Trademark & IP Lawyers in Seattle

Filing a trademark, defending a brand, or protecting source code? The 8 Seattle firms below cover the full intellectual-property stack — USPTO trademark prosecution, patent work for hardware and software, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement against departing employees.

Vetted Firms

Both Sides

Draft + Defend

Free

Initial Consult

Updated 2026-04-30

When a Seattle business needs an IP lawyer

Washington has the second-largest concentration of software, cloud, gaming, and aerospace IP on the West Coast. Most Seattle IP work falls into four buckets: trademark prosecution (filing and protecting brand names with the USPTO), patent prosecution and litigation (software, hardware, biotech), copyright (software, media, photography, web content), and trade-secret enforcement — usually against a departing employee who walked out with a customer list, source code, or design files.

Trade-secret work is unusually common in Seattle because Washington has narrow non-compete enforcement under RCW 49.62. Companies that can't rely on a broad non-compete lean on trade-secret claims under the Washington Uniform Trade Secrets Act (RCW 19.108) and the federal Defend Trade Secrets Act. Practical effect: a Seattle IP lawyer often spends as much time on employee mobility, inevitable-disclosure theories, and TRO motions as on USPTO filings.

Pick based on what's on your desk. Pure trademark filing — AEON Law, Pirkey-style boutiques, Lowe Graham Jones, or solo IP counsel will deliver flat-fee filings. Software or hardware patents — USPTO-registered patent agents are required, so go to a boutique with patent prosecutors (Lowe Graham Jones, AEON) or BigLaw (Perkins Coie, K&L Gates). Brand portfolios that include international filings — Davis Wright Tremaine, Perkins Coie, K&L Gates. Trade-secret defense or enforcement — Corr Cronin, Lasher, Tomlinson Bomsztyk Russ, or any of the BigLaw firms with a litigation bench.

Firms in Seattle that handle trademark & ip

Ryan, Swanson & Cleveland

📍 Seattle, WAFounded 1897Mid-sized regional

Practice focus: Trademark prosecution, copyright, IP licensing, franchise & distribution, trade-secret litigation. 125-year-old Seattle full-service firm with a dedicated IP group serving startups through national franchisors.

Hourly $400–$725IP + franchise

Lasher Holzapfel Sperry & Ebberson

📍 Seattle, WAFounded 1973Mid-sized regional

Practice focus: Trademark clearance and registration, copyright, IP-related commercial agreements, trade-secret claims tied to employee mobility. Chambers-ranked Seattle firm with 34 Best Lawyers honorees in 2026.

Hourly $375–$700Brand + employee mobility

AEON Law

📍 Seattle, WAFounded 2003Boutique IP firm

Practice focus: USPTO-registered patent attorneys, trademark prosecution, copyright. Seattle boutique focused exclusively on IP for software, biotech, and consumer-products companies.

Flat-fee trademarksPatent + trademark

Tomlinson Bomsztyk Russ

📍 Seattle, WAFounded 2000Boutique commercial firm

Practice focus: Trademark registration, copyright protection, trade-secret enforcement, IP litigation. Downtown Seattle commercial firm. Many engagements handled flat-fee for clearance and filing.

Flat / hourly hybridIP enforcement

Davis Wright Tremaine

📍 Seattle, WAFounded 1908BigLaw — national

Practice focus: Brand portfolios, technology IP, copyright, advertising law, IP-heavy M&A diligence. AmLaw 100 firm headquartered in Seattle. Counsel to major tech, retail, and media companies.

Hourly $700–$1,400Tech + media IP

Perkins Coie LLP

📍 Seattle, WAFounded 1912BigLaw — national

Practice focus: Patent prosecution and litigation, trademark portfolios, copyright, trade secrets, IP transactions. Seattle-headquartered AmLaw 100 firm. Common counsel for technology companies of all sizes.

Hourly $750–$1,500Full IP stack

K&L Gates LLP

📍 Seattle, WAFounded 1946BigLaw — national

Practice focus: Trademark, copyright, anti-counterfeiting, ITC investigations, IP licensing, technology transactions. Global AmLaw firm with a large Seattle IP group.

