Recent advances in the field of optics have given rise to an explosion in the use of optical technologies and techniques in fields ranging from telecommunications and medicine to diagnostics and semiconductor manufacturing. Many new optical innovations are in the pipeline. Establishing a proprietary position will be integral to success in this evolving sector.

With competition in the field increasing, it is critical that enterprises protect their technical space and their inventions through the rapid procurement and aggressive enforcement of patents. Equally important to staking an ownership claim is the need to evaluate competitors' intellectual property from the standpoint of infringement and overall business strategy.

Fish & Richardson has established an optics practice group that capitalizes on the firm's unmatched knowledge of intellectual property rights with expertise in the full spectrum of optics technologies. Many group members hold advanced degrees, either in fields related to physics and chemistry or in electrical engineering, mathematics, and computer science. Due to their in-depth technical knowledge, our attorneys have a singular ability to understand clients' technology in all its complexity and to communicate with clients at their level.

Patents

Our patent prosecution work in the optics field is far-ranging and includes:

Telecommunications: Fiber optics and other optical waveguides, fiber lasers, signal and image processing, optical switches (e.g., MEMs), WDM components, integrated optics, opto-electronics, photonic bandgap materials, and automated manufacture of micro-optic components

Photomedicine: Surgical lasers and optical diagnostic equipment

Semiconductor manufacturing: Photolithography, electron beam lithography and optical alignment techniques

Metrology: Interferometry, optical characterization techniques, and optical instrumentation

Optical lenses: Eyeglass and contact lenses.

IP Strategy and Planning

The firm recognizes that intellectual property protection and business strategy are not mutually exclusive, but rather intertwined. We work closely with clients to develop an IP plan that mirrors their business objectives. Our services include patent portfolio planning, patent portfolio analysis in connection with financing, evaluating, and acquiring technology, patent-related assessment of competitive and other third-party positions, and opinions with respect to freedom to use, infringement and validity, and patentability. Fish & Richardson's expertise encompasses various types of intellectual property transactions including licensing, development agreements, joint venture agreements, and technology transfer agreements.

Litigation

We have extensive experience litigating disputes involving all types of intellectual property rights, including cases concerning biotechnology, chemistry, software, medical device, and business methods patents.

Regulatory Practice

Fish & Richardson's drug and device regulatory practice group provides legal advice to clients in the photomedicine field. The group's attorneys practice before regulatory agencies in the U.S. and many countries overseas.

Optics Attorneys

Bing Ai
Peking University (Beijing, China) B.S. Physics 1985
University of Southern California Ph.D. Physics 1995
University of San Diego J.D. 2002

James W. Babineau
University of New Mexico B.S. Mechanical Engineering Tau Beta Pi
University of Michigan M.S. Mechanical Engineering
Harvard Law School J.D.

William R. Borchers
The University of Texas at Austin B.S. Aerospace Engineering 1990 cum laude, Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Gamma Tau
The University of Virginia J.D. 1998
Managing Editor, Virginia Journal of Technology

Samuel Borodach  
Brown University B.S. Electrical Engineering 1987 
Columbia University School of Engineering M.S. Electrical Engineering 1989 
Columbia University School of Law J.D. 1993 
Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar 1991-1993

Christopher C. Bowley
University of Cape Town B.Sc. Physics 1994 with honors
Brown University M.S. Physics 1996
Brown University Ph.D. Physics 1999
Suffolk University Law School J.D. 2006

Joseph V. Colaianni
The University of Maryland B.S. Electrical Engineering 1991 cum laude, Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu
The George Washington University National Law Center J.D. 1996 with honors

Michael E. Cox
University of New Mexico B.S. Physics and Mathematics 1996 magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Rice University M.S. Applied Physics 2000
University of Texas School of Law J.D. 2003

Sean P. Daley
University of Massachusetts B.S. Chemistry 1989 summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ph.D. Physical Chemistry 1994
Suffolk University Law School J.D. 1999 cum laude

J. Peter Fasse
Massachusetts Institute of Technology B.S. Bioelectrical Engineering, May 1983, and B.S. Life Sciences, December 1983
George Washington University J.D. 1987

David Francescani
University of Notre Dame B.S. Mechanical/Nuclear Engineering 1964
University of Notre Dame Law School L.L.B. 1967
George Washington University Law School 1968 coursework in Masters of Patent Law program
New York University Law School 1969-1971 coursework in Masters of Law program

Kurt L. Glitzenstein
Massachusetts Institute of Technology B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1988 Phi Beta Kappa, Tau Beta Pi
University of California M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Controls 1990
Harvard Law School J.D. 1993 magna cum laude
Executive Editor, Harvard Journal of Law & Technology 1992-1993
Managing Editor, Harvard Journal of Law & Technology 1991-1992

David J. Goren
University of California at Berkeley B.A. Physics 1989 with high honors
Georgetown University Law Center J.D. 1994

