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We believe an integrated strategy for protecting intellectual assets is critical to establishing strong and valuable intellectual property portfolios. We employ a team approach, in which attorneys with complementary experience and skills work together to provide the most comprehensive and cost-effective legal services possible. We leverage our legal and technical expertise to develop programs designed to address each client’s particular business needs and objectives. In developing a customized program, we work with a company’s management team to identify core concepts, we evaluate the novelty of the intellectual property at issue, and we work with inventors to clearly understand the invention.
Timely, precise, and secure communication is critically important in today’s modern business environment and is absolutely essential in providing patent, trademark, and copyright protection for our clients.
Seed Intellectual Property Law Group includes an experienced and knowledgeable support staff who assist our attorneys and clients with comprehensive, efficient, and cost-effective legal services.
A team of legal assistants with extensive experience in U.S. patent prosecution
Paralegals dedicated to international patent filings
Paralegals supporting trademark research and filings
Paralegals and other staff supporting litigation
Dedicated docketing department to track all forms of legal due dates
A team of draftsmen that prepare all types of design and utility patent application drawings and figures
Full-service accounting department
Word processors proficient in many different software applications
Full-service information technology team, including support for secure web-based access to electronic documents
Our technology infrastructure provides our attorneys with the necessary tools needed to provide the highest level of legal service 24 hours a day.
Our secure extranet gives our clients access to key documents allowing them to collaboratively manage their intellectual property portfolios. We also provide a help desk to assist our clients with using the system.
Our clients are on the leading edge of science and technology. We’ve designed our client service systems to respond to and support their needs.
Our firm, Seed Intellectual Property Law Group LLP, was founded in 1962 by entrepreneurs Richard W. Seed and Benjamin F. Berry and is a leading intellectual property law firm in the Pacific Northwest with over 50 patent attorneys, trademark attorneys, and patent agents, and a support staff of over 120 employees. Seed IP has a wide variety of clients that range from individuals and start-up companies in emerging technologies to established multinational corporations, with IP needs ranging from trademark clearance to protecting complex chemical, biotechnology, electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and software patents.
Managing Partner
Kevin Costanza's practice focuses on mechanical patent prosecution, trademark clearance, and registration, and intellectual property licensing. He received a B.S. in Engineering from the University of California at Irvine in 1990, concentrating on mechanical engineering and material sciences. Kevin received his J.D. (cum laude) from Seattle University School of Law in 1995.
Partner
Eric Harwood's practice focuses on chemical, pharmaceutical, and life science patent prosecution, strategy, and diligence matters. Eric earned a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California at Davis (summa cum laude), and M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Organic Chemistry from the University of Washington in Seattle. He received a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law.
Partner
Shoko's practice focuses on preparing and prosecuting patent applications in electronics, telecommunications, optics, software, and mechanical engineering. She has extensive experience in counseling in general intellectual property matters, including patents and trademarks, developing strategic patent portfolios, conducting a due-diligence review of patent portfolios, preparing patent infringement and validity opinions, preparing patent assertion material, and intellectual property licensing negotiation and agreements. Shoko received a B.S. in Physics from the University of Washington in 1998 and her J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law in 1997.
Partner
Kevan's practice is focused on the U.S. and foreign patent prosecution of electrical engineering and computer software matters, including IP agreements and licensing, and strategic portfolio management. He received a B.S. (magna cum laude in Electrical Engineering from Utah State University (1993), and a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences from Utah State University (1993), with minors in History and Portuguese. Kevan holds a J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law (1996).
Executive Director
Tom is delighted to be part of Seed IP. As the firm’s Executive Director, Tom focuses on the firm’s strategic and organization planning while ensuring that the firm’s operations meet the needs of clients and attorneys alike.
Director of Human Resources
Amy is a certified human resources professional within the Seattle legal community. She has played an active role in the legal community and local law schools. Amy currently serves as the President of the Puget Sound Association of Legal Administrators.
At Seed IP, we value the relationships we've built with every one of our clients over the past 60+ years. We are proud of the work we have done for them and grateful for the opportunities and successes we've had along the way. We look forward to working with you and your team in the future.
Seed IP is one of the leading intellectual property firms in the Pacific Northwest, with national and international reach. Please see the list below for just some of the various accolades and honors recently bestowed upon the firm and its attorneys.
Seed IP has nineteen attorneys listed in the 2023 edition of The Best Lawyers in America®, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Honored with 2023 “Lawyer of the Year” Awards are Kevin Costanza (Trademark Law), Kevan Morgan (Patent Law), and Qing (Becky) Lin, Ph.D. (Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice). Additionally, eight attorneys were selected to the third annual “Ones to Watch” list in 2023.
WTR (World Trademark Review®) Global Leaders 2022 | Russell C. Pangborn recognized each year 2019-2022. Additionally, Russ was interviewed in years 2020, 2021, and 2022.
Seed IP is recognized as one of Washington’s Best Workplaces for 2022, in the Large Companies category.
Seed IP is ranked at #31 nationally for top patent law firms, based on the total number of U.S. utility patents (1,386) that issued during 2022.
Russell C. Pangborn honored in 2018; Qing “Becky” Lin, Ph.D., in 2017; and E. Russell Tarleton in 2015.
Russell C. Pangborn recognized in years 2017-2020.
Seed IP has seven AV-rated attorneys, and one Distinguished rated attorney as of 2022.
Brooke W. Quist recognized in the 2022 edition. The guide identifies the individuals who are leading the way in the development and implementation of strategies that maximize the value of IP portfolios.
Seed IP has eight “Recommended” or “Highly Recommended” partners on “The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2022” list, and the firm itself is ranked in the “Gold Band” for Firms: Prosecution, as well as “Highly Recommended” for Firms: Transactions, in 2022.
Seed IP received a firm ranking, along with having two of its partners, Karl Hermanns and Kevan Morgan, listed as “Notable Practitioners” in the 2022 edition.
In 2022, Seed IP has five attorneys selected to Super Lawyers and four attorneys selected to Rising Stars.
In 2022, Seed IP ranked as a “Highly Recommended Firm” for intellectual property matters, and has four attorneys listed as ”IP Stars” for patent and trademark matters.
Seed IP listed as “Recommended Firm” in 2022. Kevin Costanza, Marc Levy and Russell Pangborn listed as “Recommend Individuals” in 2022.
In 2023, Seed IP is ranked nationally in six practice areas and ranked regionally in seven practice areas.
In 2022, Seed IP is ranked at #7 on the Law Firms With the Most Diverse Equity Partnerships list for U.S. law firms with 100 or fewer attorneys.
