Bill Hulsey Lawyer – Patents

Principal
Patent Attorney, Engineer, Economist
(512) 478-9190
[email protected]

BILL HULSEY PATENT LAWYER established HULSEY PC to apply a range of highly specialized experiences and advanced legal, economics, and technical education and certifications to a broad span of technical fields.

Overview. Mr. Hulsey has practiced Patent and Trademark Law for 35 years and serves inventors and entrepreneurs in the Southeast United States, focusing principally in the Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana. He has prosecuted and obtained patents and trademarks for this region’s most aspiring and amazing inventors, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who are dedicated to making the world a better place. He is committed to manifesting a perpetual virtuous cycle of innovation and entrepreneurial growth spurring intellectual property growth, which in turn encourages fair, reasonable, collaborative commercialization and to further yet more regional innovation, entrepreneurial growth, and prosperity.

Notable Landmarks. Over the years, Bill has achieved the following:

Interviewed, written, and prosecuted over 2,000 U.S. and international patent in all technology areas, including technologies supporting the industries of energy, electronics, drones, robotics, artificial intelligence, consumer products, medical devices, chemical, and financial/block chain technologies.
Obtained over 1,500 trademarks for entrepreneurs and innovator in a wide variety and companies and products.
Represented Apollo Program Astronaut in multi-functional air- and space-craft design patents.
Served Mr. Gordon Matthews, inventor of voicemail and a wide variety of voice-based communication technologies.
Wrote patents deemed critical to the Lockheed Aerospace successful competition for the $200 Billion F-35 Joint Strike Fighter U.S. Department of Defense Contract.
Established the initial 100 patents for a silicon crystal solar cell fabrication technology deemed by the U.S. Patent Office as the “Holy Grail” in silicon fabrication technologies.
Originated the U.S. Patent Office Pro Bono Inventor Assistance Program for qualified inventors in the State of Texas, in service to the USPTO Office of Innovation Development.
Prior to founding HULSEY PC, Bill served as a partner and founded the Austin intellectual property section of one of Texas’ largest, oldest and most respected law firms, then co-founded the Texas headquarters (Austin) office for one of Silicon Valley’s most prominent law firm’s, and later served as national patent practice leader for one of Texas’ leading multi-state full-service law firms.
Elected Fellow of the Texas Bar Foundation, and member of the Texas Bar College, Texas Pro Bono College, and Tennessee Supreme Court Attorneys for Justice Program.
Authored “Creating, Managing, And Licensing Intellectual Property Assets;” a major work of over 30 hours of streaming video courses providing intellectual property education and training, through Stanford University’s Graduate School for Electronics Engineering and SemiZone, Inc.
Served on numerous select committees to support U.S. and international entrepreneurial efforts and activities in Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and through the U.S. Department of Commerce.
Bill Hulsey’s patent and trademark law practice has been
- Twice formally certified by the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Commission’s Export Services Award for providing excellent patent, trademark, and copyright services to foreign companies seeking intellectual property assistance in the U.S.; and
- Certified as a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB) and approved by the Texas Attorney General to represent the University of Texas System and other Texas state institutions of higher learning, such as Texas A&M University and Texas State University.
Following over 13 years of uniformed US Navy service and prior to and during his graduate education in economics and law, Bill worked as a civilian electronics engineer and physical scientist in the U.S. Army’s top-secret scientific and technical military intelligence (STMI) think tanks, and research and development (R&D) facilities in Washington, D.C. and throughout the U.S.
For much of his active duty service, Bill served on the new construction crew for the Los Angeles Class nuclear submarine, USS Jacksonville (SSN699). In 1982, he was one of three nuclear-trained officers specially selected to control the USS Jacksonville nuclear plant for the last initial sea trials (Alpha Trials) observed by Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, founder of the U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Force.
In active duty, he served as a U.S. Navy nuclear trained submarine officer and, as a reserve duty submarine nuclear-qualified engineering duty officer, served as Commanding Officer of Submarine Base Pearl Harbor Repair Unit 409. Lieutenant Commander(SS) Hulsey served the Navy from 1976 to 1992. Starting as a Nuclear-Trained Submarine Officer, he was the ship’s Communications Officer, Electrical Officer, and Weapons Officer, participating in the new construction, 1982 sea trials and initial deployment of the USS Jacksonville (SSN699), a Los Angeles Class Fast-Attack Nuclear Submarine. He then served the Naval Control of Shipping Organization and later as a Nuclear-Trained Engineering Duty Officer. He finished his Navy service as Commanding Officer of a U.S. Submarine Base Pearl Harbor Submarine Repair Facility, responsible for shipyard maintenance and repair of all submarines deploying from and to U.S. Submarine Base, Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.
Bill earned The Navy Achievement Medal, The Armed Forces Reserve Medal, The National Defense Service Medal, The Expert Marksman Pistol Medal, and The Honorary Discharge Ribbon.

