John E. Whitaker

John Whitaker is a litigator who counsels clients on the protection and enforcement of intellectual property rights, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. John has served as trial counsel in several cases involving various technologies and forms of intellectual property rights. He routinely represents technology clients in the software, medical device, and telecommunications industries, and he also helps artists and authors to protect their original works. John has represented clients in federal courts around the country and at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, assisting them in enforcing and defending their intellectual property rights.

In addition to his litigation efforts, John also maintains an active patent and trademark procurement docket, which helps him stay abreast of the latest developments in patent and trademark procedure. That unique combination of litigation and procurement skills distinguishes John from most other intellectual property litigators.

John served as a Judge Advocate in the U.S. Army Reserve for nine years, providing legal services to military personnel at various military facilities around the world, including Seattle area-based Joint Base Lewis McChord. Before becoming an attorney, John was a software engineer working on the national missile defense effort. Specifically, John was involved in strategic defense initiative projects such as ground-based radar, ground-based surveillance and tracking, and anti-satellite programs.

John regularly presents on IP topics to clients and in-house legal teams, and at local bar associations. He is named to the list of The Best Lawyers in America and is included in the 2025 list of Washington Super Lawyers.