Legal Solutions for You,
Your Family & Your Business
Find a Lawyer >
Intellectual Property lawyers serving Alameda County, CA >
Stuart J. West
Back to Search Results
Stuart J. West
West & Associates, A Professional Corporation
1255 Treat Blvd
Third Floor
Walnut Creek, CA 94597
Phone: (925) 465-4603 ext. 204 | Fax: (925) 944-9598
http://www.westpatentlaw.com
http://www.iplawhelp.com
We Know the Creative Mind!
Legal Topic
Intellectual Property
Preferred New Clients
We prefer to work with clients who are just beginning the process of obtaining intellectual property protection for their new idea. However, we also have numerous clients that have come to us through a review of their current IP portfolios.
Sub-Categories
Intellectual Property
- Copyrights
- International Intellectual Property
- Technology Licensing
- Trade Dress
- Trademarks
- Trade Secrets
- Biotech & Medical
- Business Process
- Electronics & Computer
- Internet Patents
- Mechanical
- Patent Design
- Technology & Engineering
Bar Admissions
DC, Nov 2003
CA, Jun 1999
Bar Number: 202041
Specialty Certifications
Registered to Practice Before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (Registered Patent Attorney)
Other Court Admissions
Registered Patent Attorney, United States Patent and Trademark Office (1997). Solicitor England and Wales (2004) and Registered European Attorney (2005). CA Courts, All Levels. Washington D.C. - Court of Appeals, Fed. Dist. Court - Northern and Eastern Districts, California. U.S. Court of Appeals - 9th Circuit, Fed. Cir. Court of Appeals
Association Memberships
American Bar Association (ABA), Bar Association of San Francisco (BASF), American Intellectual Property Law Association.
Continuing Education
Meet or have exceeded all California Bar requirements.
Papers and Publications
Ethical Considerations in Intellectual Property Law--Stuart J. West & Cecily Anne Snyder--Licensing Executives Society Presentation (January 2003).
What Engineers Need to Know About Patent, Copyrights, Tradesecrets & Agreements - Society of Motion Picture & Television Engineers (2009).
Intellectual Property Fundamentals - Contra Costa Public Library System (2005-2008).
Cover Your Assets - Contra Costa County Bar Association (2006).
Example Cases
Such Content does not exist in Intellectual Property Prosecution matters. However, if needed, I can provide several reference numbers for patents and/or trademarks that I have successfully prosecuted.
Education
Degree:
B.S. in Electrical Engineering
School:
University of North Dakota
City:
Grand Forks
State:
ND
Year:
2010
Honors:
Academic Honors.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Senior Project in Digital Image Process & Techniques for Medial Images for Early Ulcer Detection.
Degree:
B.S. in Civil Engineering
School:
U.C. Berkeley
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1993
Honors:
Top 10% Class
Focus and Accomplishments:
Vice-President Chi Epsilon (Civil Engineering Honors Society)--Former Secretary, Chapter Secretary of the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Degree:
J.D.
School:
Golden Gate University, School of Law
City:
San Francisco
State:
CA
Year:
1998
Honors:
Dean's List, Certificate of Specialization in Litigation, with high honors.
Focus and Accomplishments:
Merit Scholar Tuition Recipient, Vice-President Student Bar Association.
Degree:
M.S. in Structural Engineering
School:
U.C. Berkeley
City:
Berkeley
State:
CA
Year:
1995
Honors:
Top 5% of Graduating Class
Number of Attorneys
5
State Licensed In
California, Washington, D.C., Solicitor (England & Wales)
Firm Focus and History
West & Associates was founded by Mr. West in February 2004 and has quickly become a well-respected, fast growing law firm recognized for producing high quality legal work. Mr. West has several years of experience as an attorney handling various matters related to intellectual property and general legal matters. Mr. West is the supervising attorney on all matters the firm handles and will always make time to meet with any client when necessary.
West & Associates firmly believes that the right to protect your ideas and artistic expressions should not be a privilege reserved for only large corporations and the wealthy few. To this extent, we are committed to providing quality legal services at a reasonable cost. West & Associates will work with you to explore the boundaries of your ideas and assist you in evaluating the market potential of your creations.
Previous Employment Summary
Prior to forming and joining West & Associates, Mr. West was a senior associate attorney with Bingham McCutchen LLP in the Silicon Valley office (2004 - 2005) where he handled all aspects of U.S. and international intellectual property law for large multi-national corporations and smaller corporate clients.
