Founder and Managing Partner
Robert D. Atkins practices nationally and internationally in the areas of patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyright, licensing and technology transactions, software and computer law, and litigation. His experience includes patent prosecution, patent portfolio development, licensing, negotiating technology agreements, joint ventures, and intellectual property client counseling, as well as trademark prosecution, trademark screening and clearance searches, monitoring and enforcement, oppositions, litigation, infringement analysis and opinions, and licensing.
Mr. Atkins holds a Bachelors in Electrical Engineering and Masters in Electrical Engineering with particular technical expertise in electrical and semiconductor arts, digital and analog electronic circuit design, computer science, software, internet technology, aerospace, communication, electro-mechanical, control systems, manufacturing, business methods, automotive, and alternative energy. He is licensed to practice in Arizona and Texas, as well as registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and has been named in The Best Lawyers in America© 2015 in the field of Patent Law.
Mr. Atkins was previously a partner with the national law firm of Quarles & Brady; Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at ON Semiconductor; and in-house Patent Counsel for Motorola. He prosecuted thousands of patent applications and was responsible for working with clients on patent and litigation matters, as well as national and international aspects of intellectual property and technology counseling. Mr. Atkins was also responsible for patent prosecution training and providing intellectual property counseling related to technology agreements, strategic patent portfolio development, licensing, software, non-infringements opinions, and patent litigation.
Mr. Atkins was a practicing electrical engineer for the U.S. Department of Defense designing guidance systems for the submarine program and for Motorola designing semiconductor integrated circuits and communication systems for the space shuttle and satellite programs.
Awards and Honors:
Attorney of the Month – August 2014, Attorney at Law Magazine
AV Preeminent® Rating, LexisNexis Martindale-Hubbell
Best Law Firms – Patent Law – Tier 1 – 2014, U.S. News & World Report
Best Law Firms – Patent Law – Tier 1 – 2013, U.S. News & World Report
Education:
Oregon State University, B.S., magna cum laude, Electrical Engineering
Arizona State University, M.S., Electrical Engineering
Arizona State University, J.D., with honors, Pedrick Scholar
Bar Admissions:
Arizona
Texas
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Court Admissions:
US District Court of Arizona