Professional Recognitions. He and his practice have earned the following professional recognitions

- The Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory
  - “AV-Preeminent“ for 12 years;
  - “AV-Preeminent Judicial Edition” (the highest possible rating) also for 12 years;
  - “Top Rated Texas Attorney for Ethics and Legal Ability”;
  - “Platinum Client Distinction Award” based on multiple evaluations of client service and relationships, and
  - “Bar Registry of Preeminent Attorneys.”
- U.S. News & World Report “Best Law Firms in America” for HULSEY PC in Texas, Tennessee, and U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.
- Best Lawyers Magazine’s “Best Lawyers in America” Listings for Austin, TX; Memphis, TN; Bentonville, AR; Tulsa, OK; Birmingham, AL; Jackson, MS; New Orleans & Shreveport, LA.
- The American Registry of Lawyers and Law Firms listing for the following recognitions:
  - - “Top 1% Most Honored Lawyers in America”
    - “Top 1% Most Honored Professionals in America.”
- Justia Legal Directory Lawyer Rating “10-of-10 Superb” for Legal Ethics and Ability.
- Number 1 of the Top “Three Best Rated” Patent Lawyers in Austin, Texas and Memphis, Tennessee.
- Better Business Bureau’s A+ Rating for HULSEY PC in Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Tennessee, Mississippi, Alabama, and Louisiana.
- Winner of the 2021-2022 International Advisory Experts Award – Intellectual Property Award Texas,

Education. Mr. Hulsey possesses the following educational degrees and certifications:

- - B.S. (with Distinction) in Theoretical Mathematics and Computer Science from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN.
  - M.A. in Economics, including Econometrics and Mathematical Economic Analysis, as well as Entrepreneurial Economics and Regional Economic Analysis and Local Economy Development, from The University of Virginia.
  - M.S. (equivalent) through U.S. Navy Nuclear Training at the A1W Nuclear Power Prototype at Idaho National Laboratories and U.S. Navy Submarine-Trained Lieutenant Commander in Nuclear Reactor Plant Operation and Ship Propulsion.
  - GS-13 Senior civil service designation as a Top-Secret-Cleared Physical Scientist and Electronics Engineer for The U.S. Department of The Army’ Electronics Research and Development Command and Foreign Science & Technology Center.
  - J.D. in Law from Vanderbilt University School of Law, focusing on Business Formation and Commercial Law, Patent and Trademark Law, and Entrepreneurial legal Issues. Bill was elected as Senior Managing Editor of the Vanderbilt Law Review, and selected editor of Professor Paul Hartman’s renowned treatise Federal Limitations on State and Local Taxation and Professor Larry Soderquist’s treatise Securities Law. In law school, Bill also co-founded The Nashville Business Incubation Center at Tennessee State University, along with entrepreneur, business leader and later Mayor of Nashville, Mr. Phil Bredesen. Mr. Hulsey also established The High Tech Initiative, collaborating with a select group of Nashville’s first tech industry leaders and forming a new private-public tech-industry economic development entity.
  - M.S. in Nuclear Engineer

Practice Areas. Bill is admitted to practice before the following tribunals and agencies:

- - Registered to Practice for the United States Patent & Trademark Office.
  - The United States Supreme Court.
  - The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
  - The United States Federal District Court for the Northern & Western Districts of Texas.
  - Texas Supreme Court and all Texas Courts.
  - Tennessee Supreme Court and all Tennessee Courts.

