For over two decades, Rabi Narula has been developing domestic and international intellectual property portfolios for a wide variety of clients. Rabi’s practice includes global patent portfolio development, IP audits, IP transfer agreements, due diligence associated with financings and acquisitions, and competitive landscape analysis including legal opinions, recommendations for design-arounds, and pre-litigation strategy. Rabi also has extensive experience in Ex Parte Patent Reexamination proceedings, design patents, reissue applications, and appeals before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
An aggressive patent prosecutor, Rabi zealously advocates for his clients’ innovations. He seeks both broad and diverse IP protection for his clients while also understanding that clients need to balance aggressiveness with budgets. Rabi is known for his impressive, encyclopedic knowledge of patent rules and procedures, responsiveness, hard work, and optimism even when faced with difficult challenges. His strategic solutions and absolute commitment to his clients’ needs have created relationships of trust. At his core, Rabi is an engineer, a technology enthusiast, and a “people person” who enjoys interacting with inventors and examiners.
Rabi represents clients in a wide range of technologies including medical devices, semi-conductor fabrication, food science, automobile technologies, heating and cooling systems, high accuracy measurement devices, and robotics. Rabi’s experience also includes representing clients in the office furniture, construction product, and plumbing device spaces.
Within the medical device space, Rabi has worked with emerging and large companies in the aesthetics, cardiovascular, spine, dental, surgical robotics, orthopedics, and prosthetic fields. Rabi has successfully represented large companies, venture capital firms, investors, and emerging companies in investments, acquisitions, and IPOs.
Prior to joining the firm, Rabi worked as a Research Engineer for ABB Power Plant Laboratories in Windsor, Connecticut, where he was responsible for testing and developing advanced coal, oil, and gas burners. Rabi's experience as an engineer gives him respect for, and a first-hand understanding of, the product development process and the numerous ways in which ideas can evolve throughout the patent prosecution process.
Rabi is based in Orange County, California. He is a member of UC Irvine’s Engineering Leadership Council and has been the Chair of the firm’s Diversity Committee. He is a frequent speaker on topics such as developments in IP law, IP issues for start-ups, strategic IP development and IP due diligence.
Will the Supreme Court Kill a Popular Patent Review Process? Orthopedic Design & Technology (October 2017)
From Intellectual Property to Immigration: Essential Legal Guidance for Early-Stage Startups Built In Los Angeles (February 2017)
Speeches & Seminars
Moderator, IP Issues for Start-Ups, IBA Silicon Beach Conference, February 2, 2017, Santa Monica, CA.
Panelist, Important Developments in Intellectual Property and How They Impact Your Business, IP Impact - Silicon Valley Seminar, September 26, 2013, Palo Alto, CA.
Panelist, AIA Navigation Strategies, USC Gould School of Law 2013 Intellectual Property Institute, March 14, 2013, Los Angeles, California.
Panelist, Dealing Strategically with the America Invents Act, IP Impact Seminar, October 25, 2012, Durham, North Carolina.
Presenter, Obviousness: 5 Years Post-KSR, Bay Area In-House Medtech Attorney Group, May 18, 2012.
Panelist, Reexamination - From Basics to Best Practices, Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association (LAIPLA) 15th Annual Washington in the West Conference, February 14, 2012, Los Angeles, California.
Panelist, Strategic Implications of the America Invents Act ("AIA"), Orange County Bar Association (OCBA) Intellectual Property Section, November 21, 2011.
Panelist, Strategic Implications of the America Invents Act ("AIA"), October 5, 2011, Silicon Valley, California.
Panelist, IP cost management — how to get the most from your time and IP dollars, without sacrificing quality, IP Impact Seminar, July 27, 2010, Menlo Park, California.
Panelist, Taking Advantage of Reexamination, Thirteenth Annual Washington in the West Conference presented by Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, April 8, 2010, Los Angeles, California.
Presenter, Avoiding Patent Pitfalls, Solar Energy Industries Association Webinar, December 16th, 2009, Washington D.C.
Presenter, How to Prepare for IP Due Diligence, IP Impact Seminar, September 29, 2009, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.
Panelist, Strategies for Success: An Inside Look Into Developing and Prosecuting a Valuable Medical Device Portfolio, Intellectual Property and Strategy for the Medical Device Industry Conference produced by Q1 Productions, July 10, 2009, San Mateo, California.
Presenter, Patent Prosecution Strategy under the New Rules, Orange County Bar Association, Technology Law Section, October 15, 2007, Costa Mesa, California.
Presenter, Inter Partes Reexamination, The Patent Buster?, Orange County Bar Association, Technology Law Section, December 18, 2006, Costa Mesa, California.
Presenter, Advantages of Inter-Partes Reexaminations, Orange County Patent Law Association, September 27, 2006, Costa Mesa, California.
Presenter, New and Proposed 37 CFR Rules, Los Angeles Intellectual Property Law Association, September 12, 2006, Los Angeles, California.