Robert Hulse

415-875-2444
rhulse@fenwick.com
Partner
Intellectual Property

Robert A.
Hulse

Robert A.
Hulse

Robert A.
Hulse

Partner
Intellectual Property

Bob builds strategic patent portfolios in a wide range of technical fields, including computer software, electronics, electromechanical and medical devices, digital healthcare and electronic media. Bob's extensive intellectual property diligence experience on both sides of M&A and financing transactions has strengthened his ability to build effective patent portfolios that provide maximum value to his clients. His practice also involves counseling on IP matters, evaluating risks from third-party patents and assisting in efforts to design around those patents. Bob represents leading and established technology companies as well as startups that are on the path toward success.

“Peers call him ‘the oracle of patent law,’ while clients laud him as ‘hands down the most innovative, reliable and smartest patent prosecutor.’”

IAM Patent 1000

In addition to providing legal services for his clients, Bob has served as an adjunct professor at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco, teaching patent drafting and prosecution. He is also a member of the faculty at the Practising Law Institute and has lectured on topics related to patent law at the University of Washington School of Law, Dalhousie University and the National University of Singapore.

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  • App Annie
  • Athos
  • Delphix
  • DocuSign
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Focal Systems
  • Humana
  • Instacart
  • Kount
  • Light Field Lab
  • Netflix
  • Onriva
  • PerceptiMed
  • Promethium
  • ResMed
  • thredUP
  • Tricella
  • WaveOne

  • App Annie
  • Athos
  • Delphix
  • DocuSign
  • Facebook
  • Flipboard
  • Focal Systems
  • Humana
  • Instacart
  • Kount
  • Light Field Lab
  • Netflix
  • Onriva
  • PerceptiMed
  • Promethium
  • ResMed
  • thredUP
  • Tricella
  • WaveOne

  • “Inside the Minds: Emerging Trends in Business Method Patents,” author of Ch. 5, Forming a Coherent Patent Strategy to Protect Your Business Method Innovations, Thomson Reuters Westlaw, 2012
  • “Taking Advantage of the First Action Interview Pilot Program,” San Francisco Daily Journal, September 9, 2010
  • “Section 102 and the MPEP,” Prior Art & Obviousness 2009, Practising Law Institute, No. G-975, 2009 (co-author with Puneet Sarna and Rajendra Panwar)
  • “Making Sense of the Revived Machine-or-Transformation Test in In re Bilski, Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal, Vol. 21, No. 2, February 2009 (co-author with Robert Sachs)
  • In re Swanson: Ex Parte Reexamination in the Patent Office Provides Second Chance to Invalidate Patent,” San Francisco Daily Journal, December 5, 2008
  • On Shaky Ground: The (Near) Future of Patents After Bilski,” The Intellectual Property Strategist, Vol. 15, No. 3, December 2008 (co-author with Robert Sachs)
  • “Building a Patent Portfolio in View of the New Patent Rules,” The Intellectual Property Strategist, Vol. 14, No. 1, October 2007
  • “New Patent Rules Looming: What Do They Mean for Your Portfolio?” San Francisco Daily Journal, July 11, 2007
  • “A Strategic Look at the Final Rejection,” Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop, Practising Law Institute, No. G0-10A8, 2003-2005 (co-author with Rajiv Patel and Daniel Brownstone)
  • “Understanding After Final and After Allowance Patent Practice Fundamentals of Patent Prosecution,” Practising Law Institute, No. G0-01EV, 2003-2005 (co-author with Rajiv Patel and Daniel Brownstone)
  • “Correct Inventorship Prevents Patent Application Headaches,” San Francisco Daily Journal, October 8, 2004
  • “Federal Circuit Applies On-Sale Bar in Case Involving Software,” San Francisco Daily Journal, September 15, 2003
  • “Patentability of Computer Software After State Street Bank & Trust Co. v. Signature Financial Group, Inc.: Evisceration of the Subject Matter Requirement,” 33 U.C. Davis. L. Rev. 491 Note (2000)

  • “Inside the Minds: Emerging Trends in Business Method Patents,” author of Ch. 5, Forming a Coherent Patent Strategy to Protect Your Business Method Innovations, Thomson Reuters Westlaw, 2012
  • “Taking Advantage of the First Action Interview Pilot Program,” San Francisco Daily Journal, September 9, 2010
  • “Section 102 and the MPEP,” Prior Art & Obviousness 2009, Practising Law Institute, No. G-975, 2009 (co-author with Puneet Sarna and Rajendra Panwar)
  • “Making Sense of the Revived Machine-or-Transformation Test in In re Bilski, Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal, Vol. 21, No. 2, February 2009 (co-author with Robert Sachs)
  • In re Swanson: Ex Parte Reexamination in the Patent Office Provides Second Chance to Invalidate Patent,” San Francisco Daily Journal, December 5, 2008
  • On Shaky Ground: The (Near) Future of Patents After Bilski,” The Intellectual Property Strategist, Vol. 15, No. 3, December 2008 (co-author with Robert Sachs)
  • “Building a Patent Portfolio in View of the New Patent Rules,” The Intellectual Property Strategist, Vol. 14, No. 1, October 2007
  • “New Patent Rules Looming: What Do They Mean for Your Portfolio?” San Francisco Daily Journal, July 11, 2007
  • “A Strategic Look at the Final Rejection,” Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop, Practising Law Institute, No. G0-10A8, 2003-2005 (co-author with Rajiv Patel and Daniel Brownstone)
  • “Understanding After Final and After Allowance Patent Practice Fundamentals of Patent Prosecution,” Practising Law Institute, No. G0-01EV, 2003-2005 (co-author with Rajiv Patel and Daniel Brownstone)
  • “Correct Inventorship Prevents Patent Application Headaches,” San Francisco Daily Journal, October 8, 2004
  • “Federal Circuit Applies On-Sale Bar in Case Involving Software,” San Francisco Daily Journal, September 15, 2003
  • “Patentability of Computer Software After State Street Bank & Trust Co. v. Signature Financial Group, Inc.: Evisceration of the Subject Matter Requirement,” 33 U.C. Davis. L. Rev. 491 Note (2000)