International. Outside the U.S., HULSEY PC’s clients have ranged in geographic diversity from Norway to New Zealand and from Siberia to Singapore. Through his legal work, as well as with teaching through the University of Texas’s IC2 Institute, Mr. Hulsey has provided hundreds of hours of lectures and education in intellectual property rights formation, protection, and commercialization in over 45 countries and on all continents, except Antarctica.

Relevant Economic Development Certifications. Today, Bill has achieved and continues to pursue the following certifications as a foundation for economic development and intellectual property commercialization:

Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) (certified 12/2021); Bill also serves on the IEDC Advisory Committee;
Certified Business Economist through the National Association of Business Economists (in progress);
Certified Licensing Professional through the Licensing Executives Society (in progress) ; and
Professional Engineer in Nuclear Engineering from the American Nuclear Society (approved to sit for the Texas Nuclear P.E. Exam in October 2023).

He sees these economic development skills, endorsements, and connections as a proactive service to benefit our firm’s clients. Through this work, Bill advances the existing and potential markets in the Southeast U.S. by promoting economic development through entrepreneurship and innovation.

Furthermore, Bill has served as a volunteer mentor and, most recently,

Sponsor for Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business’ New Venture Competition.
His past service to similar “Shark Tank^(R)” competitions has included events at
- The University of Texas’ McCombs School of Business TX;
- The University of Rochester, NY;
- National and International “Idea to Product” Competitions in Brazil, Norway, China, Russia, Portugal, Colombia, and Mexico;
- Mass Challenge Texas^(R)
Competitions in the U.S.,
- SXSW^(R) Pitch Competitions,
- U.S. Air Force Ventures Competitions, and other events and competitions in Texas, California, New York and globally

Along with Austin’s high tech industry leaders, Bill co-founded The Austin Software Council, later to become The Austin Technology Council, Austin’s leading tech industry private-public economic development organization.

Community. Within the local community and in support of the performing arts, Bill has been a member of the Grammy-Award winning choral ensemble of the Conspirare Symphonic Chorus. He has sung over 20 major choral performances, including major performances with the Austin Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Austin, including various international performances, and a special performance a chorus member in Austin’s 2015 Andrea Bocelli Concert.

Moreover, he is an active member of Rotary International and devoted to that organization’s concept of “Service Above Self” Bill presently serves on the Waco Texas Rotary Club Board of Directors, and has served as President of the Austin Westlake Rotary Chapter. Mr. Hulsey has trained for and now serves as a Rotary International Technical Cadre in Economic Development in development needs of second and third world economies. His contributions to Rotary International have earned him the status of Paul Harris Award, with three blue sapphires.

Presentations & Publications. Throughout his career, Mr. Hulsey has published and written in the fields of patents, trademarks, copyrights and related legal specialties, as well as the critically and collaboratively associated theories and principles that relate innovation with regional and national economic development. Some of these works are the following:

