About Tim S.
Tim S. Teter is an attorney whose career bridges engineering and federal court practice. He trained as an engineer before turning to law. That combination shapes how he approaches technical disputes and patent matters.
He earned his J.D. from Stanford Law School in 1993 after completing a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of California, Davis in 1988. The two degrees sit at the center of his professional profile. The engineering background gives him a practical vocabulary for technical issues. His legal training at Stanford provided a foundation in litigation and intellectual property law.
Early in his career he moved into practice areas that intersect science, technology and legal strategy. Over time he joined Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, where he serves as a partner. His work there has involved representing clients before federal trial courts and appellate tribunals, and handling matters before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
He is admitted to practice in California and before multiple federal venues. Those admissions include the U.S. District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of California, the Ninth Circuit, the Federal Circuit and the United States Patent and Trademark Office. That range of admissions allows him to handle cases from patent prosecution through district court litigation and appellate work.
Colleagues say he brings a methodical approach to complex patent issues. He has handled disputes that require detailed technical analysis and procedural precision. His mechanical engineering training helps when claims turn on product design, mechanics or systems engineering. In court he has worked on matters that required clear explanation of technical principles to judges and juries.
Outside the courtroom and the USPTO filings, he has participated in firm-level matters that touch on client counseling and case strategy. He has experience managing teams of engineers and lawyers to prepare infringement analyses, validity defenses and appeals. The pattern of work reflects steady involvement in both prosecution and contested matters in federal court.
He maintains professional memberships and stays active in legal circles where patent law and technology law intersect. He continues to balance technical comprehension with procedural practice. Today he practices patent and intellectual property law at Cooley Godward Kronish LLP, handling patent prosecution, litigation and appeals in federal courts and before the USPTO.