Prior to joining Bingham McCutchen, Mr. West was an associate attorney with Fliesler Meyer LLP in San Francisco, California (2001 - 2004) where he specialized in U.S. and international intellectual property law across a broad spectrum of technologies.
He was also a patent attorney with the Law Offices of Terry McHugh in Los Altos, California (1999 - 2001) where he specialized in U.S patent law.
Additionally, Mr. West worked with the Institute for Patent Studies as a technology expert and expert in patent law procedure.
Prior to entering the legal profession, Mr. West was an engineer with DASSE Design, Inc. in San Francisco, California (1996 - 2001) where he was responsible for the original design and seismic retrofit of numerous schools, hospitals and other structures.
Activities and Awards
Mr. West is a California Registered Professional Engineer (P.E.-Civil), Licensed California General Building Contractor (Classes A and B) and a California Licensed Real Estate Broker.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
I believe that clients should thoroughly educate themselves regarding the legal issues related to their specific problem and ask their lawyers the difficult questions. However, when it comes to complex issues of intellectual property law, I have found from experience that it is often less problematic when clients get assistance earlier rather then later.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
Yes. However, I have found that it is often less expensive for the client to at least consult with someone for guidance prior to attempting to draft something on their own.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
Yes.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
I actually went to law school to become a construction defect litigator. My decision was made when my father spent 4 years as an expert witness in a construction defect case in which all the engineers agreed who was liable for the building collapse, but nobody could convince the attorneys. Once in law school, I learned about Intellectual Property law, more specifically patent law, and decided that it would be better to spend my time helping people with their ideas rather than suing people for their mistakes.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
As a patent attorney I deal with clients that have inventions ranging from high-tech microchips to diaper changing kits. Therefore, I am constantly called on to adapt my communication style and methods. Moreover, I constantly make use of my solid and extensive technical undergraduate and graduate engineering education to assist clients in exploring the boundaries of their ideas.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
When I started in law school I learned about intellectual property law (specifically patent law) and decided it would be a much more fulfilling career to help people develop and protect their ideas rather than spend my life fighting in court.
What do you like best about your career?
I really enjoy seeing all the innovative ideas people come up with and meeting all the creative inventors and authors.
Tell us about your law firm:
Our primary office in Walnut Creek houses myself, one other patent attorney, a gifted patent agent, our highly experienced paralegal, and our office manager/receptionist/legal secretary--our most valuable asset. Our satellite office, in Mountain View, houses a talented patent attorney, a highly experienced engineer turned patent agent, and a technology expert. Our other attorneys are free to work from any location they like--we have space available for them to work in either of our offices. However, most choose to make use of our solid technology backbone and work remotely, either from home or from wherever they like. Our advanced server-based network allows all attorneys and agents to remotely access e-mail and voicemail from wherever they are in the world. Our attorneys and agents love this flexibility and we have found that allowing our people to work without boundaries makes for an ultimately, superior work product.
What are your strengths and style?
My best strength is the ability to communicate effectively. Most of my clients will tell you that I have a unique way of making extremely complex subject matter very easy to understand.
Except when we are representing clients in court or at a negotiation, we are extremely informal. We work with Mom Inventors that bring their children to the office and if you come into the office on a weekend, you might find me there with my dog. We strive to make our working environment as relaxed as possible, while maintaining the highest standards in our legal work.
Personal Interests:
My biggest personal interests are my wife, my family and my pets. However, when I have free time you can usually find me at the gym or outdoors somewhere with friends. In the winter, I love to go snowboarding and/or skiing and in the summer you can't keep me away from water.
Office Manager/Assistant
Marisella Cornett
Fax
(925) 944-9598
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. (other times available by appointment)
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Foreign Languages
I am fluent in written and spoken German and conversant in French and Arabic.
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
Fixed pricing is essentially impossible in Patent law. However, once we have met with a client and determined the extent of the idea and the work required, we will provide a guaranteed maximum which our legal fees will not exceed.
With regards to Trademark matters, legal fees for simple search and filing can be as low as $400.
With regards to Copyright applications, legal fees for simple filings start at $250.
Hourly Rates
Partners: $200 - $250/Hour
Associates: $135 - $175/Hour
Patent Agents: $100 - $135/Hour
Free Initial Consultation?
Yes. We offer up to a 1/2 hour initial consultation, either over the telephone or in one of our offices.
Typical Retainer
1/2 of projected legal fees + projected costs.
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.
