Doug Meier

About Doug Meier

Most patent attorneys are either patent prosecutors or patent litigators. They don\'t often cross over.I did (mostly by accident!) and it turned out to be an amazing misstep. It changed how I think about IP.I spent years doing high-stakes patent litigation at a major firm in Washington, DC. Multinational companies, multi-patent disputes, technologies ranging from smartphones and semiconductors to wireless communications. I did it in the most exciting venue possible: the ITC. These were cases where opposing counsel pick apart every word of the patent looking for something to use against you.I bring that unique experience to everything I do. It\'s less about \"getting a patent\" and more about \"will this hold up.\" Those are very different questions. And most companies never think about the second one until it\'s too late.When I moved into patent prosecution, the lessons from litigation stuck with me. I wasn\'t just drafting applications. I was building them with an eye toward how they\'d survive a challenge. Every word, every claim, every strategic decision made with the courtroom in the back of my mind. Most prosecution attorneys have never been there. I had.Over time my work evolved into something broader. The real question clients face is always \"does our IP actually serve our business.\" Is it protecting the right things? Is it creating value or just adding cost? Is there a strategy here, or are we just filing?That\'s what I do now. Not just prosecution. Not just litigation support. IP strategy, built on a foundation of knowing how it all plays out when it really matters.Before the law I was an electrical engineer, developing software tools for NASA\'s Space Shuttle program right out of school. I loved the work but hated the bureaucracy. Somebody suggested I look into patent law. Best advice I ever got.Now I own and run NK Patent Law, an IP boutique that helps companies develop and execute IP strategy. I love building things, not just patent portfolios. I got deep into Entrepreneurs\' Organization, started thinking like a founder, and realized that most of the IP problems I was seeing were really business problems with IP at the center.A company about to go to market, worried about protecting the technology advantage they\'ve spent years building. A GC sitting across from a board that wants to know what the patent portfolio is actually worth. A growing company making IP decisions with no real strategic guidance.Those are the problems I love to work on. If you\'re dealing with any of them, I\'d love to hear from you.

Experience

1. Managing Partner

   Nk Patent Law

   Jun 2022 — Present · Raleigh, NC, US

   Assisting clients with all types of intellectual property issues. Preparing and prosecuting patent applications in electronics and software spaces. Navigating potential IP disputes.

Education

• The University of Texas School of Law

  J.D.

  2006 — 2009

• The University of Texas at Austin

  B.S., Electrical Engineering

  1999 — 2003

Skills

• Integration
• Patent Litigation
• Patents
• Intellectual Property
• Licensing
• Litigation
• Legal Writing
• Legal Research
• Itc