1. How would you describe your client base and services:
I provide patent, trademark, and copyright consulting to protect inventions, brands, and creative works. This includes getting the IP protection secured correctly, as well as enforcement. Most of my clients are usually series A or B funded, and they range in all sorts of industries.
2. Tell us about your legal career journey. How did you get here?
I grew up surrounded by engineers, musicians, artists, and all sorts of creative types; and I’ve been a musician and singer most of my life. And pretty much from age 7 through college, I’ve built and renovated homes with my family. So, I’ve always had a penchant for speaking the creative language and thinking mechanically. I was inspired to go to law school during my business law course at Purdue University after my instructor Cliff Fisher showed me how much impact a person with a law degree could have on their community. And so, I realized my calling was to help creators and inventors protect their creations!
3. What about the Practus model serves you as a legal professional, and as a person?
The flexibility to adapt to the needs of our clients is really unique. Not many firms can effectively serve the range of businesses and industries we do. We have a deep bench to handle the largest of cases, yet minimal overhead to serve businesses that have been burned by big law in the past. The flexible model also allows partners to take the clients we want to take. Working with people you enjoy makes your overall quality of life improve dramatically. And when all the lawyers in the office get to work with clients we all enjoy, it makes the workplace happier too. It’s a win-win.
4. What is your professional secret sauce? The secret of your success?
Curiosity leads to expertise and kindness. If you’re curious, you’ll withhold judgment and accept that you haven’t learned everything about a topic or a person. You’ll listen to those around you and try to learn from someone else’s lived experience. Nobody is born an expert.
5. What is one thing you wish people about to hire a lawyer with your expertise knew?
An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure. I’ve counseled dozens of clients who could have saved tons of time and money by approaching an IP attorney sooner in their journey. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.
6. What is keeping you busy when you’re not working?
Song writing and recording. My band is Thief Motif. If I weren’t a lawyer, I would be a musician or producer. I’m a totally different person when I’m on stage performing.
7. Wait, you’re in a band? What kind of music do you play?
We’ve been described as a Seattle indie power pop band with luscious harmonies, infectious backbeats and funky rhythms. I’d say that’s about right.
8. So you literally play that funky music …
Just don’t. But yeah.
