Upcoming Events, Courses, and Talks

Every business has intellectual property in one form or another, but most entrepreneurs struggle with the fundamental question: how should you invest your limited resources in IP protection? With startups especially, every dollar matters, making strategic IP decisions critical to long-term success. 

This in-person seminar covers the basics of intellectual property protection including patents, trademarks, and copyrights, with focused discussion of IP strategies that are important for entrepreneurs, start-ups, and small businesses at all stages of development. You'll learn not just what IP protection is available, but when and how to make cost-effective decisions about securing valuable protection for your innovations.

Led by Jake Ward of Ward Law Office, a registered patent attorney whose practice spans independent inventors to Fortune 500 companies, this workshop provides practical guidance tailored to the unique challenges facing early-stage businesses. Jake's experience includes preparation and prosecution of patent applications, legal opinions about patentability and infringement, and teaching entrepreneurs about substantive patent law and practice.

The workshop addresses the real-world tension between comprehensive IP protection and resource constraints that every startup faces. You'll gain frameworks for evaluating which IP assets deserve immediate attention and which can be addressed as your business grows and generates revenue.

Who Should Attend:

• Entrepreneurs and founders at any stage of business development
• Small business owners with potentially protectable innovations
• Startups seeking to understand IP implications for funding and valuation
• Anyone creating products, brands, or content that could benefit from IP protection
• Business advisors working with innovation-focused companies
• Teams preparing for investor discussions involving IP assets

This seminar provides the foundation for making informed IP protection decisions that align with your business strategy and resource constraints.

About the Instructor

Jake Ward is a registered patent attorney at Ward Law Office whose practice includes preparation and prosecution of patent applications and preparing legal opinions about patentability, infringement, patent validity, and freedom to practice. His expertise spans a wide variety of technical disciplines, including mechanical, chemical, and electrical applications.

Beyond his legal practice, Jake serves as an adjunct professor who regularly teaches law students, entrepreneurs, and start-ups about substantive patent law and patent practice. This educational background enables him to make complex IP concepts accessible to business leaders without legal training.

Jake's client base ranges from independent inventors and small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, giving him unique insights into IP strategy across different business contexts and resource levels. His experience helps entrepreneurs understand not just what IP protection is available, but how to make strategic decisions about IP investment that align with business goals and constraints.

His commitment to education and practical application makes him particularly effective at helping startups navigate the intersection of IP law and business strategy.

About the Organization 

Ward Law Office LLC is a boutique law firm specializing in patent and trademark law, committed to providing inventors, entrepreneurs, and businesses with personal and professional services flexible to meet unique client needs. The firm serves clients ranging from independent inventors to Fortune 500 companies, with extensive experience in patent application preparation and prosecution across mechanical, chemical, and electrical disciplines. Ward Law Office maintains close relationships with IP law firms in many foreign countries, enabling comprehensive IP services both in the United States and worldwide. The firm's goal is to provide unparalleled IP protection services at rates affordable to independent inventors and businesses.