Design IP
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersAllentown, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Design IP does
Design IP was a boutique intellectual property law firm headquartered in Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley. Founded in 2003, the firm focused exclusively on IP law, offering a full suite of services spanning patent procurement and prosecution (utility and design), trademark registration and enforcement, copyright protection, trade secret matters, IP portfolio management, clearance and validity studies, licensing and technology transfer, and IP-related litigation. A distinguishing capability was the firm's industrial design expertise, helping clients protect product aesthetics and visual design features through design patents and trade dress. The team comprised 3 attorneys and 1 paralegal with nearly 60 years of combined IP experience.
The firm served innovation-driven businesses across diverse verticals, including enterprise clients such as Air Products (industrial gases) and Draeger (medical and safety technology), mid-market manufacturers like ATAS (metal roofing), Precision Medical, Hindle Power, and Royal Truck & Equipment, as well as consumer-facing and nonprofit organizations including Willo, Freebird, ArtsQuest, and HAT. The go-to-market was sales-led and direct, with a reliance on attorney-client relationships, professional referrals, and a single website (designip.com) for inbound inquiries. Revenue was generated through professional-services billing, with Clio Payments used for credit card and e-check processing. Pricing was not publicly disclosed and operated on quote-based, pay-as-you-go engagement terms.
On February 9, 2026, Design IP was acquired by Saxton & Stump, a regional Pennsylvania law firm, with all four professionals joining Saxton & Stump's newly established Allentown office (its 11th location). Post-acquisition, clients gained access to Saxton & Stump's broader platform of more than 150 attorneys and 300 professionals. Design IP's standalone website was converted to a redirect to the acquirer's site, effectively ending the independent brand.
Design IP firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Design IP
- Legal name
- Design IP
- Website
- https://designip.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Acquired
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Design IP industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Intellectual Property Legal Services
- akta.pro primary industry
- Intellectual Property (IP) Law (BPAHAAAF)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- IP Litigation & Dispute Resolution (BPAHAMAE), IP Filing, Annuities & Renewals Administration (BPAHAMAJ), Copyright Services & Content Protection (BPAHAMAC)
Keywords
Where Design IP is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Allentown
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Design IP business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Legal Services - IP Law: Design IP generated revenue through professional legal services focused exclusively on intellectual property law, including patent prosecution and litigation, trademark registration and enforcement, copyright protection, trade secret matters, IP portfolio management, licensing, technology transfer, and IP transactions such as mergers, acquisitions, and asset purchases.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Professional legal services billed by engagement |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels2 records
Design IP product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Design IP is a boutique intellectual property law firm that provides specialized legal services for protecting and enforcing intellectual property assets. The firm handles patent procurement and prosecution (utility and design patents), trademark and copyright registration, trade dress protection, IP litigation, IP counseling and portfolio management, clearance and validity studies, and licensing and technology transfer. Its distinctive focus is industrial design expertise, helping clients protect investments in product aesthetics and visual design features.
Product overview
Design IP is a single boutique intellectual property law firm offering comprehensive IP legal services rather than a multi-product platform. The firm provides four interconnected service offerings: Intellectual Property Legal Services (covering patents, trademarks, copyrights, and litigation), IP Counseling and Portfolio Management (including clearance, infringement studies, and competitor monitoring), Licensing and Technology Transfer (supporting transactions and technology agreements), and Industrial Design Expertise (specializing in design patents and aesthetic feature protection). All services are delivered through the unified law firm structure with a singular focus on intellectual property law.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Intellectual Property Legal Services Full-service intellectual property legal representation including patent procurement and prosecution (utility and design patents), trademark and copyright registration, trade dress protection, and intellectual property litigation services. For innovation-driven businesses, manufacturers, and product companies.
- IP Counseling and Portfolio Management Strategic counsel on intellectual property matters including portfolio management, clearance studies, infringement and validity analyses, and monitoring of competitors' IP activities to reduce infringement risk. For companies managing IP assets and seeking to maximize portfolio value.
