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JIM BAUNACH
Principal Attorney
Jim Baunach specializes in patent prosecution, including obtaining patents, handling ex parte appeals, and conducting patent reexaminations before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He has a wealth of experience securing both U.S. and international patents and managing patent portfolios in software and computer-related technologies for businesses ranging from startups to large corporations. Before founding Frontier IP Law, Jim was a partner at a prominent intellectual property boutique firm in Seattle, Washington and then an elite general practice firm.
Jim's technical background includes roles in the software engineering department at Tektronix, Inc. and as a software engineer at a subsidiary of NEC, Inc. After earning his law degree, he served as a communications officer and network design engineer in the U.S. Air Force for four years. He also spent two years in Beijing, China, working as a U.S. patent attorney, gaining valuable international experience.
Jim's expertise covers web-based and mobile systems, artificial intelligence, cloud computing, augmented and virtual reality, digital video, and wireless communication systems. He holds a B.S. in Computer Science from the University of Portland and a J.D. from Willamette University College of Law, where he received the Dean's High Paper Award in Patent Law and Policy.
KIP WERKING
Of Counsel
Kip has been practicing intellectual property law for over 15 years and is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Kip previously worked at several patent law boutiques, where he assisted numerous technology companies with preparing and prosecuting patent applications. His extensive experience spans various technology areas, including displays, projectors, xerography, electric vehicles and batteries, digital cameras and optics, games and artificial intelligence, cellular networks, cybersecurity, virtual/augmented reality, and semiconductors.
Kip has conducted hundreds of personal interviews with examiners at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has secured hundreds of issued patents for his clients. He is also experienced in handling appeals from patent examination rejections before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Additionally, Kip has trained and managed new attorneys and patent agents in the patent prosecution process. During law school, he interned with the Office of Unfair Import Investigations, assisting the federal government in patent litigation before the International Trade Commission. Kip holds an electrical engineering degree from The University of Texas at Austin and a J.D. from William & Mary School of Law.
CHRISTOPHER J. WICKSTROM
Of Counsel
Chris Wickstrom is a registered patent attorney with more than twenty years of experience helping companies develop, protect, and leverage valuable intellectual property assets. His practice focuses on patent preparation and prosecution, IP counseling, portfolio strategy, and due diligence for companies ranging from venture-backed startups to established technology leaders. Chris was selected for inclusion in the 2026 edition of Best Lawyers in America® for both Patent Law and Patent Litigation.
Chris has extensive experience managing patent applications across a broad range of technical disciplines, including software technologies, display devices, artificial intelligence, extended reality systems, information security, data storage, energy exploration, robotics, advanced materials, drug discovery, and bioinformatics.
Prior to joining Frontier IP Law, Chris practiced at several leading law firms, where he worked closely with client in-house legal and engineering teams to build high-value patent portfolios aligned with product roadmaps and long-term business strategies. Before entering the field of law, he worked for a healthcare division of Kimberly-Clark engaged in the development and production of medical devices and diagnostic products. Chris holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Brigham Young University and a J.D. from George Mason University's Antonin Scalia Law School.
ALEX LEUZZI
Paralegal
A seasoned IP paralegal since 2010, Alex brings over a decade of dedicated expertise in safeguarding intellectual property rights. Specializing in trademark and patent filings, and meticulous legal research, she has provided invaluable support to attorneys in protecting clients' assets. Committed to upholding the integrity of intellectual property law, Alex strives to deliver efficient and comprehensive legal assistance while staying on top of industry developments.
AUBRÈ RABE
Paralegal
Aubrè is a patent paralegal with an associate’s degree in paralegal studies and a patent paralegal certificate. With nearly 20 years of experience in intellectual property law, Aubrè provides reliable, high-level paralegal support to attorneys and clients in their pursuit of patent protection in the U.S. and abroad. Aubrè is efficient, proactive, and an effective communicator. She has managed filings, deadlines and priorities for large multinational companies with extensive portfolios, as well as the unique demands of smaller clients. Aubrè also handles special projects for clients, including process and procedure creation and alignment, IP software set-up and training, secondments, and paralegal team training. She is tech-savvy with a penchant for efficiency, organization, and the technology tools that help legal teams succeed.