PATENT REFORM FIVE YEARS ON: A REVIEW OF THE AMERICA INVENTS ACT (Organizer and Panel Member); in collaboration with the USPTO Texas Regional Office and the Austin Chamber of Commerce. (September 2016).
ENTREPRENEURSHIP: Essential Elements in Starting and Growing a Successful New Venture; McCoy Graduate School of Business, Texas State University (an Emerging Research University), (March 2013).
>$1B TO APPLE FOR SAMSUNG PATENT INFRINGEMENT—PRACTICAL LESSONS FOR EMERGING GROWTH TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES; IC2 Institute of the University of Texas (September 2012).
ADVANCED PATENT CLAIM DRAFTING WORKSHOP, USPTO Texas Regional Inventors Conference (Austin, TX; September 2012).
A NEW WORLD OF PATENT OPTIONS FOR UNIVERSITY TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER UNDER THE AIA; Joint American IP Law Association-Association of University Technology Manager Conference; (Texas A&M University; September 2012).
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ISSUES & OPPORTUNITIES FOR GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURS; University of Texas Global Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; July 2012).
THE JOBS ACT & THE LEAHY-SMITH AMERICA INVENTS ACT OF 2011; IC2 Institute of The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX; May 2012).
TRADEMARK WAR STORIES FROM THE FRONT LINES: HOW FAILING TO FILE FOR FEDERAL TRADEMARK PROTECTION CAN BE PAINFULLY COSTLY; TechRanch Austin Entrepreneurs Seminar (Austin, TX; February 2012).
IP & RELATED LEGAL ISSUES IN EXPORTING PRODUCTS & SERVICES TO LATIN AMERICA; Moble LatAm Conference on Latin America (Miami, FL; February 2012 & Austin, TX; September 2012).
THE LEAHY-SMITH AMERICA INVENTS ACT OF 2011 & WHAT IT MEANS FOR START-UP COMPANIES; IC2 Institute of The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX; November 2011).
THE USPTO EXPLAINS THE LEAHY-SMITH AMERICA INVENTS ACT OF 2011 TO SAN ANTONIO’S ENTREPRENEURS; (Introductory remarks for Mr. John Calvert, Administrator-USPTO Inventor Assistance Program (San Antonio, TX; October 2011).
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTION WORLDWIDE FOR LATIN AMERICAN COMPANIES; 13th International Conference on Technology Policy & Innovation (Bogota, Colombia; September 2011).
A TEXAS TWO-STEP SUMMER SALUTE TO LATIN AMERICA: INNOVATION, CREATIVITY & IP IN WORKING WITH LATIN AMERICAN COMPANIES; Global Classroom, IC2 Institute of the University of Texas (Austin, TX; June 2011).
WORLD INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY DAY 2011: WHY AUSTIN, TEXAS IS AMERICA’S MOST INNOVATIVE CITY; IC2 Institute of the University of Texas (Austin, TX; April 2011).
STANFORD UNIVERSITY V. ROCHE PHARMACEUTICALS ET AL.; University of Rochester Health Sciences Center (Rochester, NY; April 2011).
SXSW SPECIAL ENTREPRENEURS PROGRAM: DIRECTOR OF THE U.S. PATENT AND TRADEMARK OFFICE SPEAKS PERSONALLY WITH SMALL BUSINESSES AND START-UPS (Introductory Remarks); IC2 Institute of the University of Texas (Austin, TX; March 2011).
STANFORD UNIVERSITY V. ROCHE PHARMACEUTICALS ET AL.; IC2 Institute of The University of Texas at Austin (Austin, TX; February 2011).
GREEN TECHNOLOGY PATENTS & THEIR ACCELERATION AROUND THE WORLD; Special Green Technology Patent Conference at the Texas State Capital (Austin, TX; December 2010).
PATENTS OPTIONS AND PROMISE FOR GLOBAL EXAMINATION ACCELERATION; 2010 Texas Global Intellectual Property Summit (Austin, TX; November 2010).
The U.S. Supreme Court Decision in BILSKI V. KAPPOS: A Defining Moment in U.S. Patent Law; HULSEYIP Special Business Briefing (Austin, TX; Rochester, NY; & San Antonio, TX; August & September 2010//State Bar of Texas Continuing Legal Education No. 901207746 [1.5 Hours Credit]).
Intellectual Property Basics for Technology Managers; University of Texas’ McCombs School of Management/Monterrey Technology University Masters of Science in Science & Technology Commercialization Certificate Program—Monterrey, Mexico, Two-Day Course (June 2010).
RESET, REBOOT, AND RESUME!!:Selling to American Markets on The Other Side of the Global Financial Crisis; HULSEYIP European Markets Business & Intellectual Property Workshop (Frankfurt, Germany; Bratislava, Slovakia; & Budapest, Hungary; February 2010).
