Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness

What Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness does

Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness PLLC (COJK), founded in 1929 and headquartered at 1201 Third Avenue, Suite 3600 in downtown Seattle, Washington, is a boutique intellectual property law firm practicing exclusively IP law. The firm offers a full-service IP practice organized around three core pillars: patent prosecution (preparation, drafting, and prosecution before the USPTO and international patent offices), patent litigation (federal court and USPTO trial counsel for infringement, enforcement, and defense matters), and patent transactions (portfolio strategy, licensing, and due diligence). Adjacent services include trademark registration and global portfolio management, copyright counseling and litigation, trade secret protection, and domain name protection through UDRP proceedings.

Technical expertise is delivered through specialized practice groups covering life sciences (biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemistry) and mechanical/electrical engineering (aerospace, automotive, medical devices, semiconductors, heavy machinery, alternative energy, consumer products), alongside design patent services. The firm serves enterprise and mid-market clients across technology, life sciences, aerospace/defense, automotive, aviation, and healthcare sectors; named clients include Boeing, Bombardier, Expedia, WellSpan Health, WeatherTech, and MacNeil IP LLC. The firm also supports startup clients such as Cruz Foam (TIME Magazine Best Invention 2023) and university and non-profit research organizations in life sciences.

COJK operates a partner-owned professional services model under Washington State PLLC law with no external investors or external funding. Revenue is generated through hourly billing and fixed fees for specific IP engagements, billed against monthly invoices or pre-paid retainer trust accounts; online invoice payment is capped at $10,000 per transaction. Distribution is direct-engagement, supported by community sponsorships, CLE programs, industry speaking, and a LinkedIn/Facebook presence. The firm is consistently top-ranked in IAM Patent 1000, Chambers USA, WTR 1000 (gold band), Best Lawyers, IP Stars, and Super Lawyers, and is led by Managing Member John Denkenberger and Managing Partner Jerry Nagae, with Stacey Thompson as COO.

Name

Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness

Legal name

Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness PLLC

Website

https://cojk.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1929

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

COJK is a Seattle-based boutique intellectual property law firm founded in 1929 offering patent prosecution, litigation, and transactions, plus trademark, copyright, trade secret, and domain name services to enterprise and mid-market technology, life sciences, aerospace, and automotive clients.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Law Services

NAICS

Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Intellectual Property (IP) Law (BPAHAAAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA), Trademark Prosecution & Brand Protection (BPAHAMAB), IP Filing, Annuities & Renewals Administration (BPAHAMAJ), Copyright Services & Content Protection (BPAHAMAC)

Keywords

• Patent prosecution
• Intellectual property law
• Trademark registration
• Patent litigation
• IP transactions

Headquarters

HQ city

Seattle

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Legal Services Fees: Professional legal services for intellectual property protection including patent preparation and prosecution, litigation, trademark registration and enforcement, copyright counseling, and IP transactions. Fees typically structured as hourly billing or fixed fees for specific services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

COJK is a boutique intellectual property law firm providing comprehensive IP legal services centered on three interconnected pillars: patent prosecution (preparation, drafting, and prosecution of patent applications before the USPTO and international patent offices), patent litigation (federal court and USPTO trial counsel for infringement, enforcement, and defense), and patent transactions (portfolio strategy, technology licensing, and due diligence). The firm also delivers trademark services (global clearance, registration, oppositions, and brand management), copyright protection, trade secret counseling, and domain name protection through specialized practice groups covering life sciences, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering.

