Intellectual property law in Texas draws from both federal and state frameworks: patents and federal trademark registrations are administered through the United States Patent and Trademark Office under federal law, while trade secret protection is available under the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act (TUTSA), codified at Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 134A. Texas is home to a large number of IP-intensive industries in technology, energy, healthcare, and consumer products, and the state hosts significant patent litigation activity in its federal district courts.
1. Hulsey PC – Patents & Trademarks
Founder: William N. “Bill” Hulsey III
Founded: Not publicly specified (firm has been operating for more than 20 years)
Headquarters: Austin, TX
Phone: (512) 478-9190
Website: https://hulseyiplaw.com
Office Locations:
- Austin: 3300 N Interstate 35, Suite 700, Austin, TX 78705 | (512) 478-9190
Practice Areas: Patents (US and international), patent prosecution, patent mining and mapping, patent valuation, trademarks (US and international), trademark litigation, TTAB proceedings, copyright protection and licensing, technology licensing
Firm Size: Not publicly specified
Fee Structure: Contact firm for fee details
Languages: English
About the Firm: Hulsey PC is described as the longest continuously operating patent and trademark boutique firm serving major cities across Texas and the surrounding region. Founder Bill Hulsey has more than 30 years of patent law firm experience and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as well as the European Patent Office, where he has worked on international patent applications. The firm reports that Bill Hulsey has prosecuted over 2,000 US and foreign patents covering inventions and investments with a collective value exceeding $250 billion. The firm has been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the Best Law Firms in America in Texas and at the USPTO. Hulsey holds the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent rating and the Client Champion Platinum recognition. The firm serves inventors and entrepreneurs from startup stage through global expansion.
2. Gunn, Lee & Cave, P.C.
Founder: Ted D. Lee (predecessor firm established 1977; current firm name since 1998)
Founded: 1977 (predecessor firm); operating under current name since 1998
Headquarters: San Antonio, TX
Phone: (210) 886-9500
Website: https://www.gunn-lee.com
Office Locations:
- San Antonio: Callaghan Tower, 8023 Vantage Drive, Suite 1500, San Antonio, TX 78230 | (210) 886-9500
Practice Areas: Patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, IP litigation, appellate IP matters
Firm Size: Not publicly specified
Fee Structure: Contact firm for fee details
Languages: English
About the Firm: Gunn, Lee & Cave, P.C. is a San Antonio intellectual property law firm with roots tracing to 1977, giving the firm a practice history of approximately 49 years. The current firm name has been in use since 1998. The firm is veteran-owned and reports over 48 years of combined attorney experience in patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. Founding partner Ted D. Lee is board certified in Civil Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and specializes in IP litigation. Managing partner John C. Cave focuses on IP litigation and mechanical patent preparation and prosecution. The firm represents clients ranging from individual inventors to Fortune 500 companies. Attorneys at the firm are registered before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and admitted to practice in the US District Courts for the Western and Southern Districts of Texas.
3. Peacock Law Firm, PLLC
Founded: Not publicly specified
Headquarters: Dallas, TX
Phone: (214) 617-1000
Website: https://www.peacockfirm.com
Office Locations:
- Dallas: 4131 N Central Expressway, Suite 961, Dallas, TX 75204 | (214) 617-1000
Practice Areas: Patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, IP litigation, IP licensing, trade dress infringement, unfair competition
Firm Size: Not publicly specified
Fee Structure: Contact firm for fee details
Languages: English
About the Firm: Peacock Law Firm, PLLC is a Dallas intellectual property boutique with approximately 18 years of IP attorney experience. The firm’s attorney is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, providing clients with detailed knowledge of patent prosecution and litigation that requires USPTO registration. The firm handles all phases of IP matters from pre-suit investigation through trial and appeal, covering patent infringement, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, trade secret misappropriation, and trade dress infringement. The attorney at the firm has obtained utility and design patents for clients in mechanical, electrical, software, e-commerce, electronics, and business method technology areas. The firm represents both IP rights holders seeking enforcement and defendants responding to IP infringement claims.
4. Williams IP Law
Founder: Jeff Williams
Founded: Not publicly specified (Jeff Williams received his J.D. in 2010)
Headquarters: Arlington, TX
Phone: (817) 225-6561
Website: https://www.txpatentattorney.com
Office Locations:
- Arlington: 800 E. Border Street, Suite 305, Arlington, TX 76010 | (817) 225-6561
- Houston: Houston, TX | (832) 795-1909
Practice Areas: Patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, IP licensing, invention development, IP litigation
Firm Size: Not publicly specified
Fee Structure: Contact firm for fee details
Languages: English
About the Firm: Williams IP Law was founded by Jeff Williams, who brings a background as a mechanical engineer before transitioning to intellectual property law. Jeff Williams holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Arizona State University and a J.D. from Texas A&M University School of Law. He is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The firm has handled hundreds of US and international IP matters, assisting inventors, entrepreneurs, and businesses in the Dallas and Houston areas with patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets. The firm has worked directly with the European Patent Office on European applications. Williams IP Law serves clients from its Arlington and Houston offices and also conducts virtual and phone consultations for clients across Texas and beyond.
5. The Polasek Law Firm
Founded: Not publicly specified (attorneys have over 25 years of IP litigation experience)
Headquarters: Bellaire, TX (Houston area)
Phone: (832) 485-3580
Website: https://polaseklaw.com
Office Locations:
- Bellaire (Houston area): Bellaire, TX | (832) 485-3580
Practice Areas: Patent infringement litigation, trademark infringement litigation, copyright infringement litigation, trade secret litigation, IP licensing
Firm Size: Not publicly specified
Fee Structure: Contact firm for fee details
Languages: English
About the Firm: The Polasek Law Firm is an intellectual property litigation firm located in Bellaire, Texas, in the Houston metropolitan area, dedicated exclusively to IP litigation and licensing matters. The firm’s attorneys report more than 30 years of total litigation experience, including over 25 years specifically in patent, trade secret, trademark, copyright, and related commercial litigation. The firm concentrates on IP law with a particular emphasis on litigation in federal court and licensing negotiations, handling patent infringement, trademark infringement, copyright infringement, and trade secret misappropriation matters. The firm represents both plaintiffs seeking to enforce their IP rights and defendants contesting infringement claims. Its Houston-area location positions it to serve clients in one of the most IP-active commercial markets in Texas.
Intellectual property law in Texas is governed by a combination of federal and state law. Patents and federal trademark registrations are exclusively within the jurisdiction of the United States Patent and Trademark Office under federal law, and IP infringement cases are heard in federal district courts, with the US District Court for the Western District of Texas (particularly the Waco and Austin divisions) being one of the most active venues for patent litigation in the country. Texas provides additional IP protection through the Texas Uniform Trade Secrets Act (TUTSA), codified at Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code Chapter 134A, which protects confidential business information, formulas, processes, and know-how from misappropriation. State common law and federal law also provide copyright protection for original works of authorship. Businesses operating in Texas should consider a comprehensive IP strategy that includes federal patent and trademark filings through the USPTO, TUTSA trade secret protections, and clear contractual provisions addressing IP ownership in employment agreements and commercial contracts.
The firms listed on this page represent a selection of intellectual property practices operating across Texas. Each firm’s details, including office locations, phone numbers, practice areas, and background information, are based on publicly available data verified at the time of publication. Inclusion on this page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Individuals seeking legal representation should conduct their own research, verify current attorney licensing through the State Bar of Texas, and schedule consultations to determine the right fit for their specific situation.