Shawn focuses his practice on patent prosecution, counseling and litigation.

His practice covers a large number of technological fields, including microprocessor system design, bus architecture, computer architecture, computer peripherals (e.g., hard-disk drives and tape drives), computer software, semiconductor chip fabrication, Internet applications and networking systems. Shawn’s clients have included Toyota, eBay, PayPal, Cadence and Intel, among others.

Shawn has extensive experience in virtually all aspects of the preparation and prosecution of patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). His experience includes interaction with inventors to gather invention disclosure material, preparation of patent applications, prosecution of applications before the USPTO, interviewing patent examiners, and preparing and arguing patent appeals before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Additionally, Shawn prepares opinions for clients on issues such as validity, infringement and inequitable conduct. He also provides strategic client counseling to advise clients on patent acquisitions, patent licenses and threats of litigation. He has participated in numerous patent litigations, including the supervision of discovery collection at client offices, the taking and defending of witness depositions, and the preparation of motions and responsive pleadings before the courts. 

Early in his career, Shawn worked at as a systems engineer intern on the TRIDENT submarine’s command and control system, and also provided research assistance for IBM’s intellectual property law department.

Representative Experience

• Toyota in prosecuting numerous patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. From 2013-2015, Toyota was awarded over 700 patents.
• Prosecuted patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for a market leader in enterprise application software.
• Cadence, one of the largest electronic design automation (EDA) corporations in the world, in prosecuting its patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Bar Admissions

Education
JD, The George Washington University Law School, 1993BSEE, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, cum laude, Eta Kappa Nu, 1989