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, Buche & Associates, P.C., and University of San Francisco School of Law.

Top cities in California

All practitioners in California

John Karl Buche

Reg. 46584

Patent attorney

Buche & Associates, P.C.

La Jolla, CA · 92037

858-459-9111

Natalie Buck

Reg. 902567

Limited recognition

University of San Francisco School of Law

San Francisco, CA · 94117-1080

David K Buckingham

Reg. 60695

Patent attorney

23andMe, Inc

Moutian View, CA · 94041

415-902-3429

Delmas R Buckley· Jr

Reg. 33657

Patent agent

Robert Buckley

Livermore, CA · 94551-0272

925-447-4990

Kevin W Buckley

Reg. 45901

Patent attorney

Torrey Pines Law Group, PC

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-869-1250

Brian L Buckwalter

Reg. 46585

Patent agent

Genentech, Inc.

South San Francisco, CA · 94080

650-225-8018

Rimma Budnitskaya

Reg. 48237

Patent attorney

Splunk Inc.

San Francisco, CA · 94107

415-568-4209

Erin O Buell

Reg. 57450

Patent attorney

Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP

San Francisco, CA · 94111

415-273-7585

Robert Buergi

Reg. 58125

Patent agent

DLA Piper LLP

East Palo Alto, CA · 94303

Gabriele E. Bugaisky

Reg. 61081

Patent agent

Newbury Park, CA · 91320

805-375-0309

Lawrence B Bugaisky

Reg. 35086

Patent attorney

Newbury Park, CA · 91320

805-375-0309

Kirk A Buhler

Reg. 52670

Patent agent

Buhler & Associates

Corona, CA · 92881

951-735-4001

Elizabeth T N Bui

Reg. 58360

Patent attorney

ViaCyte, Inc.

San Diego, CA · 92121

858-909-5309

Ronit Buller

Reg. 69304

Patent attorney

Cupertino, CA · 95014

408-489-3406

Joseph W Bulock

Reg. 37103

Patent attorney

Joseph W Bulock LLC

Thousand Oaks, CA · 91360

805-405-5453

Aykut Bultan

Reg. 65794

Patent agent

Aykut Bultan

Santa Clara, CA · 95051

917-582-1395

Demetria A Buncum

Reg. 58848

Patent attorney

ResMed

San Diego, CA · 92123

858-836-6741

Jared C Bunker

Reg. 58474

Patent attorney

Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

Irvine, CA · 92614

949-760-0404

Christopher F Bunn

Reg. 51511

Patent agent

Leap Frog Entrprs INC

Emeryville, CA · 94608

510-420-5000

Stephen D Burbach

Reg. 40285

Patent attorney

Loza & Loza, LLP

Upland, CA · 91786

714-453-9824

Ronald L Burback

Reg. 63369

Patent agent

Pleasanton, CA · 94566

925-413-6436

Marcus A Burch

Reg. 52673

Patent attorney

Illumina, Inc.

San Diego, CA · 92122

858-882-6657

Douglas A Burcombe

Reg. 36466

Patent attorney

San Diego, CA · 92131

619-890-7448

Harland L Burge· Jr

Reg. 28697

Patent attorney

Burge and Strid

Laguna Hills, CA · 92653

949-699-4162

Cheryl T Burgess

Reg. 55030

Patent attorney

Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP

Irvine, CA · 92614

949-721-2935

Katherine A Burgess

Reg. 82385

Patent attorney

Baker Botts LLP

San Francisco, CA · 94111

415-291-6246

Herbert G Burkard

Reg. 24500

Patent attorney

Finesse Solutions, LLC

San Jose, CA · 95134

408-570-9013

William J Burke

Reg. 31813

Patent attorney

The John Randolph Haynes

Los Angeles, CA · 90017

213-623-9151

Scott L Burkette

Reg. 73284

Patent attorney

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-350-2234

Dianne Burkhard

Reg. 41650

Patent attorney

Laguna Niguel, CA · 92677

949-382-0583

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.