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Admissions

California

Admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office

Credentials

  • J.D., University of California, Hastings College of Law
    • Witkin and Cali Excellence Awards: Law and Bioscience Seminar
    • Bioentrepreneurship Clinic
    • Hastings Science & Technology Law Journal, Staff Editor
  • Ph.D., University of Alabama Huntsville, Optical Science and Engineering
    • Excellence in Optical Engineering Award
  • M.S., University of Alabama Huntsville, Electrical Engineering
    • National Dean’s List
  • M.S., Huazhong University of Science and Technology
    • Excellent Research Paper Award
  • B.S., Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Optical Engineering
    • Graduated 1st of class

With over 10 years of experience in intellectual property law, Yi helps clients to obtain and protect intellectual property rights. She has significant experience in patent applications in 5G wireless communications, autonomous driving vehicles, intelligent vehicles, electrical vehicles and lithium-ion batteries, telecommunication, laser technologies and fiber optics, circuit designs, computer software and operating systems, semiconductor materials and equipment, and medical devices. Yi works regularly with both US and Chinese companies, including a number of Fortune 500 companies, mid-size and start-up companies.

Yi’s practice includes the entire patent life cycle, including identifying and harvesting invention ideas, conducting training seminars in patent application drafting, drafting and prosecuting patent applications with the USPTO. Yi has extensive experience in patent portfolio development strategies, freedom-to-operate analyses, noninfringement and validity analyses, and IP due diligence work in financing and acquisitions.

Yi’s considerable experience in industry and academic research allow her to quickly understand the complex technical aspects of the inventions and the business issues of the clients. Prior to becoming an attorney, Yi worked as a senior engineer for high-tech companies, including New Focus (telecommunication), KLA-Tencor (semiconductor), and Applied Biosystems (biotech). She was also an Adjunct Professor of Electrical Engineering at Northwestern Polytechnic University for several years. As a Postdoctoral Researcher at Texas A&M University, Yi investigated skin cancer detection using Optical Coherence Tomography. 

Yi serves as a supervisor in Startup Legal Garage Clinic at the University of California College of the Law, San Francisco. She also serves on the committee for the Practicing Professionals Working Group at Advancing Diversity Across Patent Teams (ADAPT). She is a member of Asian Pacific American Bar Association and Chinese American Lawyers of the Bay Area.

Yi is fluent in English and Chinese.
 

Languages

  • Chinese

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