my biography

I began my legal career after graduating in 1982 from George Washington University law school. My initial focus was on patent procurement. In 1986, I joined Hughes & Luce, LLP to manage the Firm's intellectual property practice. Between 1990 and 2000, I co-managed the Firm's IP practice group. I joined Akamai in August 2000 as Assistant General Counsel for Intellectual Property. After three years at Akamai, I returned to private practice in Dallas. I opened my law practice here in March, 2004.

I was admitted to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office in 1981. For the past 27+ years, I have written hundreds of patents for many companies and institutions including Akamai, MIT, IBM, and many others. Some of my representative patents are available here.

I have extensive experience in patent litigation. As lead counsel, I obtained a $10 million jury verdict in the Eastern District of Texas. That verdict was enhanced to a $16 million judgment that was later affirmed on appeal to the Federal Circuit. As in-house counsel, I managed Akamai Technologies, Inc. and MIT v. Cable & Wireless Internet Services, Inc. (D. Mass.). The Federal Circuit affirmed a jury verdict of infringement and a permanent injunction on several asserted claims. I have experience as lead counsel in Markman hearings, and I regularly provide product clearance and formal opinions regarding patent validity and infringement.

I have particular experience and expertise in complex PTO proceedings including ex parte reexamination, inter partes reexamination, and appeals to the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (BPAI).

I also have extensive experience in negotiating IP-related agreements including patent licenses, technology transfers, software licenses, technology development agreements, and others. I also have extensive experience in trademark, copyright and trade secret law, including procurement, licensing and enforcement activities.

I received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from GWU in 1978.