Whether it’s the next-best-thing in electronics, nanotech, or changes to the patent laws, being intellectually flexible is core to Don’s practice.  (In his full length photo, Don is holding a wafer used in the manufacturing of new flexible electronics.  He is using concrete imagery to convey what clients expect of their patent attorney– flexibility– characterized by a ready capability to adapt to new, different, or changing requirements.)

Don is a director in the firm and chairs the recruiting committee, with managerial responsibility for the identification and hiring of associates and technical staff. He also chairs the Nanotechnology practice.  He just completed serving six years as the Practice Group Leader of the Electronics Group with responsibility for administrative and business development matters.  Prior to joining the firm in 1988, Mr. Featherstone examined patent applications in the field of semiconductor devices at the USPTO.

Don specializes in patent preparation and prosecution counseling for a wide range of entities from start-ups and emerging growth companies to large multi-national corporations. He emphasizes the interaction between sound business practices and intellectual property to help his clients leverage their IP and create shareholder value. 

In addition to strategic patent portfolio creation and management, Don prepares opinions (including patentability, state-of-the art, infringement and validity opinions), licenses and other technology agreements.  He also performs IP audits, due diligence investigations, reexaminations and other post-grant proceedings.  

Don has done patent work in the following technical fields: 

• application programming interfaces
• business methods including e-commerce/Internet applications
• computer architecture (including RISC microprocessors)
• computer memory systems (e.g., cache)
• computer graphics
• control systems
• digital signal processing
• discrete digital and analog circuits
• electromagnetics
• fiber optics
• graphical user interfaces
• MEMS
• nanotechnology (inorganic semiconductor, such as nanowires, quantum dots)
• photolithography (including maskless and immersion techniques)
• piezoelectric devices
• semiconductor devices and manufacturing
• ultra-wideband communications and radar.
• video imaging

Mr. Featherstone is co-Editor-in-Chief of Nanotechnology Law and Business.