- Licensing and Technology Transfer Services covering technology transfer agreements, IP licensing transactions, and support for mergers, acquisitions, and asset purchases involving intellectual property. For companies engaged in IP transactions and technology commercialization.
- Industrial Design Expertise Specialized intellectual property protection for industrial designs and aesthetic features of products, including design patents and trade dress protection for consumer products. For consumer products companies and manufacturers that rely on product aesthetics and visual design as competitive differentiators.
Quantifiable outcome
- Nearly 60 years of combined IP experience provided to clients
Companies that use Design IP
Customer profileNamed customers12 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Design IP technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration1 record
Feature1 record
Design IP partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves4 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Design IP competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Saxton & Stump: Pennsylvania-based full-service law firm that acquired Design IP in February 2026. Comparable as the platform through which Design IP's IP practice is now delivered, with 150+ attorneys and 11 offices statewide.
- Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney: Pennsylvania-headquartered full-service firm with a notable IP practice. Comparable to Design IP as a PA-based provider of IP services to enterprise and mid-market clients across diverse industries.
- Fox Rothschild: National full-service law firm with a sizable IP practice group headquartered in Philadelphia. Comparable to Design IP as a PA-anchored provider of IP legal services to enterprise and mid-market clients, but at much greater scale and breadth.
- Finnegan: Leading national IP law firm focused on patent prosecution, litigation, and IP transactions. Comparable to Design IP as a competitor for high-stakes patent and trademark work from enterprise clients.
- Fish & Richardson: National IP powerhouse specializing in patent prosecution and litigation. Comparable to Design IP as a direct competitor for sophisticated patent work, though at vastly greater scale and geographic reach.
- Cozen O'Connor: Philadelphia-headquartered full-service law firm with a substantial IP litigation and prosecution practice. Comparable as a PA-based competitor for IP mandates, competing with Design IP for Mid-Atlantic innovation-driven clients.
Direct peers
- Norris McLaughlin: Pennsylvania IP and business law firm with strong patent prosecution practice. Comparable to Design IP in serving Mid-Atlantic innovation clients with IP-focused counsel, though broader in scope.
- Volpe and Koenig: Pennsylvania-based IP boutique with deep patent prosecution and litigation practices. Comparable to Design IP as a regional IP-only firm serving innovation-driven businesses across the Mid-Atlantic.
- Harness IP: Mid-Atlantic IP boutique with offices in PA, MI, and VA providing patent, trademark, and copyright services. Comparable to Design IP as a mid-sized regional IP-only practice serving innovation-driven clients.
- Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel: Philadelphia-based intellectual property boutique law firm offering patent prosecution, trademark, copyright, and IP litigation. Closely comparable in scale, geography (Mid-Atlantic/PA), and singular IP-only focus to Design IP.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat3 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Design IP social profiles
Digital presenceDesign IP compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Design IP financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Design IP leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Design IP funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Design IP M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Design IP
What does Design IP do?
Design IP is a boutique intellectual property law firm that provides specialized legal services for protecting and enforcing intellectual property assets. The firm handles patent procurement and prosecution (utility and design patents), trademark and copyright registration, trade dress protection, IP litigation, IP counseling and portfolio management, clearance and validity studies, and licensing and technology transfer. Its distinctive focus is industrial design expertise, helping clients protect investments in product aesthetics and visual design features.
Is Design IP a public or private company?
Design IP is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently acquired.
When was Design IP founded?
Design IP was founded in 2003. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Design IP based?
Design IP is headquartered in Allentown, United States, in the North America region.
How does Design IP make money?
One revenue line is on record: legal Services - IP Law.
Who are Design IP's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Saxton & Stump, Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney, Fox Rothschild, Finnegan, Fish & Richardson and Cozen O'Connor. Direct peers are Norris McLaughlin, Volpe and Koenig, Harness IP and Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel.
Does Design IP have an API?
No public API is recorded for Design IP.
What industry is Design IP in?
Design IP's product category is Intellectual Property Legal Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is BPAHAAAF, Intellectual Property (IP) Law, with a secondary code of BPAHAMAE, IP Litigation & Dispute Resolution.