Hourly $700–$1,400International brand work

Lowe Graham Jones PLLC

📍 Seattle, WAFounded 1999Boutique IP firm

Practice focus: Patent, trademark, copyright, trade-secret counseling and litigation. Seattle IP boutique with USPTO-registered patent attorneys; common pick for hardware and software startups.

Hourly $400–$700Patent + trademark boutique

What this typically costs in Seattle

Ranges from real Seattle firms, current to 2026. Government and filing fees billed separately and pass through at cost.

Trademark search + filing (1 class)

$1,200 – $2,800

Knockout search, clearance opinion, USPTO filing in one class. Government fee $350/class billed separately.

Trademark filing additional class

$350 – $800

Per additional class, plus $350 USPTO fee per class.

Office Action response

$600 – $2,800

Depends on whether it's a procedural or substantive 2(d) refusal.

TTAB opposition / cancellation

$15,000 – $80,000+

Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceeding. Cost scales with discovery.

$300 – $750

Single-work or group registration. $65–$125 government fee billed separately.

Trade-secret TRO + injunction

$50,000 – $250,000+

Emergency motion plus preliminary-injunction hearing. Often the most time-sensitive IP matter.

IP licensing agreement (drafting)

$4,000 – $20,000

From simple in-license to multi-territory exclusive license with royalty stack.

Patent prosecution (utility, software)

$10,000 – $30,000

Through allowance. Depends heavily on complexity and Office Action volume.

Typical turnaround in Seattle

From the day you sign an engagement letter to the day you have something in hand, here is what the calendar usually looks like in Seattle.

Day 1–5Conflicts check, engagement letter, intake. Knockout search if trademark.

Days 5–14Clearance opinion (trademark) or invention disclosure (patent). Strategy decision on what and where to file.

Days 10–30USPTO filing or registration. Filing receipt within ~1 week.

Months 3–12USPTO examination. Office Action response if needed. Most trademarks register in 12–18 months; patents 24–36 months.

Trade-secret mattersTRO motion within days. Preliminary injunction in 2–4 weeks. Trial 12–18 months.

OngoingRenewals at 6 years, 10 years, and every 10 years after for trademarks. Maintenance fees at 3.5, 7.5, and 11.5 years for patents.

Talk to a Seattle trademark & ip lawyer — free.

Tell us what's going on. We route a confidential request to the best-fit Seattle firm in our directory. No high-pressure sales calls.

Trademark & IP in Seattle — FAQ

How much does it cost to file a trademark in Seattle?

Attorney fee runs $1,200–$2,800 for a single-class application including knockout search and clearance opinion. The USPTO charges $350 per class on top. Add $350–$800 per additional class. Total all-in for a one-class filing is usually $1,800–$3,500.

Do I need a Seattle lawyer or can I use any U.S. trademark attorney?

Any U.S. attorney admitted to a state bar can file a trademark application. For Seattle businesses, hiring a local firm helps when the matter expands beyond filing — for instance, into a TTAB opposition, a state-court trade-secret action, or a Washington-court litigation. Many Seattle businesses use a local firm for trademarks and patents alike.

Is a Washington trade-secret case easier than enforcing a non-compete?

Often yes. RCW 49.62 narrows enforceable non-competes, while the Washington Uniform Trade Secrets Act (RCW 19.108) and federal Defend Trade Secrets Act provide broad remedies including injunctions and exemplary damages. Pleading a trade-secret theft case requires you to identify the trade secrets with particularity and show reasonable secrecy measures.

How long does a trademark registration take?

12–18 months from filing to registration on a straightforward application. Office Actions add 3–6 months each. Opposition periods add 30 days plus extensions. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceedings can take 18–36 months.

Can I use a trademark before it's registered?

Yes — common-law trademark rights arise from use in commerce. The TM symbol can be used before registration; the ® symbol requires federal registration. Filing an intent-to-use application secures priority before launch.

What's the difference between trademark, copyright, and patent in Seattle?

Trademark protects brand identifiers — names, logos, slogans — used to distinguish goods or services. Copyright protects original creative works — code, music, photos, articles — automatically upon fixation. Patent protects inventions and processes for 20 years. Many Seattle companies need all three.

What is a TTAB opposition?

A Trademark Trial and Appeal Board proceeding where one party challenges another's trademark application or registration. Common when a similar mark is published for opposition. Discovery, depositions, and trial briefs are all on paper — there is no live hearing in most cases.