John R. Thompson

John R. Thompson is a partner based in Salt Lake City and Seattle, focusing on patent preparation and prosecution in the United States and internationally. His practice centers on advising clients on patent matters, including patentability, validity, infringement, and strategic intellectual property planning.

John earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from the Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College in 1995, where he served as an associate editor of the Northwestern Law Review. He holds a B.S. in electrical engineering from Arizona State University, 1990.

John counsels clients on complex patent matters across electrical, computer, and software technologies. His work includes drafting and prosecuting patents, advising on strategies to protect innovations, and helping clients build and manage strong intellectual property portfolios in competitive, rapidly evolving technology markets.

John also assists with trademark prosecution, including protecting marks and domain names and securing registrations. His technical experience includes work in energy storage systems, smart grid components, database systems, network communications, and renewable energy technologies, and he supports clients with both legal and technical insight.

Before his legal career, John worked on telemetry systems for the space shuttle’s rocket boosters and later as a design engineer at the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station. This experience supports his ability to understand complex technologies and apply that knowledge to patent development and strategy.

John R. Thompson has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America, Mountain States Super Lawyers, IAM Patent 1000, and Utah Business Legal Elite, and was named Trademark Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Salt Lake City. He provides clear guidance, helping clients protect and advance their innovations.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
• Member, Utah State Bar, Intellectual Property Section
• Member, Washington State Bar, Intellectual Property Section
• Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association

Licensed State

• Utah
• Washington

Education

• Northwestern School of Law at Lewis & Clark College
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Arizona State University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges