Kirupa Pushparaj

Kirupa Pushparaj focuses his practice both on patent litigation and prosecution, with an emphasis in computer, communications, semiconductor, electrical signal processing, clean energy technology, fuel cells, social media, internet, and consumer electronics technologies.

Kirupa has a particular focus on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, reexaminations, due diligence investigations, preparation of infringement, non-infringement, and invalidity opinions, analysis of patents for participation in patent pools, patent clearances, and litigation of commercial disputes that involve complex technology.  He also provides strategic patent counseling and patent portfolio management for various companies ranging from startups to fortune 500 corporations.  In addition to patent litigation and prosecution, Kirupa also has experience in trademark prosecution and enforcement. 

Prior to joining Perkins Coie, Kirupa was a senior design engineer at Intel Corporation, where he worked in the areas of semiconductor process technology, VLSI circuit design, and product development. As part of his graduate thesis, Kirupa also worked for the California department of transportation to develop an OFDM based wireless communication standard (IEEE 802.11a/RT) for roadway telematics.  Prior to his graduate studies, Kirupa worked as a software engineer for Siemens Communications Ltd. in Bangalore, India, where he worked in the area of software engineering for telecommunication protocols.  

Kirupa is an adjunct professor at the University of Pacific, currently teaching a course on patent prosecution.  He also enjoys lecturing multidisciplinary audiences at universities and professional organizations on patent law basics.

Professional Recognition

• Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine as a "Northern California Rising Star," 2011
• Awarded the Wiley W. Manuel Award by the State Bar of California for pro bono legal work done in conjunction with the San Francisco Bar in representing low income entrepreneurs on patent related issues
• Awarded the Wiley W. Manuel Award by the State Bar of California for pro bono legal work done in conjunction with Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto in assisting abused victims obtain U Visas
• Winner, 2008 DesignCon Paper Award for paper titled "Simulation and Characterization of GHz On-Chip Power Delivery Network (PDN)," awarded by the International Engineering Consortium

Professional Leadership

• University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law, Adjunct Professor (Patent Prosecution), 2011

• Silicon Valley Intellectual Property Law Association, Treasurer, 2010 - 2011

• Silicon Valley Intellectual Property Law Association, Program Chair, 2009 - 2010

• Perkins Coie Pro Bono Committee, Member, 2009 - present

Community Involvement

• Global Music Therapy Project, Board Member

Related Employment

• Intel Corporation, Folsom, CA, Senior Design Engineer, 2002 - 2008
• University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, Graduate Research Assistant, 2001 - 2002
• Siemens Communications, Ltd., Bangalore, India, Software Engineer, 2000 - 2001
• PSG College of Technology, Coimbatore, India, Research Assistant, 1999 - 2000