Melanie Seelig joined the firm as a partner in the Seattle office in January 2008 and has been practicing law in the IP field for over 25 years.
Melanie has extensive experience in comprehensive, strategic client counseling in all aspects of intellectual property, including U.S. and international patent and trademark prosecution, trade secret matters, enforcement and agreement work involving all areas of intellectual property, due diligence related to mergers and acquisitions, risk management, and development of business focused defensive IP strategies. She further has extensive experience providing patent landscape analyses as well as infringement, validity, and clearance analyses and opinions.
Melanie assists a diverse group of clients in the development and management of comprehensive intellectual property programs involving both the procurement of IP assets and generation of corresponding enforcement programs. From a technology standpoint, her broad physics and mathematics background has provided her with the opportunity to offer intellectual property counseling spanning a wide range of technical art areas in the mechanical, electrical, aerospace, healthcare, medical, telecommunications, and computer software domains.
Melanie is an active learner with a keen attention to detail and a business focused approach to client representation.
Melanie has been consistently recognized for her exceptional practice both regionally and nationally by various organizations, including Super Lawyers, The Best Lawyers of America, and International Asset Magazine (IAM) in the IAM Patent 1000. Her recognition for these peer driven and vetted awards highlight Melanie’s excellence in the practice of Intellectual Property law.
University of Washington (UW), J.D.
Illinois State University, B.S., Physics
Illinois State University, B.S., Mathematics
State Bar of Washington
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court – Western District of Washington
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Advertising, Media & Entertainment
Communications Technology
Cellular Networking & Communications
Fiber Optic Networks
Internet Telephony
Low-Power Networks
Radio
Television
Videoconferencing
Wireless Local Area Networks
Consumer Products & Services
Aesthetics & Personal Care Products
Food & Beverage
Restaurants & Hospitality
Sporting Goods & Recreation
Electrical, Semiconductor & Computer Technology
Artificial Intelligence (AI)
Electronics & Semiconductors
Healthcare Information Technology
Software & IT
Fashion & Beauty
Bags
Clothing
Footwear
Fragrances
Jewelry
Luggage
Sunglasses
Financial Services & Business Methods
Blockchain & Smart Contracts
Cloud Computing
Cryptocurrency & Encryption
Data Privacy
Dispute Resolution
Licensing & Indemnification
Open Source
Medical Devices & Procedures
Transportation & Vehicles
Aerospace & Space Technology
Electronics (Audio / Video, Communication, Navigation, Security)
Filters (Air, Fuel, Oil)
Passenger Transportation
Shipping
Audits
Brand Portfolio Management
Brand Search
Copyright
Covered Business Method (CBM)
Design Patents
Due Diligence
Global Portfolio Management
Inter Partes Review (IPR)
International Trademarks
IP Strategy
IP Transactions, Agreements & Venture Capital
Litigation
Patent Strategy & Prosecution
Patent Trial & Appeal Board (PTAB) Trials (Post Grant)
Patentability
Post-Grant Review (PGR)
Trade Secret
Trade Secret & Employee Mobility Litigation
Trade Secret & Employee Mobility Litigation
Trade Secret Protection Advice & Counseling
Trademark & Brand Protection
Trademark Enforcement
Trademark Registration
U.S. Patent Prosecution
Ms. Seelig has received multiple awards and has been honored in both national and international forums for her legal accomplishments:
- Recognized in the “Best Lawyers 2025 Guide” for Patent Law and Trademark Law in Best Lawyers in America (2024)
- Recognized for outstanding work in patent law in the 2024 edition of the Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) “Patent 1000 Guide” for Prosecution (2024)
- Selected by peers for inclusion in the The Best Lawyers in America® for her work in patent law and trademark law (2016 – 2024)
- Named one of the “World’s Leading Patent Professionals” in the Patent 1000 guide by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) magazine for Prosecution (2014 – 2023). The 2021 guide called her an “essential ally” who “reads patent and innovation landscapes with unerring accuracy.” The 2022 guide described her as someone “who excels at reading competitive landscapes and designing get-ahead strategies for patrons.” The 2023 guide described her as someone “who adds further depth to the prosecution line-up. Her background in physics and mathematics is of great value to patrons in a wide range of sectors, from mechanical to software.”
- Named as Washington Law & Politics Super Lawyer, 2004 and 2005
- Board of Regents Scholar, Illinois State University, 1994
- Robert G. Bone Scholar, Illinois State University, 1994
- Departmental Honors in Physics and Mathematics, Illinois State University, 1994
- University Honors Scholar, Illinois State University, 1994
- Presidential Scholar, Illinois State University 1990-1994
American Intellectual Property Law Association
International Trademark Association
King County Bar Association
Washington State Patent Lawyers Association
