K&L Gates Continues IP Practice Growth With Seattle Partner Addition

Seattle – Global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes Samuel Breeze as a partner in its Intellectual Property practice. He joins the firm’s Seattle office from Lee & Hayes, PC, where he served as chair of its design practice group.

Breeze advises some of the world’s leading innovators on how to protect their brands by securing intellectual property on the ornamental aspects of their inventions. He focuses his practice on the protection of the industrial design of electronic devices, graphical user interfaces, sports equipment, apparel, and other ornamental inventions.

Over the course of his career, Breeze has helped clients obtain thousands of US design patents and foreign registrations. He has extensive experience protecting designs outside the United States, including knowledge of the requirements involving The Hague Agreement. Breeze also has patent experience with life science technologies, including medical equipment and other biomechanical inventions.

Jonathan Feder, a leader of K&L Gates’ global IP practice, commented: “We’re thrilled to welcome Sam to our global IP practice where his deep knowledge of ornamental inventions will augment our already impressive team. Sam's distinct skill set is a great addition to our leading IP practice.”

Breeze’s arrival closely follows the additions of Orange County partner Fei Shen and Melbourne partner Rachelle Downie to the firm’s IP practice last month. Frankfurt partner Daniel Marschollek and his team, which includes counsel Manuel Merling and paralegals, Melbourne partner Sally Foreman, and Charlotte partner Vincent Galluzzo also joined K&L Gates’ IP practice within the past year. As its IP practice continues to grow, K&L Gates remains the only globally financially integrated law firm offering clients IP services across four continents.

Pallavi Mehta Wahi, managing partner of K&L Gates’ Seattle office, stated: “The firm is excited to welcome Sam to its Seattle office. We’re confident that Sam will be a tremendous asset to our international team and that his nuanced understanding of intellectual property law will greatly enhance the firm’s commitment to its clients around the globe.”

K&L Gates’ IP practice boasts more than 250 lawyers and professionals – including more than 115 registered patent lawyers, agents, and technology specialists with technical or advanced science degrees, nearly 30 with doctorates – who devote their practices to helping clients establish, enforce, and leverage their intellectual property rights worldwide. The practice filed more than 5,535 patent applications and 4,455 trademarks worldwide in 2024.