James Lea is a registered patent attorney with an engineering background whose practice is concentrated exclusively on intellectual property law, with a specific emphasis on patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, and licensing. In addition to providing strategic IP advice and assistance to a wide range of clients — from entrepreneurs and start-ups to leading national, multinational and global companies — he serves as lead intellectual property counsel to numerous clients in managing, maximizing, and protecting their extensive global IP portfolios and avoiding claims of infringement.
A significant portion of James’ practice is devoted to counseling and representing clients in foreign and domestic patent matters. He has particular experience working with such technologies as drilling equipment, extrusion equipment, submersible pumps, medical implants, software and AI implemented applications, business methods, microchips, and sporting goods. In addition to preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the United States and internationally, James assists clients with product clearance and infringement analysis, freedom to operate studies, legal opinions, licensing agreements, interference proceedings, and dispute resolution. His experience includes conducing IP due diligence related to sales and divestitures and negotiating the sale of patent portfolios with Fortune 100 companies.
James’s trademark practice, which is also global in scope, includes trademark clearance and prosecution, trademark and service mark enforcement, licensing, portfolio management, and dispute resolution.
James’s achievements have earned him inclusion in the prestigious Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business and The Best Lawyers in America (copyright law; patent law; trademark law). He was selected by Best Lawyers as the “Copyright Lawyer of the Year” for 2027, “Trademark Lawyer of the Year” for 2025, and “Patent Lawyer of the Year” for 2020 and 2024 in the Tulsa market.
James earned his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and worked as an engineer for Texaco Refining and Marketing prior to entering law school.