{"id":10,"date":"2019-10-08T19:00:47","date_gmt":"2019-10-08T19:00:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/208.117.38.29\/~rwltest40\/?page_id=10"},"modified":"2023-07-02T02:06:18","modified_gmt":"2023-07-02T02:06:18","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.wlapllc.com\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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WATKINS<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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LAW & ADVOCACY, PLLC<\/h1>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Tel. (202) 355-9421
Fax (202) 355-9424
watkins@wlapllc.com<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Versatility and Creativity\nin Law and Advocacy<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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Seth A. Watkins, Ph.D. represents clients concerning a diverse array of issues before the courts and administrative agencies, in transactional and counseling matters, and in other considerations that lend themselves to legal advice and advocacy. \u00a0His law practice has included bench and jury trials, appellate briefings and arguments, and high-stakes advocacy from the perspectives of both small and large clients. \u00a0He represents plaintiffs, defendants, intervenors, and amicus<\/em> parties, handling matters of a private, sensitive nature as well as those subject to the public\u2019s scrutiny.<\/p>

Seth is a versatile attorney who enjoys a serious challenge. He seeks creative approaches and solutions to legal issues, being equally comfortable in roles as a \u201cbulldog\u201d or quiet advocate and as lead counsel or co-counsel.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tDownload Seth's Bio<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Experience you can rely on.<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Among Seth\u2019s representations, he has:<\/p>

  • litigated technology cases with billions of dollars and thousands of jobs on the line;<\/li>
  • filed actions involving unfair trade acts;<\/li>
  • asserted claims of unfair competition and false advertising;<\/li>
  • fought issues of executive privilege asserted on behalf of the President all the way up to the United States Supreme Court;<\/li>
  • conducted internal investigations of alleged wrongdoing in organizational settings;<\/li>
  • advocated regulatory and policy changes before federal agencies;<\/li>
  • sought to vindicate clients\u2019 rights with respect to Constitutional violations in the application of certain laws and regulations affecting veterans;<\/li>
  • prosecuted hundreds of patent matters at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office;<\/li>
  • represented an Asian foreign government\u2019s embassy in the United States, and the country\u2019s monarch, in a matter before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office;<\/li>
  • handled federal government contract matters including End User Licensing Agreement preparation;<\/li>
  • defended a workers compensation matter with millions of dollars in damages asserted;<\/li>
  • represented employers and former employees in wrongful termination matters;<\/li>
  • represented a major foreign government filing as amicus curiae \u00a0<\/em>in an appellate matter;<\/li>
  • represented a group of world-class scientists in a formerly Communist, Eastern European country who sought to apply capitalism to their inventions; and<\/li>
  • led a client\u2019s acquisition of a hydroelectric facility licensed by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC).<\/li><\/ul>

    \u200b<\/p>

    Seth is well-traveled, internationally, due to his work on behalf of multi-national corporations.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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    Areas of Practice<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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    • General litigation, including in the federal and state courts<\/li>
    • Appellate litigation, including in the federal courts of appeals<\/li>
    • Intellectual property litigation and counseling, including complex matters spanning patent, inventorship, trade secret, copyright, trademark, licensing, and antitrust laws<\/li>
    • Unfair competition litigation, including Section 337 investigations before the United States International Trade Commission<\/li>
    • Administrative law matters, including litigation concerning federal agency rulemaking<\/li>
    • Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation<\/li>
    • Privacy law<\/li>
    • Corporate investigations<\/li>
    • Employment law, representing both employers and employees<\/li>
    • Patent Office matters, including prosecution and post-grant proceedings<\/li>
    • Transactional matters, including contract preparation and negotiation, federal government contract matters<\/li>
    • Veterans\u2019 benefits, including matters before the Board of Veterans Appeals (BVA) and U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC)<\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Vast knowledge and experience in the tech industry.<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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      Seth has handled a broad range of technology and intellectual property matters in litigation, mediation, and arbitration concerning such technologies as:<\/p>

      • WiFi and other wireless technologies<\/li>
      • Telephony technologies including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP)\/Internet telephony<\/li>
      • Hard disk drives<\/li>
      • Printed circuit boards<\/li>
      • Light emitting diodes<\/li>
      • Liquid crystals<\/li>
      • Hybrid electric vehicle batteries<\/li>
      • Wind turbines<\/li>
      • Chemicals for crops, ornamentals, and turfgrass<\/li>
      • Pharmaceuticals<\/li>
      • Medical devices<\/li>
      • Software<\/li>
      • Personal care products<\/li>
      • Metal cutting equipment<\/li>
      • Wastewater treatment<\/li>
      • Food technology<\/li><\/ul>

