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 Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy, Fluidigm Corporation, and Belcher, Smolen & Van Loo LLP.

Top cities in California

All practitioners in California

William Healey Smith

Reg. 36160

Patent attorney

Parker Institute for Cancer Immunotherapy

San Francisco, CA · 94129

628-899-7621

William Maxwell Smith

Reg. 30223

Patent attorney

Fluidigm Corporation

San Francisco, CA · 94080

650-266-6000

Stuart D Smolen

Reg. 42161

Patent attorney

Belcher, Smolen & Van Loo LLP

San Francisco, CA · 94111

650-867-3751

Steven W Smyrski

Reg. 38312

Patent attorney

Smyrski Law Group, APC

Santa Monica, CA · 90405

310-397-9118

Anthony G Smyth

Reg. 55636

Patent attorney

Loza & Loza, LLP

Upland, CA · 91786

877-406-5164

Jeffrey D Smyth

Reg. 66153

Patent attorney

Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP

Palo Alto, CA · 94304

650-849-6600

Sophia A H M Sneddon

Reg. 81073

Patent agent

San Francisco, CA · 94109

714-932-2160

Claine L Snow

Reg. 72485

Patent attorney

Arcturus Therapeutics

San Diego, CA · 92121

858-900-2660

Margaret M Snowden

Reg. 37728

Patent attorney

Impax Laboratories, Inc.

Hayward, CA · 94544

510-240-6001

Joseph R Snyder

Reg. 39381

Patent attorney

Kipatrick Townsend

Walnut Creek, CA · 94596

415-472-5000

Mark H Snyder

Reg. 37239

Patent attorney

Halozyme Therapeutics, Inc.

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-442-3257

Todd N Snyder

Reg. 41320

Patent attorney

The DIRECTV Group, Inc.

El Segundo, CA · 90245

310-964-0560

Justin M Sobaje

Reg. 56252

Patent attorney

Foley & Lardner LLP

Los Angeles, CA · 90071

213-972-4596

Marie E. Sobieski

Reg. 72661

Patent attorney

Ropers, Majeski, Kohn & Bentley, PC

San Jose, CA · 95113

408-918-4512

Gregory K Sobolski

Reg. 72732

Patent attorney

Latham and Watkins LLP

San Francisco, CA · 94111

415-391-0600

Wayne P Sobon

Reg. 32438

Patent attorney

Pax Labs

San Francisco, CA · 94110

415-425-9055

Peter A Socarras

Reg. 54457

Patent attorney

San Francisco, CA · 94122

305-803-9571

Michael D Sochor

Reg. 58348

Patent attorney

Murabito, Hao & Barnes, LLP

San Jose, CA · 95113

408-938-9080

Marc A Sockol

Reg. 40823

Patent attorney

Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP

Menlo Park, CA · 94025

650-815-2602

Jan Richard Soderberg

Reg. 43352

Patent agent

Nuro Inc.

Mountain View, CA · 94043

415-423-2150

Jemy Soegeng

Reg. 44345

Patent attorney

Placentia, CA · 92870

714-572-3449

Sandra J. Sofinski

Reg. 59405

Patent attorney

Montclair, CA · 91763

310-948-8148

Pamela K. Soggu

Reg. 67297

Patent agent

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-720-8900

Jayson S Sohi

Reg. 71670

Patent attorney

Cotman IP Law Group, PLC

Pasadena, CA · 91103

626-405-1413

Sonhwa Sohn

Reg. 45121

Patent attorney

Sohn, SonHwa

Alhambra, CA · 91802

213-380-5939

Yon Sun Sohn

Reg. 71054

Patent attorney

Qualcomm Incorporated

San Diego, CA · 92121

858-744-7997

Bahrad A Sokhansanj

Reg. 78000

Patent attorney

Los Angeles, CA · 90034

747-224-7230

Brent D Sokol

Reg. 38621

Patent attorney

Jones Day

Los Angeles, CA · 90071

213-243-2396

Stanley William Sokoloff

Reg. 25128

Patent attorney

Blakely Sokoloff Taylor and Zafman LLP

Los Angeles, CA · 90025

310-207-3800

Isabella C. Solaro

Reg. 84814

Patent agent

San Francisco, CA · 94122

314-808-1082

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.