We’re leaders in the digital transformation of IP prosecution: Andre L. Marais of Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner

“We focus on patent procurement, including preparation and prosecution. This allows us to have a laser-like focus on optimizing the services we provide to clients.”

Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner, or SLW, is an intellectual property law firm founded in 1993. SLW was one of the first patent law firms in the United States to focus solely on patent prosecution and not on patent litigation.

The firm has offices in San Jose, California and Minneapolis, Minnesota, and many satellite practitioners throughout the United States. The San Jose office was established in 2004, and the number of attorneys working with Silicon Valley clients has been steadily climbing as the local client base has grown from year to year.

The Silicon Review reached out to Andre L. Marais, who serves as Principal at the Silicon Valley office of Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner. Here’s his response.

Interview Highlights

Q. When it comes to longevity, Schwegman has it. I find it remarkable that an organization can continue to provide services for decades. How did Schwegman maintain its adaptability over the years?

At Schwegman, we’re passionate about innovation and constantly strive to improve our service offerings. As leaders in the digital transformation of IP prosecution, we’ve stayed ahead of the curve in delivering high-level, value-driven services. Our long history of innovation is evident in our founders’ creation and development of Foundation IP, an industry-leading IP docketing system, and the establishment of Black Hills IP, a provider of automated docketing that breaks new ground in accuracy and efficiency within the IP industry. This appetite for innovation and our ability to anticipate the future of IP are deeply ingrained in our firm’s culture, driving our adaptability and success. By embracing new ideas and technologies, we continue to evolve and provide exceptional service to our clients.

Q. As a boutique IP law firm, what are SLW’s key focus areas?

We focus on patent procurement, including preparation and prosecution. This allows us to have a laser-like focus on optimizing the services we provide to clients. We do not do litigation. This allows us flexibility to choose the best partners for our clients if and when litigation should arise. If needed, we can provide close litigation support.

Furthermore, we are predominantly a tech-focused firm and have significant expertise in software and AI, medical devices, and semiconductor technologies.

Q. What makes and keeps SLW relevant? How responsive is the firm to the changing needs of its clients?

Our attorneys are highly commercial and sensitive to our clients’ needs. Many have come from industry and understand the pressures our clients face.

We work in closely-knit client teams in which information is shared openly with the goal of making sure we are aligned with what our clients want. This openness and continuous review comes from a deep understanding of the fact that life and work are processes; things change, and we need to adapt and flex with our clients’ changing needs.

Q. How would you describe the firm’s prevailing culture?

The firm has an inclusive, open, and supportive culture. We take our work very seriously, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously! There is a sense of fun and energy in the firm that we believe is unique in the IP industry.

We are excited to report that our firm has achieved Mansfield Certification status for 2021–2023. To earn this certification, we completed a Diversity Lab process from September 2021 to March 2023 to track and measure diversity in leadership.

Q. Can you provide us with one or two success stories describing the challenges your clients faced and how SLW helped them overcome those challenges?

At Schwegman, our team of attorneys has had the privilege of working with both early-stage companies and Fortune 500 giants, safeguarding their most valuable inventions and groundbreaking innovations. Being situated in the heart of Silicon Valley has afforded us the opportunity to collaborate with startups and established corporations on a daily basis, anticipating their future product releases and ensuring robust intellectual property protection.

For instance, we have had the pleasure of partnering over the years with industry titans like eBay, Uber, Airbnb, Intel, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Apple, and numerous other companies, guiding them through their journey from early-stage companies to triumphant exits or IPOs. These ventures provide us with an exciting array of challenges each day, and our attorneys relish the opportunity to help them navigate the intricate landscape of intellectual property protection.

Q. Tell us about the SLW team. What value do they bring to the firm?

We have a fantastic group of attorneys from a range of different backgrounds, both domestic and international. Several of our attorneys have previously worked in-house at multinational corporations, some as Chief Patent Counsel or in the C-Suite, so we have a good understanding and insight into the challenges faced by our clients. A number of our more experienced attorneys work remotely, and we have systems that are able to support this. This means that we can recruit exceptionally talented people regardless of where they are located.

We also have a great team of people behind the scenes working incredibly hard to support the attorneys and clients.

Tell us what’s next for Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner.

There is always something going on! We’re investing in how AI can help us and our clients, and this is a very exciting project for us. We are also looking at how we can improve the efficiency of foreign filings.

Andre L. Marais | Principal & Registered Patent Attorney

Andre L. Marais is a seasoned patent attorney and principal at the prestigious IP law firm Schwegman Lundberg & Woessner. With over 25 years under his belt, he and the team have established themselves as leaders in patent procurement and strategic IP counseling.

Andre’s main focus lies in cutting-edge technologies such as robotics, AI, and AR. He thrives on working with his colleagues to find innovative solutions to complex IP challenges.

As a Board member and founder of the Silicon Valley office, Andre works closely with the firm’s executives to shape the firm’s vision and nurture rising stars.

Empowering clients to develop and protect strategic IP assets that align with their goals gets Andre out of bed in the morning. He’s guided many Silicon Valley startups through the intricacies of IP in pioneering fields.

Recognized in IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists 2023 (Law Business Research), Andre is dedicated to pushing boundaries and making an impact. He shares his expertise through speaking engagements and co-authoring.

“Being situated in the heart of Silicon Valley has afforded us the opportunity to collaborate with startups and established corporations on a daily basis, anticipating their future product releases and ensuring robust intellectual property protection.”

“At Schwegman, our team of attorneys has had the privilege of working with both early-stage companies and Fortune 500 giants, safeguarding their most valuable inventions and groundbreaking innovations.”