Hello, my name is Tara J. Williams, Intellectual Property attorney at the Law Offices of James Scott Farrin. I have been in practice for approximately eighteen years. My law career began after graduating from the University of North Carolina School of Law, when I focused my practice in intellectual property law, advising clients about issues related to patents, trademarks and copyrights. I have had the opportunity to work in many different environments with many different challenges. I have worked as an attorney in private practice, as a corporate patent lawyer with a national chemical company, as well as in-house counsel for a start-up internet company. I have advised clients in many different technologies and on a multitude of intellectual property rights matters, including:

• Preparing patent and trademark applications;
• prosecuting patent and trademark applications with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office;
• conducting patent availability searches;
• preparing patent infringement opinions;
• preparing intellectual property licensing agreements;
• conducting patent valuations;
• evaluating patent infringement cases; and
• assisting and advising about potential patent remedies.

I have seen many inventors and entrepreneurs make tremendous personal and financial sacrifices to pursue their dreams of commercializing an invention. It takes an enormous financial commitment. If you have obtained a patent or a copyright, you may already know of the costs related to obtaining and protecting copyright and patent rights, as well as to commercialize an invention. Further, the costs involved in asserting a patent or a copyright against a potential infringer are often prohibitive.

I have also had the wonderful opportunity to represent many clients in obtaining recovery for their injuries on a contingency fee basis. The clients are often the victims of over-reaching, and have no funds to pay for attorney representation. We receive a fee only if the client recovers. This model can also be applied to some copyright infringement and patent infringement matters, although few infringement attorneys adopt this model.

In my present practice as a patent lawyer and copyright lawyer, I have come to appreciate that many of my clients simply do not have the financial resources to pay legal fees through traditional by-the-hour means. My clients presently enjoy a contingency fee arrangement that allows them access to quality legal services without the burden of mounting legal fees. The firm collects a legal fee only when there is recovery on the client’s behalf. I believe this model is equally appropriate in some patent matters and offer representation on that basis.

Colleges:
University of North Carolina School of Law, 1990, J.D., Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Auburn University, 1983 B.S., with honors Chemistry Auburn, Alabama

Memberships:
U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit
US Patent and Trademark Office
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of North Carolina
U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina
U.S. District Court, Western District of North Carolina
North Carolina State Bar
North Carolina Bar Association
American Association for Justice (formerly Association of Trial Lawyers of America)
North Carolina Advocates for Justice
Durham County Bar Association