Atty. John E. Whitaker
John Whitaker is a litigator who counsels clients on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. John has served as trial counsel in several cases involving various technologies and forms of intellectual property rights.
Profile Summary
About John E. Whitaker at a glance
John E. Whitaker is a patent and ip attorney based in Seattle, Washington, practicing at Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness PLLC. Admitted to practice in Washington, Bar Admission: Washington. Educated at Samford University (J.D., 1996) and University of Alabama - Huntsville (B.S.E.E., 1990). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Patent (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property (2026). Serves clients in Seattle, WA and the surrounding metropolitan area.
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About
- John Whitaker is a litigator who counsels clients on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets
- John has served as trial counsel in several cases involving various technologies and forms of intellectual property rights
- He routinely represents technology clients in the software, medical device, and telecommunications industries, and he also helps artists and authors to protect their original works
- John has represented clients in federal courts around the country and at the U.S
- Patent & Trademark Office, assisting them in enforcing and defending their intellectual property rights
- In addition to his litigation efforts, John also maintains an active patent and trademark procurement docket, which helps him stay abreast of the latest developments in patent and trademark procedure
- That unique combination of litigation and procurement skills distinguishes John from most other intellectual property litigators
- John served as a Judge Advocate in the U.S
- Army Reserve for nine years, providing legal services to military personnel at various military facilities around the world, including Seattle area-based Joint Base Lewis McChord
- Before becoming an attorney, John was a software engineer working on the national missile defense effort
- Specifically, John was involved in strategic defense initiative projects such as ground-based radar, ground-based surveillance and tracking, and anti-satellite programs
- John regularly presents on IP topics to clients and in-house legal teams, and at local bar associations
- He is named to the list of The Best Lawyers in America and is included in the 2025 list of Washington Super Lawyers
Practice Areas Explained
John E. Whitaker's Areas of Practice
Each practice area below reflects the types of cases John E. Whitaker handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.
John E. Whitaker is one of 18,874 patent attorneys indexed nationally. Browse patent attorneys in Washington →
IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.
John E. Whitaker is one of 94,505 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in Washington →
Jurisdictional Context
Why local counsel matters in Washington
Practicing law in Washington. Legal matters in Washington are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Seattle are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Washington state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Washington brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this venue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Washington courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.
Looking for additional Washington attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Seattle or all attorneys in Washington.
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