Business formation
Most trademark clients are also forming or cleaning up an entity. Doing the name clearance and the formation together means the LLC, the DBA, and the trademark all line up — one name, protected at every level.
Trademarks · Serving clients nationwide
Register and protect the brand you're building.
The name your customers know you by should belong to you. I handle the search, the filing, and everything the USPTO sends back — explained in plain language at every step.
Who this is for
Your name is starting to mean something
You've named your business, your product line, your shop, or your show — and it's starting to mean something to the people who buy from you. Maybe you're about to invest in packaging, signage, or a marketing push. Maybe you've seen a lookalike name pop up and felt your stomach drop. Or maybe you formed an LLC and assumed the name was yours everywhere — it isn't, and that surprise is better discovered now than after a rebrand.
Trademark registration is federal, so I work with clients in every state — by video, in English or Spanish. Founders, e-commerce sellers, makers, and creatives are the people I built this practice for.
What I do
Trademark services, start to finish
Clearance search & opinion
Before you file — or print the packaging — I search federal, state, and common-law sources and give you a written opinion in plain English: what the risk actually is, not a hedge-everything memo.
Application preparation & filing
I prepare and file your federal application with the USPTO — the right mark, the right classes, and a description of goods and services written to protect what you actually sell.
Office action responses
When the USPTO pushes back, I respond — from technical fixes to substantive refusals argued on the merits.
Statements of use & extensions
For intent-to-use applications, I handle the follow-on filings that carry your application through to registration.
Maintenance, renewals & monitoring
A registration has deadlines for the rest of its life. I keep yours alive and can watch for new filings that come too close to your mark.
International coordination
Selling beyond the U.S.? I coordinate international filings so your brand travels with you.
If someone opposes your application or a conflict emerges, I'll assess it with you honestly — including when bringing in specialized counsel is the right call.
How it works
A clear path from search to registration
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Search
We clear the name before you spend money on it — a real search with a written, plain-English risk opinion.
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File
I prepare and file the application, built around how you actually use (or plan to use) the mark.
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Prosecute
I track the application and respond to whatever the USPTO raises, keeping you informed in plain language.
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Register & maintain
Once registered, I calendar the maintenance deadlines and help you use the ® correctly.
Pricing
How pricing works
You'll always know the price before I start. Most trademark searches and filings are flat-fee: after a short conversation about your brand and where you use it, I quote a fixed price and we agree on it in writing before any work begins. USPTO filing fees are separate and I'll tell you exactly what they are.
Where a matter is genuinely unpredictable — a contested proceeding, an unusual refusal — I'll say so up front and we'll agree on how billing will work. Either way: no surprises.
FAQ
Questions trademark clients actually ask
I formed an LLC — isn't my business name already protected?
Not the way most owners expect. Registering an LLC or corporation reserves your name with the California Secretary of State — it stops another California entity from registering the same entity name. It does not stop a business in Texas, Florida, or the next town over from selling similar products under the same brand. Federal trademark registration is what protects the name nationwide, and it's a separate process. This is the single most common — and most expensive — misunderstanding I see.
What's the difference between ™ and ®?
Anyone can use ™ next to a name or logo to say "I claim this as my brand" — no registration required. The ® may only be used once the USPTO has actually registered your mark, and it signals registered, nationwide rights. Using ® before registration is improper, so part of my job is telling you when you've earned it.
Can I just file myself, or use an online filing service?
You can — and I'll be honest: the filing form is not the hard part. The hard parts are the clearance search (is this name actually available?), choosing the right classes and description (protection you can enforce later), and the office action (the USPTO pushes back on a meaningful share of applications). Online services mostly type what you tell them into the form. What you're hiring me for is judgment before filing and advocacy after.
How long does registration take?
Plan on roughly eight to twelve months from filing to registration, sometimes longer — the USPTO examines applications in the order received. The good news: your place in line is established the day we file, and your rights, if granted, generally date back to that filing date. Filing sooner is almost always better than filing later.
What is an office action, and what happens if I get one?
An office action is a letter from the USPTO examining attorney saying there's a problem with the application — anything from a fixable technicality to a refusal based on an earlier similar mark. It comes with a deadline, and a well-argued response is often the difference between registering and abandoning. If you filed on your own and just received one, this is a common point where people bring in an attorney — I handle those too.
Do I need separate applications for my name and my logo?
They're separate marks. A word mark protects the name itself in any font or styling — usually the broadest protection. A design mark protects the logo as you use it. Which to file, or whether to file both, depends on your budget and how your customers actually recognize you; many businesses start with the word mark and add the logo later.
What if someone is already using a similar name?
It depends on how similar the marks are, how related the goods or services are, and who was using it first. Similar names can coexist in unrelated industries; close names in the same space are a real problem. This is exactly what the clearance search evaluates — before you've spent money on inventory, signage, or a filing that will be refused.
Do you work with clients outside California?
Yes. Trademark registration is federal law, so I represent clients before the USPTO from any state. Consultations are by video or phone, in English or Spanish.
Next step
Ready to protect your name?
Start with a short conversation about your brand — where you use it, where you're headed, and whether the name is clear. Not sure a trademark is what you need? That's what the first conversation is for.