Douglas W. Owens
Associate Attorney / Washington, D.C. Metro Office
Douglas W. Owens brings a USPTO examiner’s perspective to patent work involving complex technical and legal issues. With more than two decades of experience at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including service as a Patent Examiner and Supervisory Patent Examiner, Douglas has analyzed complex patent applications, drafted and issued Office Actions, and provided legal and technical guidance grounded in USPTO examination standards.
His experience also includes leading and mentoring teams of Patent Examiners, conducting quality assurance reviews, spearheading initiatives to improve examination efficiency and accuracy, and developing training programs on patent examination, technical subject matter, and legal processes. This background gives him practical insight into examination procedures, Office Action practice, examiner expectations, and the review process behind patent prosecution.
Douglas earned his J.D. from the Franklin Pierce School of Law at the University of New Hampshire, with a focus on intellectual property and technology law. He also holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Virginia with a concentration in applied electro-physics. His technical background includes electrical engineering principles, software development in Visual Basic and C/C++, semiconductor device physics, semiconductor device processing, circuit design and digital logic.
Highlights & Representative Results
- Analyzed complex patent applications and drafted and issued Office Actions consistent with USPTO examination standards.
- Led and mentored teams of Patent Examiners, including examiners who advanced to supervisory roles.
- Conducted quality assurance reviews and contributed to initiatives designed to improve examination efficiency and accuracy.
- Developed and delivered training on patent examination, technical subject matter, and legal processes, including training adopted USPTO-wide for new examiners.
Awards & Distinctions
- Recognized for improving examination quality metrics in assigned technical group.
- Intellectual Property Certificate from Franklin Pierce School of Law.
Previous / Additional Work Experience
U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Supervisory Patent Examiner/Patent Examiner, June 1999-April 2026.
Education
- D., Franklin Pierce School of Law, University of New Hampshire, August 2023
- Focus: Intellectual Property and Technology Law
- S., Electrical Engineering, University of Virginia, May 1999
Bar & Court Admissions
Virginia
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