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Jonathan N. Osder
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Jonathan N. Osder
Donahue Gallagher Woods LLP
300 Lakeside Drive
Suite 1900
Oakland, CA 94612
Phone: (510) 451-0544 | Fax: (415) 381-7515
http://www.donahue.com
IP Counseling, Registration, Licensing & Enforcement.
Legal Topic
Intellectual Property
Preferred New Clients
Copyright: I really enjoy working with professional animators, entrepreneurial programmers, and other creators (and owners) of content who are accomplished in their respective fields, have business experience, are accustomed to meeting deadlines, and have retained a good sense of humor.
Other IP (Trademarks, Trade Secrets, Patent Licensing, Rights of Publicity and Merchandising): Same as above.
Sub-Categories
Intellectual Property
- Copyrights
- Technology Licensing
- Trademarks
- Trade Secrets
- Literary Arts
- Publishing
- Internet
- Media Arts
Bar Admissions
CA, Jan 1994
Bar Number: 169538
Other Court Admissions
State of California, U.S. Federal District
U.S. Districts - Northern
Association Memberships
State Bar of California (Intellectual Property Section) and the Alameda County Bar Association
Continuing Education
I annually exceed all State Bar continuing education requirements.
Papers and Publications
In law school I edited many articles, both as a law review editor and I also was hired by professors to edit articles they went on to publish.
Example Cases
I am a transactional IP attorney. As a result, I do not have many public cases to discuss. Some of my more interesting transactions are governed by attorney-client privilege and confidentiality provisions. A review of my bio on our firm's website (www.donahue.com) is probably the best indicator of the type of work I regularly do and the clients with whom I have the pleasure to work.
Education
Degree:
B.A.
School:
University of California, at Berkeley
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1989
Focus and Accomplishments:
English major
Degree:
J.D.
School:
University of San Francisco Law School
City:
San Francisco
State:
CA
Year:
1993
Focus and Accomplishments:
Comments Editor of the University of San Francisco Law Review
Number of Attorneys
35
State Licensed In
California
Firm Focus and History
Although my focus is on IP law, our firm, Donahue Gallagher Woods, LLP, conducts a highly diversified civil practice, providing a full range of litigation, business counseling, transactional, and alternative dispute resolution services in the areas of business, corporate, real estate, intellectual property, employment, immigration, creditors' rights, and insurance, as well as services in the areas of trusts and estate planning. Our clients range from individuals, sole proprietorships, and small, family-owned businesses to multi-national Fortune 500 corporations, including some of the country's most prominent technology companies and retailers.
The firm was founded in 1918 and has offices in Oakland, Mill Valley, and Walnut Creek.
Previous Employment Summary
Like many of my partners, I started my legal career with our firm. Between graduating from law school in 1993 and starting at DGW in 1994, I worked in Melbourne, Australia for Phillips Fox Solicitors, one of Australia's largest law firms.
Activities and Awards
None on any regular basis.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I love it. One reason I was happy to be listed on this site is because I regularly encourage my clients to read Nolo Press' books on IP law so the client will be well informed regarding the work I am doing. This typically results in a more appreciative and helpful client. For clients who regularly encounter the same legal issue(s) in their business and wish to better understand the law, I often tell them that they should view our legal fees and their interactive process with me as part of their own legal education.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
In my experience clients who prepare detailed deal points that clearly express in cursory form their wishes and concerns are great. I have, however, rarely encountered a client-created agreement that did not need a lot of help, both to articulate the provisions more precisely and to address sundry underlying legal concerns. The review, consulting, and revision process on such documents can frustrate both client and attorney and usually will result in time delays and increased associated hourly costs. There are no one-size-fits-all "forms" or "boilerplate" provisions that can be used in all circumstances and that are based on law or prudent practices that will not change over time or based on different circumstances. Drafting legal documents is what I have done almost every day for well over a decade. There definitely is an art to it and nearly every agreement will have components that are unique to the dynamics of each situation.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
That's not our customary practice.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I'm not sure I ever really did make that decision. I always wanted to be a writer. I wrote copy for an advertising agency in Los Angeles as a teenager, composed songs for my friends' bands, and always wondered who owned those works I created--especially when they were sometimes used without any payment. I studied English at U.C. Berkeley both to hone my writing skills and to learn vicariously from the experiences of the characters in the books I read. I again was curious how one owned those characters or the ideas of the underlying stories. When I graduated it was a tough job market and I figured I'd attend law school because I valued the general applicability of legal education. In my second year I took a copyright law course taught by the legendary Professor McCarthy. I was so fascinated to discover that there was an actual body of law dedicated to the very intellectual property ideas with which I had been grappling. It occurred to me that it would be cool to have as clients other creative people. I've been very fortunate to work with some incredible animators, musicians, programmers, and prominent companies.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
There's no substitute for experience. At the risk of being tautological, the best experience that helps me be a better lawyer is my actual work experience! :) There definitely are so many things that I now handle in a much more sophisticated manner than I did, say, 12 years ago.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
(Please see above under "Why Did You Decide to Be a Lawyer")
What do you like best about your career?
What I like best is definitely the people with whom I interact and the awesome things they create.
Tell us about your law firm:
It's probably best just to check out our firm's website at www.donahue.com
What are your strengths and style?
Clients tell me I am perceptive, intelligent, efficient, and have a unique ability to maintain a good sense of humor even in stressful circumstances. My expertise is copyright law and license agreements.
Direct, open, professionally relaxed, and respectful.
Personal Interests:
In no particular order: nearly all ocean activities (kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, boogie boarding / body surfing), skiing, gardening, meditating, creating things for--and fixing things around--my house, and playing basketball to name a few. :)
Office Manager/Assistant
Brenda Johnson
Fax
(415) 381-7515
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Emergency After Hours
No
Foreign Languages
Several of our attorneys speak other languages. For more information, please see www.donahue.com
Additional Offices
Mill Valley, CA
591 Redwood Highway
Suite 1200
Mill Valley, CA 94941
(415) 381-4161
Walnut Creek, CA
1646 N. California Boulevard
Suite 310
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
(925) 746-7770
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
In certain circumstances such as incorporations, we offer flat fees; otherwise we typically will only work hourly.
Hourly Rates
My hourly rate (through July 2009) is $420.
Free Initial Consultation?
I do not typically offer a free consultation, but will spend a few minutes speaking with prospective clients to help each of us determine whether engaging our firm makes good sense.
Typical Retainer
Minimum retainer is $2,000 or the amount of anticipated fees for the first month of work to be performed, whichever is greater.
Nolo's Licensing Check
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.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
