Aubrey Chen, a Silicon Valley Patent Attorney, has been with FRESH since the very start.

At FRESH, we believe that our top team is everything. So, we sat down with Aubrey to talk to him about his work, background, professional achievements and also to tell us a bit about Aubrey, the person.

Aubrey, you prosecuted patents in almost any field. How does it feel to be an all-rounder?

I think it fits my personality. I like having a little bit of an idea about a lot of different things. It also helps in getting up to speed on patent applications from different fields. One of the reasons I like doing patent prosecution is that I can learn a bit about all the interesting things clients and inventors are doing, and all the new innovations they’re coming up with. I’m one of those people that sometimes falls down the Wikipedia rabbit hole and winds up reading about lots of things that are related to what I was originally researching. I do like having exposure to different areas, and I think that breadth can help clients as well.

 What type of work would you say you enjoy most?

I enjoy doing anything that involves reading or synthesizing something and then analyzing it. I think this describes the process of responding to Office Actions pretty well. I’ve done other types of legal work, like brief writing or reviewing licensing agreements, that have a similar kind of process too. I think there are actually a lot of parallels between patent prosecution work and other legal services.

 You live in Silicon Valley, a very innovative area. Do you feel that some of that vibe is part of what made you a patent attorney?

Yeah, definitely. There are a lot of companies and start-ups around here doing interesting work in a variety of areas, from biotech to engineering to consumer products. I’m fortunate to have grown up here and to live here, since you get a lot of early exposure to new technologies. You see what works and what doesn’t or what needs improvement. That makes you think about what goes into those new developments and improvements, which dovetails really nicely with patent work.

Tell us about an interesting patent case that you handled.

One application I worked on involved an instrumentation system for biosciences research analysis, which included both the device itself and the related methods and software. There were multiple claims directed to different things, so it was a great learning experience. Also, during prosecution, the Examiner issued almost every type of objection and rejection you’d ever see, so it was a good learning experience for that reason too. We were able to get the patent in the end, so it turned out well. But the most unusual patent application I’ve ever seen was actually one I studied in law school. It involved a flamethrower that had been fitted into the inner workings of a trombone. The idea was that it would shoot flames when someone played it. I’m not sure that invention had much commercial value, but it hadn’t been done before, so the inventor actually got a patent on it.

 Outside of work, what do you like to do?

I like being outside and hiking, which is pretty similar to a lot of Californians. I also like going out and exploring new food places (although, ironically, I don’t do a ton of cooking myself). However, since baked goods are probably my favorite type of food, I do a fair amount of baking at home. Before being a lawyer, I was a scientist, so pouring and measuring carefully comes somewhat naturally. I also love traveling, which is challenging to do right now, but after things stabilize, I am looking forward to doing more of that. I considered majoring in history in college, so I enjoy learning about different cultures and their history when I travel.

Why have you joined Fresh?

I had worked with Cliff Hyra previously, so when Cliff transitioned to FRESH, it was a natural move for me to do so as well. I like how all of us here are focused on delivering a quality work product for the inventors and companies we work with, whilst making sure they understand the process of patenting their inventions, so it’s not just a black box of legalese. Also, I appreciate how collaborative everyone is and genuinely pleasant to work with. We’re not bogged down by bureaucracy or red tape. I think clients can see that when they work with us. I think it’s a better experience for them because they know they’re not going to be overwhelmed.

Last but not least – you are known to be a foodie. Any recommendations to a Silicon Valley restaurant?

Sure, there are so many good ones. This might actually be the toughest question! One of my favorite restaurants is Protégé in Palo Alto, not too far from Stanford University. I really agree with their ethos of providing high-quality, well-executed food in a casual, unpretentious way. Good food doesn’t need to be fussy, whether it’s a burger place or a Michelin-starred restaurant. I think a lot of places locally are good at just being true to themselves and to the kind of experience they want to provide to the community, and that allows their creativity and passion to shine through.

If you would like to discuss patenting an invention, please reach out to Aubrey.