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 Cooley LLP, SCIMUSLEX LAW, and Shay Glenn, LLP.

Top cities in California

All practitioners in California

Scott K Shaw

Reg. 77755

Patent agent

Cooley LLP

Palo Alto, CA · 94304-1130

650-843-5000

Bernard Edward Shay

Reg. 32061

Patent attorney

SCIMUSLEX LAW

Los Altos, CA · 94022

415-890-3961

James Robert Shay

Reg. 32062

Patent attorney

Shay Glenn, LLP

San Mateo, CA · 94403

650-212-1700

Laleh Shayesteh

Reg. 47937

Patent attorney

University of California Berkeley, OTL

Berkeley, CA · 94704

510-642-4537

Ronald R Shea

Reg. 45098

Patent attorney

Brea, CA · 92821

408-499-9741

Mark J Shean

Reg. 54441

Patent attorney

Orrick Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP

Irvine, CA · 92614-8255

949-567-6700

Sam R. Sheedban

Reg. 74406

Patent attorney

Ruttenberg IP Law, PC

Los Angeles, CA · 90067

310-903-0824

Jamieson W Sheffield

Reg. 57906

Patent agent

Carlsbad, CA · 92010

760-822-6718

Alexander Shei

Reg. 74527

Patent agent

Innovation Counsel LLP

San Jose, CA · 95134

408-228-4524

Gholamhosein Sheikholeslami-Esfahani

Reg. 66741

Patent agent

Ancestry

San Francisco, CA · 94107

415-795-6062

Parag Shekher

Reg. 69884

Patent agent

Nautilus Biotechnology

San Carlos, CA · 94070

408-462-2278

Rahul Shekher

Reg. 69049

Patent attorney

Synopsys, Inc.

Sunnyvale, CA · 94085

650-584-5000

Anthony A Sheldon

Reg. 47078

Patent attorney

Medtronic Cardiovascular, Inc.

Santa Rosa, CA · 95403

707-543-0221

Jeffrey Glenn Sheldon

Reg. 27953

Patent attorney

Cislo & Thomas LLP

Los Angeles, CA · 90025

626-676-1201

Judith G Shelling

Reg. 55611

Patent attorney

Schmeiser, Olsen & Watts LLP

Goleta, CA · 93117

805-252-4964

Daniel R. Shelton

Reg. 68519

Patent attorney

Genentech, Inc.

South San Francisco, CA · 94080-4990

650-225-1177

Phillip M Shelton

Reg. 77627

Patent attorney

Jones Day

San Diego, CA · 92121-3134

858-314-1200

Bruce C. Shem

Reg. 64914

Patent attorney

SANTA CLARA, CA · 95054

408-598-2860

Suzanne Marie Shema

Reg. 32284

Patent attorney

San Rafael, CA · 94901

415-456-6326

Charles E Shemwell

Reg. 40171

Patent attorney

Charles Shemwell, Attorney at Law

Sunnyvale, CA · 94086

408-717-0721

David D. Shen

Reg. 63116

Patent attorney

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Palo Alto, CA · 94301-1479

650-815-2600

Fei Shen

Reg. 68520

Patent attorney

Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP

San Diego, CA · 92130-4088

858-509-4017

Gregory H Shen

Reg. 47940

Patent agent

Shen Biologix

San Francisco, CA · 94122

415-305-6503

Hanhong Shen

Reg. 76307

Patent agent

San Diego, CA · 92130

Hong Shen

Reg. 66940

Patent attorney

Palo Alto, CA · 94306

805-491-4005

Randy Shen

Reg. 59986

Patent agent

Abbott Vascular Inc.

Santa Clara, CA · 95054

408-845-1439

Sylvia YY Shen

Reg. 78273

Patent agent

Thousand Oaks, CA · 91362

626-278-1904

Philip T Sheng

Reg. 67527

Patent agent

San Diego, CA · 92130

805-405-4358

Michael Shenker

Reg. 34250

Patent attorney

Haynes and Boone, LLP

Palo Alto, CA · 94306

650-687-8857

Kevin I Shenkman

Reg. 47079

Patent agent

Hennigan Bennett & Dorman LLP

Los Angeles, CA · 90017

213-694-1093

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.