Jo Carothers

Jo Dale Carothers, Ph.D., is a seasoned patent litigator with a strong focus on high-technology disputes, drawing on her deep technical background in electrical engineering. Her practice spans a wide array of intellectual property issues, including patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights, with an emphasis on litigation, licensing, and proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Her expertise is particularly relevant in areas involving complex electrical engineering, optical networking, and semiconductor technologies, as evidenced by her representation of clients in optical transceiver patent disputes.

While the provided data listed "Jo Carothers" as appearing for DLA Piper in Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. v. Accelight Technologies, Inc., public records indicate that Jo Dale Carothers, Ph.D., of Weintraub Tobin, represented Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (AOI) in this litigation, which involved optical transceiver patents. With the tracked case showing a plaintiff-side role, her practice includes enforcing patent rights on behalf of innovators and operating companies seeking to protect their intellectual property. She also advises clients on non-infringement and validity issues, showcasing a comprehensive approach to patent disputes.

Currently a shareholder and chair of the Intellectual Property group at Weintraub Tobin, Dr. Carothers joined the firm in 2014, having previously been a partner at other "Big Law" firms. Her experience extends to actively engaging in PTAB proceedings; she advises clients on IPRs and has been quoted in legal publications regarding significant IPR decisions, including those impacting her clients. She has also published on topics related to PTAB claim construction standards and various patent litigation matters.

Dr. Carothers is admitted to practice in California and Arizona and is a registered patent attorney before the USPTO. She holds a Ph.D., M.S., and B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Texas, and a J.D., summa cum laude, from the University of Arizona. Prior to her legal career, she was a tenured Electrical and Computer Engineering professor at the University of Arizona, where her research contributed to technology used in the Mars Pathfinder Mission.