About

Thomas F. Woods is a registered U.S. patent attorney with an advanced  degree in computer and electrical engineering, and bachelors and masters degrees in geophysics. He provides counseling in domestic and international patent matters, opinions, licensing, due diligence, patent portfolio analysis and management, trademarks and copyrights. Tom practices in the areas of medical technology and devices, biomaterials, semiconductors, electrical and electronic circuitry, software, e-commerce, business methods, telecommunications, electrochemical cells and batteries, optics and lasers, and oil exploration devices and techniques. He has been employed as in-house corporate patent counsel by Medtronic (nine years), Rayovac Corporation (five years) and Agilent Technologies (one year). Tom served as Medtronic’s European Patent Counsel in Maastricht, The Netherlands for three years, and managed large patent portfolios for Medtronic and Rayovac. He has considerable experience in domestic and foreign trademark issues, having managed Medtronic’s and Rayovac’s worldwide trademark portfolios. He has represented a variety of high-tech companies ranging from Fortune 100 to startup, and has varying degrees of fluency in Dutch, German, French, Portuguese and Spanish. Before attending law school, Tom gained valuable experience working as a scientist and engineer for the University of Wyoming, Schlumberger International, Amoco Production Company, Western Geophysical, Seiscom-Delta United International, the Seismograph Service Corporation and Bison Instruments. Most of his engineering and scientific experience was obtained overseas working in South America, Southeast Asia, the Middle East and Africa.

Areas of Patent Practice:

  • Medical technology and devices
  • Software, e-commerce and business methods
  • Electrical and electronic circuitry
  • Semiconductor circuit design and fabrication
  • Telecommunications
  • Electrochemical cells and batteries
  • Optics and lasers
  • Oil exploration devices and techniques
  • Outdoor Gear

Certifications/Specialities:

  • Registered U.S. Patent Attorney No. 36,726
  • Member of State Bar of Colorado
  • Member of State Bar of Minnesota
  • Member of State Bar of Wisconsin
  • California Professional Registered Geophysicist No. 949 (lapsed)

Education:

  • University of Wisconsin-Madison, J.D.
  • University of Wisconsin-Madison, Professional Development Degree in Computer & Electrical Engineering
  • University of Wyoming, M.S. Geophysics
  • University of Minnesota, Institute of Technology, B.S. Geophysics

Technical Employment:

  • Amoco Production Company, Denver, Colorado. Exploration Geophysicist
  • Western Geophysical, Gabon, West Africa. Seismologist
  • University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming, Research Assistant
  • Seiscom-Delta United International, Ltd., Singapore. Seismologist
  • Seismograph Service Corporation, Houston, Texas, Wireline Engineer
  • Schlumberger International, Ltd., Comodoro Rivadavia, Argentina. Wireline Engineer Trainee
  • Bison Instruments, Minneapolis, Minnesota. Electronics Technician