Intellectual Property Attorneys in Texas

Patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets are often a company’s most valuable assets. A competitor using a confusingly similar brand, a former employee taking confidential processes, or a copycat product can erode years of investment quickly. Texas technology companies, manufacturers, energy businesses, and creative firms rely on IP counsel to protect what they build and to defend against claims from others.

Texas is also a major forum for patent litigation, with many cases filed in the federal courts of the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas. Judge Alan Albright of the Western District, whose Waco courtroom drew many patent filings, left the bench on August 31, 2026, according to the Federal Judicial Center, so assumptions about where and before whom a case will be heard should be checked against current practice. Infringement and trade secret suits are part of commercial litigation practice, and IP diligence in deals is covered in the guide to mergers and acquisitions attorneys in Texas.

What Intellectual Property Attorneys Handle

Patent Prosecution

Patent practitioners handle prior art searches, claim drafting, responses to office actions, and international filings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). A utility patent’s term generally ends 20 years from the filing date of the application (35 U.S.C. § 154). Many Texas IP attorneys have engineering or science degrees that help them understand inventions in software, biotechnology, oil and gas equipment, and medical devices.

Trademark Registration and Enforcement

Trademarks protect names, logos, slogans, and other source identifiers. Attorneys run clearance searches before a launch, file federal and Texas registrations, monitor for conflicting marks, send demand letters, and litigate infringement and opposition proceedings. Federal registration offers broader rights than a Texas state registration.

Copyright Protection

Copyright arises automatically when an original work is created, but registration matters. A civil action for infringement of a U.S. work generally cannot be brought until the copyright has been registered or registration has been refused (17 U.S.C. § 411). Statutory damages and attorney’s fees are generally unavailable for infringement that began before registration, unless a published work is registered within three months after first publication (17 U.S.C. § 412).

Trade Secrets

Trade secret claims arise under the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 134A) and the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act. Since September 1, 2025, Texas law has included a specific procedure for motions to seal documents alleged to contain trade secrets in TUTSA actions (§ 134A.0065, added by House Bill 4081). Attorneys help companies put protective measures in place, investigate departures of key employees, and seek injunctions.

IP Litigation

IP litigators handle cases in federal district courts, proceedings before the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and investigations at the U.S. International Trade Commission. Strategy depends heavily on the forum, the strength of the rights, and the cost of litigation compared with licensing.

How to Choose an Intellectual Property Attorney

USPTO registration. To represent clients in patent prosecution, a practitioner must be registered with the USPTO. Ask whether the attorney is registered if you need patent applications filed.

Technical background. Degrees in engineering, computer science, chemistry, or life sciences help with complex inventions.

Litigation experience. If enforcement may be needed, ask about trials and PTAB proceedings the attorney has handled.

Industry focus. Some firms concentrate on sectors such as software, energy, or medical devices.

Texas Intellectual Property Law Firms

Yee & Associates, P.C.

Location: Plano, Texas

Website: https://www.yeeiplaw.com

Phone: 972-385-8777

Yee & Associates focuses exclusively on intellectual property law, serving technology-oriented clients with patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters. Founded in 2004, the firm employs approximately 13 attorneys, all registered to practice before the USPTO. Their technical expertise spans aerospace, computer software, telecommunications, semiconductors, medical devices, and nanotechnology.

Practice Focus:

• Patent prosecution and portfolio management
• Trademark registration and enforcement
• Copyright protection
• Trade secret counseling

Bracewell LLP

Location: Houston, Texas (with offices in Dallas and Austin)

Website: https://www.bracewell.com

Phone: 713-223-2300

Bracewell has built one of the most highly regarded intellectual property practices in Texas since its founding in 1945. The firm handles patent prosecution, trademark registration, IP litigation, and technology transactions. Their team includes patent attorneys with technical degrees in chemical, electrical, mechanical, and architectural engineering, as well as computer science and physics. The firm serves clients in energy, technology, healthcare, and consumer products industries.

Practice Focus:

• Patent prosecution and litigation
• Trademark and copyright protection
• Technology licensing and transactions
• Trade secret litigation

Jackson Walker LLP

Location: Houston, Texas (with offices across Texas)

Website: https://www.jw.com

Phone: 713-752-4200

Jackson Walker’s intellectual property team includes attorneys with advanced degrees in engineering and applied science who are licensed to practice before the USPTO. The firm has litigated IP matters in federal and state courts across the country, including successful appeals to the Fifth Circuit, the Federal Circuit, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and the U.S. Supreme Court. They represent Fortune 500 companies in patent, trademark, trade dress, trade secret, and copyright matters.

Practice Focus:

• Patent prosecution and litigation
• Trademark and trade dress protection
• Trade secret enforcement
• IP licensing and technology transfers

Costs and Fees

Patent and trademark applications are often handled for flat fees per stage, plus USPTO filing fees, and the total depends on the technology, the number of office actions, and any foreign filings. IP litigation is usually billed hourly, and patent cases taken through trial can be very expensive; some plaintiffs’ firms take patent cases on contingency. Ask for a written estimate by phase.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a patent attorney or can any lawyer help with my invention?

To represent others in patent prosecution before the USPTO, a person must be a registered patent practitioner, either a patent attorney or a non-lawyer patent agent. An individual inventor may file and prosecute an application on their own, but a company (a juristic entity) must be represented by a registered practitioner (37 C.F.R. § 1.31). Business lawyers who are not registered can still help with IP strategy, ownership, and licensing contracts.

How long does the patent process take?

It varies by technology area and USPTO workload, and by how many office actions require responses. Utility applications commonly take years, and design applications are generally faster. The USPTO offers expedited options for some applicants.

What is the difference between a patent, trademark, and copyright?

A utility patent protects an invention for a term that generally ends 20 years after the application’s filing date. A trademark protects a brand identifier and can last as long as it is used and maintained. A copyright protects original creative works such as software code, writing, and images. Trade secrets protect valuable confidential information for as long as it stays secret.

What should I do if someone is infringing my intellectual property?

Preserve evidence of the infringement, including dates and copies, and consult an IP attorney before sending a demand letter, because a poorly framed letter can prompt a lawsuit against you in a forum you did not choose. For copyrights, check whether the work is registered, since registration affects both the right to sue and the remedies available.

Sources

• Copyright: 17 U.S.C. § 411; 17 U.S.C. § 412
• Patents: 35 U.S.C. § 154; 37 C.F.R. § 1.31
• Trade secrets: House Bill 4081 (2025), adding Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 134A.0065
• Federal Judicial Center: Albright, Alan D.

Disclaimer: This directory is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice, endorsement, or recommendation of any attorney or law firm. Information about attorneys and law firms was compiled from publicly available sources and may not be current or accurate. We make no representations or warranties about the qualifications, experience, or quality of any attorney listed. Always verify attorney credentials with the State Bar of Texas, confirm current contact information, and conduct your own due diligence before hiring legal counsel. No attorney-client relationship is created by use of this directory.