435

Patent attorney

Law Office of Donald E. Schreiber

Kings Beach, CA · 96143-2926

530-546-6041

Bradley L. Schrick

Reg. 67461

Patent agent

Fulton, CA · 95439

650-776-1049

Debra L Schroeder

Reg. 37717

Patent attorney

The Rand Corporation

Santa Monica, CA · 90407

310-393-0411

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.