Bio

James Babineau advises clients on protecting and licensing their intellectual property, managing their patent portfolios, and avoiding infringement risks. Well-versed and experienced in electrical and mechanical technology areas, Jim counsels clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to independent inventors. Many of the clients are consumer product manufacturers in varied industries from personal care appliances to toy and infant care, to packaging, fasteners, fabrics, and robotics. Jim also counsels power tools, equipment, and machinery manufacturers, as well as automotive components suppliers. Industry-leading companies have relied on Jim to help them structure, establish, and enforce international licensing programs and to negotiate customized license and cross-license deals to maximize the value of their IP. He advises on IP strategy, including trademark, copyright, and trade secret protection, and guides clients in their implementation to advance their long-term business goals while avoiding unnecessary risks. Before beginning his legal career, Jim spent several years working as an executive, automotive development engineer, and engineering instructor. He designed and developed vehicle chassis systems and geotechnical and environmental exploration and testing equipment. Jim’s technical know-how, legal knowledge, and hands-on real-world corporate experience prove invaluable in guiding clients at every stage, addressing their pain points, and helping them manage risk and grow their businesses by strategically leveraging their IP assets. Jim is the named inventor on various U.S. and foreign patents relating to automotive systems, materials processing, and subsurface geotechnical equipment. He frequently writes and lectures on foreign patent practice and strategy. Jim resides in Austin, a place he describes as “a city where creative expression is celebrated, nonconformity is normal, and individualism is respected. It is a place where people care less about pedigrees and more about competence and results – a place where, if you live and work near the river, for example commuting by kayak seems as normal as anything else.”