Intellectual Property Due Diligence in Cross-Border M&A Transactions; International Mergers & Acquisitions Conference of the American Mergers & Acquisition Association (Eltville/Frankfurt, Germany; October 2009).
International Conference on Technology Policy & Innovation, Intellectual Property Panel [Co-Chair with António Serge Campinos, President, The Portuguese Institute of Industrial Property (INPI)] (Porto, Portugal; July 2009).
Intellectual Property & Technology Commercialization Workshop; Pontificia Universidad Javeriana; (Bogota, Colombia; July 2009).
The Institute for Policy and Innovation’s (IPI) 4th Annual World Intellectual Property Day Forum: “The Role of Intellectual Property in the Global Recovery”; (Washington, D.C., April 2009) 10 Intellectual Property Mistakes Of Early Stage Companies & How to Avoid Them.
Development Opportunities in Central Texas’ Entrepreneurial Community; (Austin, TX; March 2009).
U.S. Intellectual Property Practices & Concerns for Portuguese Technology Companies; National Institute for Intellectual Property [Portuguese Patent & Trademark Office] (Lisbon, Portugal; February 2009).
Intellectual Property Practices & Concerns for Portuguese Technology Companies; University Technology Entrepreneurship Network (UTEN) Program with National Government of Portugal; New University of Technology at Lisbon (Lisbon, Portugal; February 2009).
Securing IP: Chances and Dangers for Solar Start-Ups; PHOTON International Magazine [International Solar Industry Periodical based in Aachen, Germany]; 1ST PV START-UP CONFERENCE: “Looking for the 2nd Solar” (San Francisco, CA; December 2008).
Solar Energy Entrepreneur’s Network Forum: IP Protection & Commercialization in a Transitioning Economy; (Austin, TX; October 2008).
Evolving Trends in International Intellectual Property Rights: U.S. Options in A Challenging Economy, University of Minho (Braga, Portugal; July 2008).
Space Technology Commercialization and IP Protection: The View from The United States, European Space Agency Business Incubator (Njordwik, The Netherlands; July 2008).
Software IP Commercialization Short Course, Monterrey Institute of Technology (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; June 2008).
Key Issues in High Quality IP Management for The Mechanical & Plumbing Industries, 2008 Plumbing Manufacturers Institute (San Diego, California; April 2008).
Intellectual Property In Sustainable Energy Technologies, 10th International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation (Stavanger, Norway; June 2007).
International Software Intellectual Property Protection & Licensing Workshop, UTEN Program of the Government of Portugal (Lisbon & Porto, Portugal; May 2007).
Technology Commercialization in & Through Asia: The Case of Taiwan, IC2 Institute—Presenter & Leader, (Austin, Texas; February 2007).
Mexican Department of Economic Development INVITE Entrepreneurial Competition, Intellectual Property Workshop—Presenter & Leader, (Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico; November 2006).
International Intellectual Property Protection, Transactions, and Enforcement; Adjunct Professor, Center for Data Processing & Information Technology; International Technology Research Institute, Taipei, Taiwan [on-line teaching] (January-March 2006 & November-December 2006).
Intellectual Property Panel: “IP—Keep It or Give It Away”, 7th Annual IEEE-UT Engineering Management Conference (Austin, Texas; August 2006).
Space Industry Intellectual Property Management: Rules and A Roadmap of Rising Relevance, 6th Australian National Space Science Conference (Canberra, Australia; July 2006).
European Economic Infrastructure Sustainability & Intellectual Property Rights, 9th International Conference on Technology Policy and Innovation (Santorini Island, Greece; June 2006).
Integrated Robotic Actuator Technologies & Intellectual Property Rights; ACTUATOR 2006 Conference (Bremen, Germany; June 2006).
Space Materials Intellectual Property Management: Rules and A Roadmap of Rising Relevance, Aerospace Materials Conference (Seattle, Washington; May 2006).