Product overview

COJK is a Seattle-based intellectual property law firm founded in 1929 offering comprehensive IP legal services. The firm's core practice encompasses three interconnected service pillars: patent prosecution (preparation, drafting, and prosecution of patent applications), patent litigation (enforcement and defense in federal courts and at the USPTO), and patent transactions (portfolio strategy, licensing, and due diligence). These patent services are delivered through specialized practice groups covering life sciences (chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals) and mechanical/electrical engineering (aerospace, automotive, medical devices, semiconductors). The firm also provides trademark services (global filing, brand management, oppositions), copyright services, trade secret protection, and domain name protection. Attorneys work with technology clients in software, medical device, telecommunications, and emerging technology sectors, as well as artists and authors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patent Prosecution Patent preparation, drafting, and prosecution services before the USPTO and international patent offices, covering utility and design patents across technology sectors including life sciences, chemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, electrical, mechanical, and biomedical engineering.
• Patent Litigation Federal court and USPTO trial counsel representing technology clients in software, medical device, telecommunications, and consumer products industries in patent infringement, enforcement, and defense matters.
• Patent Transactions IP transactions including patent portfolio strategy, technology licensing, and due diligence investigations for acquisitions, sales, or licensing of patent assets.
• Trademark Services Global trademark clearance, prosecution, oppositions, brand management, licensing, risk analysis, policing, and defensive conflict resolution for multinational corporations managing large trademark portfolios.
• Copyright Services Copyright protection and enforcement for artists, authors, and original works, including registration and litigation support.
• Trade Secret Protection Counseling and protection strategies for trade secret identification, safeguarding, and enforcement, including agreements and litigation.
• Domain Name Protection Domain name portfolio management and Uniform Domain-Name Dispute-Resolution Policy (UDRP) proceedings for brand protection.
• Life Sciences Practice Group Specialized patent prosecution for biochemistry, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and life sciences innovations, serving universities and non-profit research organizations.
• Mechanical Engineering Practice Group Patent services for aerospace, automotive, medical device, heavy machinery, semiconductor, agricultural, alternative energy, and consumer products sectors.
• Design Patent Services Protection of ornamental product designs through design patent practice to enhance organizations' IP portfolios.

Quantifiable outcome

• Top 4 firm in Washington state for patent prosecution per IAM Patent 1000
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Cruz FoamminorOthersCOJK provides trademark and patent prosecution services to Cruz Foam, a sustainable packaging company recognized by TIME Magazine as one of the Best Inventions of 2023. Attorneys Melissa Nowak and Rhys Lawson assist with protecting the brand and innovations.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Wolf Greenfield: Wolf Greenfield is a Boston-based IP boutique focused on patent prosecution, litigation, and counseling in electrical, mechanical, and life sciences technologies. It competes with COJK for similar enterprise and emerging tech clients in the U.S. IP boutique tier.
• Fish & Richardson: Fish & Richardson is a national intellectual property law firm focused on patent prosecution, litigation, and transactions. Like COJK, it serves technology and life sciences clients across the U.S., and is consistently ranked alongside COJK in IAM Patent 1000 and Chambers USA.
• Banner Witcoff: Banner Witcoff is a Chicago-based IP boutique with strong patent prosecution and litigation practices. It serves similar technology and life sciences clients as COJK and is consistently ranked in IAM Patent 1000 alongside COJK.
• Sterne Kessler: Sterne Kessler is a Washington, D.C.-based IP boutique specializing in patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings, and IP litigation. It is a direct peer in the IP boutique category, frequently co-ranked with COJK in IAM Patent 1000 and Chambers USA.
• McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff: MBHB is a Midwest-based IP boutique focused on patent prosecution and litigation with deep technical expertise. It is a comparable peer in the U.S. IP boutique space, frequently listed alongside COJK in IP-focused legal rankings.
• Knobbe Martens: Knobbe Martens is a premier IP boutique specializing in patent prosecution and litigation, with particular strength in life sciences and medical devices — directly comparable to COJK's Life Sciences and Mechanical Engineering practice groups.
• Finnegan: Finnegan is one of the largest IP-only law firms in the U.S., with deep expertise in patent prosecution, litigation, and IP transactions. It is the most direct competitor to COJK in the IP boutique category, serving similar enterprise technology and life sciences clients.

Broad incumbents

• Mintz: Mintz is a full-service Am Law firm with a strong IP practice including patent prosecution, IP litigation, and life sciences. It is a broader incumbent that competes with COJK on IP matters but serves clients across a wider range of legal services.
• Foley & Lardner: Foley & Lardner is a full-service national law firm with a sizeable IP practice group. While broader than COJK, it overlaps significantly in patent prosecution, IP litigation, and life sciences IP — competing for many of the same enterprise clients.
• Choate Hall & Stewart: Choate is a Boston-based full-service firm with a notable IP practice including patent prosecution and life sciences. It is a broader incumbent comparable to COJK on the IP-specific side, though it offers a wider portfolio of legal services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/COJKpllc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/34256

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Christensen O'Connor Johnson Kindness