Legal Solutions for You,
Your Family & Your Business
Sharon Adams
Adams Law Office
2140 Shattuck Ave.
Suite 207
Berkeley, CA 94704
Phone: (510) 649-1331 | Fax: (925) 906-9023
http://www.adamslaw.biz
Intellectual Property Advice for Small Businesses
Legal Topic
Intellectual Property
Preferred New Clients
Patent Prosecution and Management: I prefer to work with small companies or individual inventors to file provisional, utility or design patents and to help clients use their intellectual property both defensively and offensively in court and in the marketplace.
Trademarks: I prefer to work with small businesses to obtain or defend trademarks.
Sub-Categories
Intellectual Property
- Copyrights
- Technology Licensing
- Trade Dress
- Trademarks
- Business Process
- Mechanical
- Patent Design
Bar Admissions
CA, Dec 1991
Bar Number: 154929
Specialty Certifications
Registered Patent Attorney
Other Court Admissions
California State Courts, United States District Courts for the Northern, Eastern, Central Districts of California, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
Association Memberships
California State Bar, Patent Bar, Contra Costa County Bar Association
Continuing Education
Speaker at National Association of Patent Practitioners meeting on patent inventorship. Speaker at Contra Costa County Bar Association meetings on fee agreements, and on patents. Speaker at the Inventor's Alliance on provisional patent applications.
Papers and Publications
Attorney for plaintiff in Kucharczyk v. Regents of University of California, 48 F.Supp. 2d 964 (N. Dist. CA 1999).
Example Cases
In Kucharczyk, (listed above) we raised inventorship issues to bring a successful settlement in that case. In Nguyen v. The Regents of the University of California, (San Francisco County Case number CGC-03-425230) we successfully represented a professor in a patent contract dispute with the university and an outside consulting company. In California Contractors Referral Service v. California Contractor Referral Service, (Northern Dist. Case No. C00-1370) I obtained an injunction to prevent trademark infringement and successfully settled the case.
Education
Degree:
J.D.
School:
University of California, Davis
City:
Davis
State:
CA
Year:
1991
Honors:
Order of the Coif
Focus and Accomplishments:
Editor of the Law Review
Degree:
B.S.
School:
University of Connecticut
City:
Storrs
State:
CT
Year:
1982
Focus and Accomplishments:
Majored in Biology
Number of Attorneys
1
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
My firm focuses on small business and individual inventors in obtaining patents, and in fending off competition through intellectual property management.
Previous Employment Summary
Harmon & Tootell, 1997-1999.
Contract attorney 1995-1997.
McCutchen, Doyle, Brown & Enersen, 1991-1995.
Activities and Awards
I am currently working with several clients in applying for patents and trademarks, licensing, and protecting their intellectual property. Additionally, I was recently elected to the Board of the National Association of Patent Practitioners and will be reviewing and commenting on rule changes proposed by the Patent & Trademark Office.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
It's best when clients come in with some knowledge of patents and the patenting process.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
I'm willing to do so.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
In the past I have coached clients and am willing to do so in the future in select cases. However, as a general rule, in this highly specialized field, I believe that people will do better with an attorney.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I studied biology while in college, because I liked science. After college, I realized that I could combine science with the law to help others.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
Lots of experience representing small businesses when the sharks come to try to use litigation or other tactics to undermine patents or other good inventions.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I like science and I like inventors -- they are generally creative people with a dream.
What do you like best about your career?
What I like best is helping people, whether to obtain a patent, or in litigation.
Tell us about your law firm:
I'm a solo who uses quality contractors do to patent searches and patent drawings. Also, will associate with other law firms in litigation.
What are your strengths and style?
I am able to come up with creative solutions to problems.
Practical. Try to avoid litigation because it generally wastes the time and money of small businesses.
Personal Interests:
Yoga, bicycling and travel.
Office Manager/Assistant
None
Fax
(925) 906-9023
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
None
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
$800 to file trademark application for 1 class of goods/services (includes PTO filing fee)
Hourly Rates
$295.
Free Initial Consultation?
No. I charge $100 for the hour.
Typical Retainer
$2,500 and the client must pre-pay all filing fees.
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Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
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