Erik J. Carlson

Partner

Los Angeles
T +1.310.442.8832
F +1.310.820.8859

Overview

Erik Carlson litigates and tries patent cases involving complex technology, including spine surgery systems and other medical devices, medical diagnostic and screening tests, spoken language understanding systems, artificial intelligence, integrated circuits, telecommunications, cryptography, cloud computing, mobile apps and smart devices. He has tried cases in top patent venues in Delaware, California and Texas and has delivered great results for clients. Erik has extensive experience advising medical technology and healthcare leaders, as well as other clients ranging from startups to Fortune 100 companies, in diverse patent cases in U.S district courts and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Aside from representing clients in U.S. district courts and the USPTO, Erik has considerable experience appearing before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the International Trade Commission. He has experience throughout all aspects of trial work including trial presentation, witness examination, mock jury studies, oral argument, briefs and motions and case management and strategy.

Before attending law school, Erik was an aerospace engineer for Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, where he led a team developing infrared targeting pods for F/A-18 Hornet fighter jets and developed computer algorithms for optical image stabilization in reconnaissance satellites. While attending Cornell University, he was one of the leaders of Cornell’s Formula SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Racing team, a 40-student team that finished in the top ten out of 140 entries in an international automotive racing competition to design, build and race a formula-style race car.

Recognitions and Memberships

Memberships

  • Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Judge Paul R. Michel Intellectual Property American Inn of Court

Pro Bono

  • Public Counsel's Immigrants' Rights Project
    • Represents persecuted immigrants seeking asylum
  • National Veterans Legal Services Program - Lawyers Serving Warriors Project
    • Represented disabled veterans in cases and appeals against the VA
  • Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice's Domestic Violence Program
    • Represented victims of domestic violence

Prior Positions

  • Edwards Lifesciences: Patent prosecution for artificial heart valves and other cardiac medical devices (secondment)
  • Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems: Aerospace Engineer

Admissions

  • U.S. District Court, Central District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of California
  • U.S. District Court, District of Delaware
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Illinois
  • U.S. District Court, District of New Jersey
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Pennsylvania
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Washington
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • International Trade Commission
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • California

Education

  • J.D., Loyola Law School, 2009; Loyola of Los Angeles Entertainment Law Review, Note and Comment Editor; Giles Sutherland Rich Memorial Moot Court Competition
  • M.Eng., Systems Engineering, Cornell University, 2003
  • B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Cornell University, 2002