Dr. Gunnison has represented clients in the chemical arts, computer, electrical, mechanical, medical devices and equipment, and software for over twenty years. He has prepared and prosecuted foreign and domestic patent applications in a variety of technical areas including automated logic circuit design, computer networks, computer systems, digital circuits, disk drives and disk emulators, Internet applications, medical devices, microprocessors, optical systems, programmable logic devices, robotic systems, semiconductor structures and processing, smart cards, telephony equipment, and video compression systems.
Dr. Gunnison has assisted clients in developing intellectual property portfolios and in related intellectual property matters including high technology licensing, as well as in complex patent litigation. He also has provided patent validity and infringement opinions and trade secret and copyright counseling. Dr. Gunnison has expertise in both U.S. and foreign patent laws, and has presented MCLE training programs on foreign filing and the Patent Cooperation Treaty to major Silicon Valley law firms and corporations. He also has presented MCLE training programs and college classes on various aspects of U.S. patent law.
Prior to becoming an attorney, Dr. Gunnison worked in fields ranging from simulation of real-time operation of complex control systems to development of energy conservation programs.
Dr. Gunnison received a J.D. from Loyola University of Chicago School of Law, cum laude. He was a senior Law Review member, on the Dean's List and graduated first in his class. Dr. Gunnison received a M.S.and a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois, and was elected to Sigma Xi. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physics and Mathematics with high honors from Albion College, Albion, Michigan, and was elected to Phi Beta Kappa, Omicron Delta Kappa, and Sigma Pi Sigma.
Dr. Gunnison is admitted to the bar in California and is licensed to practice before the Northern District of California and the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. He also is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.