Patents and brands for companies that build things.

An IP boutique founded by Intel's former Director of Patents. We prosecute, register, license and defend — for startups, VC-backed companies, universities and established technology firms in the US, Europe and Asia.

IntelFounded by its former Director of Patents
4 officesAustin, Frisco, El Segundo and Portland
US · EU · AsiaFilings and prosecution abroad
Attorneys + agentsEngineering and computer science backgrounds

What we handle

Every matter starts with your business objective, then we pick the prosecution strategy that fits it — broad and hardline, or fast and cost-controlled.

  1. Patents

    Preparation and prosecution for software, semiconductors, hardware, medical devices, biomedical and renewable energy. Twenty-plus years tracking how the law treats software and business-method claims.

    Software patents · Utility · Design · International
  2. Trademarks and brands

    Clearance, registration, portfolio management and enforcement for products, apps, online services and consumer goods — from individuals to Fortune 500 companies.

    USPTO · Madrid Protocol · Watch services
  3. Licensing and transactions

    Strategy, structuring, drafting and negotiation for hardware, software, internet and semiconductor technology. Former Intel licensing counsel on the file.

    In-bound · Out-bound · Cross-license
  4. Trade secrets and copyrights

    Deciding what to patent, what to keep secret and what to register — and the agreements that keep it that way.

    Audits · Registrations · Agreements

Who we work with

We partner rather than transact. Most clients bring us their second filing, their fifth mark and their next round's diligence.

Startups

First filings timed to fundraising. Provisional-to-utility strategy that doesn't drain the runway.

VC-backed companies

Portfolio building at pace, diligence-ready records, and someone who answers the phone before the term sheet closes.

Universities and research groups

Invention disclosures, licensing to spinouts and industry, and grant-compliant reporting.

Established technology firms

Overflow prosecution, licensing programs and portfolio pruning from a team that has sat on the corporate side.

The team

Photo

Howard Skaist

Founder · Patents

Former Director of Patents at Intel Corporation. Founded the firm in Portland.

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Ted [Last name]

Partner · Trademarks and licensing

Former attorney in Intel's Patents Group and licensing manager. Supports trademark clients worldwide, from individuals to Fortune 500 companies.

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Attorneys, agents and paralegals

Austin · Frisco · El Segundo · Portland

Engineering, computer science and law backgrounds, with a balanced mix of law-firm and in-house experience.

[Client testimonial — pulled from Google reviews once we have the go-ahead. First-time patent filer, explained the whole process.]

Founder, hardware startup

[Client testimonial — VC-backed software company on trademark and patent work, several years with the firm.]

General Counsel, software company

News

Press releases, firm announcements and practice notes. Each story lives here first, then goes out for distribution — so the links come back to this site.

  1. BLTG opens El Segundo office

    [Press release — new Southern California office serving aerospace, hardware and software clients in the South Bay.]

    Press release · 2026
  2. BLTG opens Frisco office

    [Press release — North Texas office serving the Dallas–Fort Worth technology corridor.]

    Press release · 2026
  3. Trademark clearance before you name the product

    [Practice note — why Austin founders should run clearance before the brand ships, and what a clean search actually costs.]

    Practice note · Trademarks

Offices

Austin

7710 Rialto Blvd, Suite 100
Austin, TX 78735
512-920-1899
austin@bltg-ip.com
Mon–Fri 8:30–5:30 CT

Frisco

[Street address]
Frisco, TX [ZIP]
[Frisco phone]
frisco@bltg-ip.com
Mon–Fri 8:30–5:30 CT

El Segundo

[Street address]
El Segundo, CA [ZIP]
[El Segundo phone]
elsegundo@bltg-ip.com
Mon–Fri 8:30–5:30 PT

Portland

17933 NW Evergreen Place, Suite 250
Beaverton, OR 97006
503-439-6500
portland@bltg-ip.com
Mon–Fri 8:30–5:30 PT

Start a matter

Tell us what you've built and what you're trying to protect. A member of the team replies within one business day. Nothing you send here creates an attorney-client relationship until we've cleared conflicts and you've signed an engagement letter.

Please don't include confidential details of an invention in this form.