Privatized and Commercial Space Intellectual Property Rights, International Space Development Conference (Los Angeles, California; May 2006).
International Intellectual Property Rights for Aerospace Nuclear Power Technologies: A Global Roadmap, 2006 IEEE Aerospace Conference (Big Sky, Montana; March 2006).
Property Rights & Business Transactions in Entrepreneurial Space Commerce, SPACE EXPLORATION: WHO, WHAT, WHEN, WHERE, WHY? Conference, International Space University; Poster Session (Strasbourg, France; October 2005).
Entrepreneurship: Business and Legal Fundamentals; Maastricht School of Management (Nicosia, Cyprus; June-July 2005).
International Intellectual Property Rights & Space Exploration Technologies, World Aerospace Congress 2005, Society of Automotive Engineers (Dallas, TX; October 2005).
Commercial Space Intellectual Property & Technology Transfer. 5th Australian National Space Society Conference, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; September 2005).
Commercial Intellectual Property Rights and Space Exploration: A Major Paradigm Shift, AIAA’s SPACE 2005 Conference (Long Beach, CA; August 2005).
Space Exploration Technology Development Through Intellectual Property Analysis, 8th International Mars Society Convention (Boulder, CO; August 2005).
International Intellectual Property Rights & Space Exploration Technologies, International Space Development Conference 2005 (Washington, D.C.; May 2005).
Advanced Space Propulsion Technologies & Intellectual Property Commercialization, 16th JPL/MFSC/UAH Advanced Space Propulsion Workshop (Marshall Space Flight Center, Huntsville, AL; April 2005).
International Intellectual Property Aspects of Space Technology Commercialization, First Conference on Space Exploration by American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (Orlando, FL; January 2005).
Commercialization and Funding of Space Technology Development, Space Technology & Applications International Forum by University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM; February 2003).
Intellectual Property Fundamentals Seminar, AIAA Digital Avionics Systems Conference (Orange County, CA; September 2002).
Intellectual Property Considerations in Space Technology Commercialization, European Space Agency Conference on Data Systems in Aerospace (Dublin, Ireland; May 2002).
Managing & Licensing Intellectual Property Assets, Co-Chaired American Intellectual Property Law Association National Conference; (Orange County, California; 2004).
Intellectual Property & Space Technology Commercialization, Mars Society Conference (Chicago, IL; August 2001).
Intellectual Property & Space Technology Commercialization, Space Studies Institute, Princeton University (Princeton, NJ; July 2001).
International Technology Commercialization Legal & Business Fundamentals, Invited Lecturer, U.S. Agency for International Development (Moscow, Russia 1998; Samara, Russia 2000; Tomsk [Siberia], Russia 2001).

Other Teaching Assignments and Publications. In addition to many presentations and lectures, Mr. Hulsey has published and written in the fields of patents, trademarks, copyrights and related legal specialties, as the following contributions show:

- HULSEY INVENTIONS & TECHNOLOGY MONITOR A monthly newsletter highlighting news relating to intellectual property, technology events and conferences throughout the world (February 2006—to present).
- The Law of Technology Commercialization–IC2 Institute, University of Texas, Adjunct Professor (1997-2002); Guest Lecturer (2002-Present) A semester course offered through the IC2 Institute’s Master’s Degree in Technology Commercialization Program (2006—2013).

Find Bill on the Web:

Mentor Session: William N. Hulsey III, Esq. | Schedule | sxsw.com

William N. Hulsey | The Space Show

Intellectual Property and SXSW 2014

Client Kudos Lead to Coveted Review-Based Award for Austin Patent Attorney Hulsey — William N. Hulsey III, P.C.

Yahoo Profile for HULSEY PC

Texas Lawyers Profile

New Section Approved for Austin Bar – Austin Bar Association

LawerDict Profile

Best Lawyers in Texas 2016

2018 Client Champion Gold

2018 AV Preeminent Attorney – Judicial Edition