Shawn Kolitch focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation, opinion work, and patent prosecution strategy relating to high-tech industries and emerging technologies.

Shawn also maintains a strong interest in criminal and Constitutional issues, and in the areas of overlap between science and the law. He has served as a scientific expert in both criminal and federal bankruptcy cases, as pro bono counsel for prisoners bringing civil rights complaints against the state, and as defense counsel in disciplinary actions brought by the Oregon State Bar.

For six consecutive years (from 2011-2016), Shawn was recognized as one of Oregon’s top 2.5% of up-and-coming attorneys by Oregon Super Lawyers magazine, which named him to its Rising Stars list. He was selected for a Lifetime Achievement Award in Marquis Who’s Who for 2018, which is comprised of the top 3% of professionals in the world.

Prior to law school, Shawn spent seven years as a physics professor. During that time, he taught physics and pursued his research interests at several colleges and universities, including California Polytechnic State University, the University of Oregon, and Lewis & Clark College. Shawn’s physics research focused on the application of gravitational theory to the formation and evolution of the universe. His particular specialization involved modeling the possible behavior of the universe under both classical and quantum extensions of Einstein’s theory of general relativity.

Shawn has authored numerous publications in the areas of theoretical physics, physics education, Constitutional law, and intellectual property law, and has presented his work at conferences and seminars around the United States. He has received several awards for his research, teaching, and academic achievements.

Education

J.D. cum laude
Northwestern School of Law of Lewis & Clark College
Associate Editor, Environmental Law
Ph.D. Physics
University of California, Santa Barbara
Field of specialization: classical and quantum gravitational theory
Outstanding Graduate Student Teacher – 1990–1991, Eardley Prize, Pacific Coast Gravity Meeting, 1995
M.S. Applied Physics
Columbia University
B.S. Applied Mathematics, with honors and distinction
Columbia University 
Allen Prize for Excellence in Applied Mathematics, 1989

Bar Admissions, Court Admissions, Professional Organizations

• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
• State Bar of Oregon
• State Bar of Arizona
• District of Oregon
• District of Arizona
• Central District of California (pro hac vice)
• Northern District of California (pro hac vice)
• Southern District of California (pro hac vice)
• Middle District of Florida (pro hac vice)
• Eastern District of Louisiana (pro hac vice)
• District of New Jersey (pro hac vice)
• District of Nevada (pro hac vice)
• Northern District of Ohio (pro hac vice)
• Eastern District of Texas (pro hac vice)
• Federal Circuit Court of Appeals
• Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Technical Expertise

• Mechanical systems
• Aircraft and satellite payloads
• Optics and imaging systems
• Heat and moisture exchange systems
• Photovoltaic systems
• Signal and data processing
• Mathematical modeling and simulation
• Complex manufacturing methods
• Bicycles and bicycle-related technologies

Selected Publications

• S. Kolitch, Statutory Uncertainty at Both Ends of a Copyright Infringement Case, 10 Oreg. Intell. Prop. Newsletter 2 (Fall 2008).
• S. Kolitch, Patent Claim Construction: the Neglected Preamble, 8 Oreg. Intell. Prop. Newsletter 10 (Summer 2007).
• S. Kolitch, The Proper Scope of Patentability in International Law, 11 Marquette Intell. Prop. L Rev. 150 (2007).
• S. Kolitch, Constitutional Fact Finding and the Appropriate Use of Empirical Data in Constitutional Law, 10 Lewis & Clark L. Rev. 673 (2006).
• S. Kolitch, Preserving the Exculpatory Value of an Opinion Letter, 7 Oreg. Intell. Prop. Newsletter 2 (Spring 2006).
• S. Kolitch, The Environmental and Public Health Impacts of U.S. Patent Law: Making the Case for Incorporating a Precautionary Principle, 36 Envt’l L. Rev. 221 (2006).
• S. Kolitch, Elevation Profiles for Portland, Oregon Road Rides, first published in 2004.
• S. Kolitch and D. Eardley, Quantum Decay of Domain Walls in Cosmology I: Instanton Approach, Physical Review D 56 (1997), 4651–4662.
• S. Kolitch and D. Eardley, Quantum Decay of Domain Walls in Cosmology II: Hamiltonian Approach, Physical Review D 56 (1997), 4663–4674.
• S. Kolitch, Qualitative Analysis of Brans–Dicke Universes with a Cosmological Constant, Annals of Physics 246 (1996), 121–132.
• S. Kolitch and D. Eardley, Behavior of FRW Cosmological Models in Scalar–Tensor Gravity, Annals of Physics 241 (1995), 141–152.
• S. Kolitch and B. Hall, Dynamical Systems Treatment of Scalar Field Cosmologies, Los Alamos National Laboratories No. gr–qc/9410039 (1994).