  • “Promoting Progress in Social Media: Patentability and Copyrightability Issues,” 29th Annual (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Conference, Arlington, VA, April 4, 2014
  • “How Bilski Has Impacted Method Patents,” Ivy Associates 2010 All Hands Meeting, Santa Clara, CA, December 2010
  • “Cutting Through IP Strategies for Medical Devices,” Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 2009
  • “Prior Art & Obviousness 2009: The PTO and CAFC Perspective on Patent Law Sections 102 & 103,” Practising Law Institute, San Francisco, September 2009
  • “Intellectual Property Primer,” Technology Transfer Workshop, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, August 2009
  • “Technology Assessment and Patent Protection,” Technology Commercialization and Development Programme, National University of Singapore Extension, National University of Singapore, Singapore, August 2009
  • “Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop 2008: Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing,” Practising Law Institute, San Francisco, August 2008
  • “Preparing for the New Patent Rules,” Utah State Bar, Salt Lake City, Utah, December 10, 2007
  • “Patent Law 2006: The Year Past and the Year Ahead,” Fenwick & West, January 19, 2006
  • "Patent Law 2004: Year in Review," Fenwick & West, January 13, 2005
  • “What Any Entrepreneur Should Know About IP, Contracts, and Other Legal Issues,” Harvey Mudd College Entrepreneurial Network Biannual Entrepreneur’s Conference, April 6, 2002

  • “Promoting Progress in Social Media: Patentability and Copyrightability Issues,” 29th Annual (ABA) Intellectual Property Law Conference, Arlington, VA, April 4, 2014
  • “How Bilski Has Impacted Method Patents,” Ivy Associates 2010 All Hands Meeting, Santa Clara, CA, December 2010
  • “Cutting Through IP Strategies for Medical Devices,” Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, September 2009
  • “Prior Art & Obviousness 2009: The PTO and CAFC Perspective on Patent Law Sections 102 & 103,” Practising Law Institute, San Francisco, September 2009
  • “Intellectual Property Primer,” Technology Transfer Workshop, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang, Malaysia, August 2009
  • “Technology Assessment and Patent Protection,” Technology Commercialization and Development Programme, National University of Singapore Extension, National University of Singapore, Singapore, August 2009
  • “Advanced Patent Prosecution Workshop 2008: Claim Drafting & Amendment Writing,” Practising Law Institute, San Francisco, August 2008
  • “Preparing for the New Patent Rules,” Utah State Bar, Salt Lake City, Utah, December 10, 2007
  • “Patent Law 2006: The Year Past and the Year Ahead,” Fenwick & West, January 19, 2006
  • "Patent Law 2004: Year in Review," Fenwick & West, January 13, 2005
  • “What Any Entrepreneur Should Know About IP, Contracts, and Other Legal Issues,” Harvey Mudd College Entrepreneurial Network Biannual Entrepreneur’s Conference, April 6, 2002

Recognition Recognition Recognition

Recognition Recognition Recognition

Recognition
Managing Intellectual Property

2015 - 2022

Named an IP Star

The Legal 500

2014 - 2022

Ranked as a top patent lawyer by The Legal 500 with recognitions for portfolio management and licensing and patent prosecution (including reexamination and post-grant proceedings)

IAM Patent 1000

2012 - 2022

Recognized as a leading patent prosecution attorney

  • Life Sciences Star, Euromoney’s LMG Life Sciences Awards (2012, 2013, 2019-2022)
  • Top Intellectual Property Attorney (2012 – 2015) and Top 20 Lawyers Under 40 in California (2013), Daily Journal​
  • Silicon Valley 40 Under 40, Silicon Valley Business Journal (2014)
  • Rising Star: Top Attorneys Under 40, Law360 (2013)

Recognition
Managing Intellectual Property

2015 - 2022

Named an IP Star

The Legal 500

2014 - 2022

Ranked as a top patent lawyer by The Legal 500 with recognitions for portfolio management and licensing and patent prosecution (including reexamination and post-grant proceedings)

IAM Patent 1000

2012 - 2022

Recognized as a leading patent prosecution attorney

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