Staas & Halsey

Staas & Halsey LLP is a Washington, D.C.-based intellectual property law firm, operating as a dedicated IP boutique with a single office in the heart of the nation's capital. Established in 1971, the firm focuses exclusively on intellectual property matters, serving national and international clients across a broad range of industries. While no current AmLaw or Chambers rankings are reliably sourced, the firm has previously been recognized in specific patent procurement rankings, including being ranked 22nd in U.S. utility patents procured in 2015 by the Ant-Like Persistence blog and among the top 15 patent firms in Washington, D.C. in 2017 by the Avery Index.

The firm's IP litigation practice spans both prosecution and defense of patent, trademark, and trade secret causes of action. Staas & Halsey attorneys possess technical expertise across diverse fields, including thin-film transistors, display panels, electronic circuits, computer hardware and software, data security, data storage, wireless applications, telecommunications, optics, electro-mechanical devices, home appliances, and e-commerce business methods. The firm's litigation experience, as demonstrated in tracked cases, indicates a focus on defending operating companies.

A notable tracked engagement involved Staas & Halsey acting as lead counsel for the defendant in Petitioner v. Meridian International Co Ltd, which was later identified as Meridian International Co., Ltd. v. SK Tools USA, LLC. This case concerned a patent dispute over modular stackable tool box configurations. The matter concluded swiftly through a voluntary dismissal just 92 days after filing, without a merits ruling on infringement or validity. The public record indicates a voluntary dismissal, though it does not specify whether it was with or without prejudice.

Staas & Halsey maintains an active practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including robust involvement in post-grant proceedings. The firm’s "Post Patent Grant Practice" explicitly covers challenging and defending patents through Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post Grant Review (PGR), and re-examination proceedings. However, public reports on the firm's volume or specific scale in these PTAB proceedings are not readily available.

Key partners contributing to the firm’s patent litigation capabilities include Anna Halsey, who specializes in intellectual property and complex litigation matters within the biomedical and life sciences sector, with a focus on patent litigation and licensing disputes. Thomas L. Jones brings over two decades of experience in patent and trademark prosecution and litigation, having successfully argued appeals before the Patent and Trademark Appeal Board. Other active partners involved in the IP space, often contributing to firm insights on USPTO developments, include Gene M. Garner II and Mehdi D. Sheikerz.