        \u00a0<\/p>

        He also served as the lead technical attorney on behalf of a major semiconductor product packaging and test services provider in an arbitration concerning failures of memory products for mobile phones due to alleged design and manufacturing defects.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Seth has a particular interest in \u201copen government\u201d and pursues disclosure by state and federal authorities on behalf of non-profit organizations, the media, individuals, and others who can benefit from Freedom of Information Act representation. He maintains an active federal court practice litigating against the federal government.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        Pro Bono Practice<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Seth has a substantial pro bono<\/i> practice.\u00a0 His recent representations involve World War II veterans of Filipino descent, Vietnam and Operation Iraqi Freedom veterans, and non-profit efforts in the wounded warrior community.\u00a0 In previous work, Seth represented a military death-sentenced individual in district court and appellate litigation including two petitions for certiorari<\/i> to the Supreme Court and an argument before the D.C. Circuit.\u00a0 Other pro bono<\/i> advocacy has involved immigration law and policy issues, landlord-tenant matters, and election law issues.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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        A lifetime of education.<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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        Seth has a Ph.D. from Duke University where his coursework and research focused on thin film science concerning semiconductors, ceramics, and superconductors.\u00a0 As an undergraduate at Duke, Seth was a double major in mechanical engineering and materials science as well as public policy.<\/p>

        Since 1997, Seth has been a member of Duke\u2019s adjunct engineering faculty.\u00a0 He currently serves as an Adjunct Associate Professor of the Practice in the Master of Engineering Management Program (MEMP).\u00a0 During the spring semester, he co-teaches the MEMP\u2019s required Master\u2019s level course \u201cIntellectual Property, Business Law, and Entrepreneurship\u201d with a class size varying between about 160 and 200 students each year.\u00a0 He also guest lectures from year to year in the engineering school\u2019s courses in \u201cMechanical Systems Design\u201d and \u201cEnergy and Environment Design.\u201d\u00a0 Seth held an appointment, most recently as Adjunct Professor, in the Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science, from 1997-2017.\u00a0 As an alumnus, he served on the Board of Visitors of the Pratt School of Engineering at Duke from 2008-2016.<\/p>

        Seth also teaches intellectual property law courses (from 2007-2011 and 2018-present) at The Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law.\u00a0 Recent courses include: Patent Law (scheduled for spring semester 2020); the Intellectual Property Capstone course (2019) focused on IP litigation; and Intellectual Property Transactions (2018).\u00a0 Seth also previously taught Advanced Patent Law, Patent Law, Introduction to Intellectual Property Law, and Directed Research.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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        • \u200bDuke Law School, J.D. (1999)<\/li>
        • Duke University, Ph.D. (1996)<\/li>
        • Duke University, M.S. (1993)<\/li>
        • Duke University, B.S.E. (1992)<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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          Admissions and Qualifications<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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          • Virginia (1999)<\/li>
          • District of Columbia (2000)<\/li>
          • Registered to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO)<\/li>
          • Accredited to practice before the United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)<\/li>
          • Supreme Court of the United States<\/li>
          • U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit<\/li>
          • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit<\/li>
          • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit<\/li>
          • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit<\/li>
          • U.S. Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims (CAVC)<\/li>
          • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia<\/li>
          • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia<\/li>
          • U.S. Court of International Trade<\/li>
          • District of Columbia Court of Appeals<\/li>
          • Supreme Court of Virginia<\/li><\/ul><\/div>
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            Service and Academic Recognitions<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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            • Engineering Distinguished Service Award (2015) from the Engineering Alumni Association of Duke University\u2019s Pratt School of Engineering<\/li>
            • Charles A. Dukes Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service (2002) from Duke University<\/li>
            • Student Service Award (1992) from Duke University School of Engineering<\/li>
            • All-USA Academic First Team (1988) awarded by USA Today<\/li><\/ul><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t
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              Watkins Law & Advocacy, PLLC<\/strong><\/p>

              1455 Pennsylvania Avenue NW<\/p>

              Suite 400<\/p>

              Washington, DC 20004<\/p>

              Tel. (202) 355-9421
              Fax (202) 355-9424<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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              Attorney Advertising:<\/strong>
              \u200bSome of the content on this web site is considered to be attorney advertising under the applicable rules of certain state bars. \u00a0Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

              WATKINS LAW & ADVOCACY, PLLC Tel. (202) 355-9421Fax (202) 355-9424watkins@wlapllc.com Versatility and Creativity in Law and Advocacy Seth A. Watkins, Ph.D. represents clients concerning a diverse array of issues before the courts and administrative agencies, in transactional and counseling matters, and in other considerations that lend themselves to legal advice and advocacy. \u00a0His law practice […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"elementor_canvas","meta":{"_seopress_robots_primary_cat":"","_seopress_titles_title":"","_seopress_titles_desc":"","_seopress_robots_index":"","footnotes":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlapllc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlapllc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlapllc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlapllc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlapllc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.wlapllc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/10\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.wlapllc.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}