Areas of Practice: Patents, Opinions, Searching and Client Counseling

Mr. Ashburn prepares and prosecutes patent applications in the electrical, electro-mechanical and business method arts. Mr. Ashburn’s practice additionally involves performing invalidity, patentability, and opposition searches. Mr. Ashburn has significant experience in preparing infringement/non-infringement opinions, validity analyses and responses in reexamination proceedings. Representative technology areas include virtual reality, interactive user interfaces, biometrics, transcription, RFIDs, data security, semiconductors, in-vehicle training systems, computer networks, electrical power networks, smart meters, and financial business methods.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Ashburn obtained more than six years experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications, providing client counseling, conducting searches, and preparing opinions at an nationally recognized intellectual property firms in Washington, D.C. and Virginia. Before entering private practice, Mr. Ashburn worked as a patent examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office for almost five years. During his tenure at the Patent Office, Mr. Ashburn examined patent applications in technology areas related to gambling devices, virtual reality, video games, online entertainment, aircraft and medical device simulators and distributed training systems.

Before his tenure at the Patent Office, Mr. Ashburn gained over six years of technical experience as an electrical engineer. A majority of this time was spent working with flight simulators to support the test and evaluation of naval aircraft. In this position, Mr. Ashburn designed and integrated cockpit instrumentation, avionics, motors, data interfaces, power supply systems and audio/video distribution systems.

Legal History:
Patent Examiner, United States Patent and Trademark Office
Patent Attorney at a large IP boutique firm in Washington, DC and Reston, VA
Patent Attorney within a national law firm in Alexandria, VA

Education:
American University, Washington College of Law (J.D., 2005)
Florida Institute of Technology (M.B.A., 1999)
University of Maryland, College Park (B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1994)

Admitted:
Virginia, District of Columbia, United States Patent & Trademark Office