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 Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc., Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP, and Paul E. Burns, PC dba Burns Legal.

Top cities in California

All practitioners in California

Felicia N. Burns

Reg. L1414

Limited recognition

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc.

San Diego, CA · 92130

858-617-7600

Michael P Burns

Reg. 64664

Patent agent

Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear, LLP

Irvine, CA · 92614

949-760-0404

Paul E Burns

Reg. 47463

Patent attorney

Paul E. Burns, PC dba Burns Legal

Los Angeles, CA · 90071

424-303-3066

William W Burns

Reg. 29901

Patent attorney

William W. Burns, Esq.

Los Gatos, CA · 95032

408-373-0451

John Burr· IV

Reg. 58475

Patent agent

JBLF, LLC

Encinitas, CA · 92024

949-735-5610

N Kenneth Burraston

Reg. 39923

Patent attorney

ViaSat, Inc.

Carlsbad, CA · 92009

760-893-3982

Leland C Burrill· II

Reg. 55032

Patent agent

San Francisco, CA · 94110

415-370-7739

Robert C. Burrows

Reg. 61039

Patent attorney

Cepheid

Sunnyvale, CA · 94089

408-400-4427

David T Burse

Reg. 37104

Patent attorney

Vista IP Law Group LLP

Cupertino, CA · 95014

408-777-2905

Laura M Burson

Reg. 40929

Patent attorney

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP

Los Angeles, CA · 90071

213-617-5527

Daphne L Burton

Reg. 45323

Patent attorney

Burton IP Law Group

Los Angeles, CA · 90067

310-867-2754

Luke J. Burton

Reg. 73614

Patent attorney

Diamond Bar, CA · 91765

909-551-8792

Robert A Burtzlaff

Reg. 35466

Patent attorney

SuVolta,Inc

Los Gatos, CA · 95032

408-482-2962

Bruce E Busby

Reg. 42374

Patent agent

Los Altos, CA · 94023-0045

650-465-0000

Trixia M. Buscagan

Reg. 84205

Patent attorney

Fenwick & West LLP

Mountain View, CA · 94041

650-335-6035

Mary E. Bush

Reg. 38402

Patent attorney

Advanced Bionics

Valencia, CA · 91355

661-362-7504

Trevor W. Butcher

Reg. 81623

Patent agent

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

San Diego, CA · 92130-3002

858-350-2300

Brittany R Butler

Reg. 76072

Patent agent

Atomwise Inc

San Francisco, CA · 94104

000-000-000

James E Butler

Reg. 40931

Patent attorney

Bioatla

San Diego, CA · 92121

858-558-0708 EXT. 3123

Raymond C Butt

Reg. 48943

Patent agent

Alamo, CA · 94507

925-788-1536

Sara M Butterfield

Reg. 70337

Patent agent

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich and Rosati

San Diego, CA · 92130-3002

858-350-2300

Karlton C Butts

Reg. 39126

Patent attorney

Manhattan Beach, CA · 90267

310-489-6506

Gabriela I Buttz

Reg. 50246

Patent agent

San Francisco, CA · 94109

415-990-0154

Robert D Buyan

Reg. 32460

Patent attorney

Stout, Uxa & Buyan, LLP

Laguna Hills, CA · 92653

949-450-1750

Venetia I. Byars

Reg. 76768

Patent agent

San Jose, CA · 95128

614-214-4549

Stephen D. Byers

Reg. 76613

Patent attorney

Byers IP Law & Consulting

Goleta, CA · 93117

310-962-3546

Patricia A Byrd

Reg. 52680

Patent agent

LifeScan

Milpitas, CA · 95035

408-956-4420

Christopher Ryan Byrnes

Reg. 65354

Patent attorney

Calyx Law

San Francisco, CA · 94110

510-570-6157

Timothy D. Byron

Reg. 76023

Patent agent

O'Melveny + Myers LLP

San Francisco, CA · 94111

415-984-8727

Oswaldo C Caballero

Reg. 80850

Patent attorney

Electronic Arts, Inc.

Redwood City, CA · 94065

165-062-80279

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.