Tailored IP strategies uniquely crafted for each client.

team members of MLO, a San Diego-based Intellectual Property law firm

About Us

Established in 2006, MLO is a San Diego-based Intellectual Property law firm serving a diverse range of clients, from emerging startups to Fortune 500 companies. Our practice is dedicated to delivering tailored IP protection services, with a focus on acquiring and maintaining patent assets, strategic patent planning, comprehensive patent analysis, portfolio management, Intellectual property due diligence, and trademarks.

We pride ourselves on our concierge-level client service and response times that larger firms struggle to match, recognizing that each client has unique IP needs, whether they are individual inventors, dynamic startups, or established corporations.

We aim to be more than just your legal advisor – we strive to be a strategic partner in transforming your intellectual property into valuable business assets.

IP Services

  • Patents

    MLO offers comprehensive patent services, from securing and maintaining patent assets to developing strategic patent plans, ensuring that your innovations are effectively protected and leveraged.

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  • Trademarks

    Our trademark attorneys specialize in the acquisition, protection, and enforcement of trademarks, employing an in-house style approach to align your trademark portfolio with your business objectives seamlessly.

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  • IP Due Diligence

    We offer comprehensive IP due diligence services that not only safeguards your assets but also strategically positions your intellectual property for competitive advantage.

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  • IP Portfolio Review

    Our in-depth IP portfolio reviews and strategic planning, ensure that your intellectual property assets are aligned with your business objectives, thereby maximizing their impact and value.

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Who We Work With

At MLO, we pride ourselves on our ability to adapt our intellectual property strategies to meet the unique needs of a diverse clientele. Whether you're an individual inventor, a burgeoning startup, or a well-established mid-size to large company, our approach is always personalized, ensuring that your IP assets are aligned with your specific goals and business landscape.

  • MLO offers mid-size to large companies sophisticated IP solutions that align with their corporate objectives, ensuring that their substantial IP portfolios are managed efficiently and effectively for optimal market impact.

  • As an intellectual law firm, we partner with startups to develop dynamic IP strategies that not only protect your innovations but also support your growth, attract investors, and enhance your market position.

  • For individual inventors, MLO provides personalized guidance and protection strategies, ensuring your ideas are secured and your intellectual property rights are robustly defended.

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What Our Clients Say

  • “The word that best describes MLO is “thoroughness”. MLO is very thorough and professional in every aspect of the IP process. With multiple matters being worked on for trademarks, patents and IP, the use of docket lists and reoccurring calls are very beneficial in bringing me up to date and letting MLO know what our company has in mind for the upcoming months. In comparison to our previous firm, they have a much clearer sense of where I am with a wide variety of projects, and they really help our small business manage our budgets.”

    Randy Ataide
    CFO, StealthGearUSA LLC
    San Antonio, TX

  • “I’ve dealt with a few patent firms, and I think that there’s always a desire to take as much of the burden off of an inventor’s shoulders as possible for the patent process. MLO is the first patent firm that has provided me with that. The clear differentiator that I find with MLO is that the agents and attorneys are skilled in the art such that I’m able to speak the technical language to them. And more importantly, we’re further able to discuss a patent strategy, because ultimately what we’re trying to do is protect a new type of technology.”

    Dr. Petar Atanackovic
    Chief Scientist, Silanna Semiconductor
    Adelaide, Australia

  • “MLO is very professional and an easy firm to work with. I’ve enjoyed working with Heather, Jon, and the rest of the MLO team. Everything that we have pushed for, we have obtained successfully, for both patents and trademarks. MLO has provided sound advice especially with IP strategy. The results speak for themselves. I would recommend MLO to other companies, especially to other mid-sized technology firms.”

    Tom Mullen
    Senior Vice President of Business Development,
    OPSWAT, Inc.
    San Francisco, CA

  • “We’ve been very pleased with the services and the experience with MLO, not only because they got the job done but because of the way we got there and the professionalism of the firm. Specifically, what was extremely valuable to us was the efficiency of the firm. Our past experience working with larger firms was that the patent process was very long and repetitive and we didn’t have people who understood our business thus necessitating many cycles of review. Heather understood our concerns and priorities. I am really happy we selected MLO as our partner in Intellectual Property.”

    Carole-Ann Matignon
    President and CEO, Sparkling Logic, Inc.
    San Jose, CA

  • “At ZeroG, Heather came highly recommended to us. Initially, Heather worked with us to plan out patent strategy with a limited budget. She then brainstormed and worked with engineers, helped review and select ideas for disclosure, and then carried it forward to 9 issued patents in about 3 years. In the field of top, competent lawyers that understand the Silicon Valley business, she stands out as particularly organized and easy to work with. Since working with her, I have recommended her to several other companies. It’s easy to recommend someone who does good work.”

    Bendik Kleveland
    Distinguished Engineer, MoSys, Inc.
    Sunnyvale, CA

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Recent News

Featured
From Batman to Barbie: My Journey through MLO’s Evolution 
From Batman to Barbie: My Journey through MLO’s Evolution 

Back in 2006, I was just another IP attorney, clocking in one day a week at client sites, helping them navigate their intellectual property needs. It was solid work, the kind that rarely made headlines but was crucial for my clients’ success. It wasn’t glamorous, but I was there to serve and help them get the right IP support. But what began as a small consulting gig has now evolved, eighteen years later, into something bigger—a custom IP solutions firm. Along the way, I’ve learned that the best journeys are often the ones you don’t plan. 

Design Patents Demystified: From Gadgets to GUIs 
Design Patents Demystified: From Gadgets to GUIs 

Design patents are all about protecting the visual appeal of your product—the unique, eye-catching elements that make it stand out.  Whether it's the sleek shape, an intricate surface design, or a striking configuration, a design patent ensures that your product's original and ornamental (non-functional) design stays yours.  Think of it as a shield for the "look" of your invention. 

When should I call the patent attorney? 
When should I call the patent attorney? 

Many engineers aren't sure when their innovation is patent-worthy. In Jon Lindsay’s latest blog post, he explains how understanding non-obviousness and recognizing competitive advantages can help. Learn more about non-obviousness, the “bug-fix rule,” the “impressed co-worker rule,” and the “impressed marketer rule” to see if your invention might be patent-worthy.