Christopher O. Green
Georgia Institute of Technology B.E.E. Electrical Engineering 1994
Vanderbilt University M.B.A. 1996
Wake Forest University School of Law J.D. 2000

Joshua A. Griswold
The University of Texas at Austin B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1995
The University of Houston Law Center J.D. 1999

Brian J. Gustafson
Linfield College B.S. Applied Physics and B.S. Mathematics 2000 summa cum laude
Stanford Law School J.D. 2003
Executive Board, Stanford Technology Law Review

Heidi E. Harvey
Massachusetts Institute of Technology B.S. Chemical Engineering 1982
Cornell Law School J.D. 1986

Michael T. Hawkins
University of Minnesota B.S. Mechanical Engineering 2000 with high distinction
University of Minnesota Law School J.D. 2004 magna cum laude
Managing Editor, Minnesota Law Review

John F. Hayden
University of Cincinnati B.S. Electrical Engineering 1989 summa cum laude
Harvard Law School J.D. 1992 cum laude

Rex I. Huang
National Taiwan University B.S. Electrical Engineering 1992
National Chiao Tung University M.S. Electronics Engineering 1994
University of Washington School of Law J.D. 2001

Kelly C. Hunsaker
University of Texas at Austin B.B.A. 1990
University of California, Hastings College of Law J.D. 1993

David E. A. Jordan
United States Naval Academy B.S. Computer Science 1996
University of San Diego School of Law J.D. 2002
Comment Editor, San Diego International Law Journal 2001-2002
Member, San Diego International Law Journal 2000 -2001

Mark D. Kirkland  
University of Notre Dame B.S. Electrical Engineering 1984 
Santa Clara University School of Law J.D. 1994 

Cheng (Jack) Ko
Trinity University B.S. Engineering Science summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
University of California, Santa Barbara M.S. and Ph.D. Electrical and Computer Engineering
The University of Michigan Law School J.D. magna cum laude, Order of the Coif

Jolynn M. Lussier
Cornell University B.S. Electrical Engineering 1986
University of Pittsburgh School of Law J.D. 1993

Andrew T. Meunier
Georgia Institute of Technology B.Ch.E. 1991
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Law J.D. 1995

W. Karl Renner
University of Maryland B.S. Electrical Engineering 1992
The George Washington University National Law Center J.D. 1998

Stephen R. Schaefer
University of Kentucky B.S. Electrical Engineering 1985 with distinction, Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu
University of Dayton M.S. Engineering Management 1995
University of Minnesota Law School J.D. 1992 cum laude
Law Review Board of Editors

Jan-Malte Schley
University of Karlsruhe (TH) Dipl.-Ing. Electrical Engineering and Information Technology 2002
University of Federal Armed Forces Dr.-Ing. 2005 magna cum laude

John P. Schnurer
Harvey Mudd College B.S. Electrical Engineering with Minor in Economics 1993
University of California, Berkeley, School of Law J.D. 1996
Articles Editor, Berkeley Technology Law Journal (1995-1996)

Craig R. Smith
Manhattan College B.S. Civil Engineering 1992, magna cum laude, Tau Beta Pi
University of Illinois M.S. Environmental Engineering 1994
New York University School of Law J.D. 1997 Order of the Barrister

Terry J. Stalford
University of Oklahoma B.S. Engineering 1986
University of Georgia School of Law J.D. 1993 magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
Editor, Journal of Intellectual Property Law

Dwight U. Thompson

Ben Thompson
North Carolina State University B.S. Computer Science (Engineering) 2002 cum laude
University of North Carolina School of Law J.D. 2008 with Honors
Staff Writer, Journal of Law and Technology

Gregory A. Walters  
Michigan State University B.S. Electrical Engineering 1990 
Michigan State University Detroit College of Law J.D. 1996 cum laude 
The Detroit College of Law Review

Marc M. Wefers
University of Toronto B.S. Chemical Physics 1991 highest distinction
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ph.D. Physical Chemistry 1996
Suffolk University Law School J.D. 2002 magna cum laude

Optics Technology Specialists

Michael Kevin Henry
Baylor University B.S. Physics, Mathematics Minor 2003 summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ph.D. Nuclear Science and Engineering 2007
Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law J.D. expected 2012

Elliott J. Mason, III
Massachusetts Institute of Technology S.B. Electrical Science and Engineering 1995, Eta Kappa Nu
Massachusetts Institute of Technology M.Eng. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 1996
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Ph.D. Electrical Engineering and Computer Science 2002

Dan Vacar
Universitatea Babes-Bolyai, Romania B.S. Physics 1990
University of Miami, Florida M.S. Physics 1993
University of California at Santa Barbara Ph.D. Physics 1997

Joseph P. Valentino
Villanova University B.S. Electrical Engineering 2000 magna cum laude
Princeton University M.A. and Ph.D. Electrical Engineering, 2003, 2007