Maria Anderson

Maria Čulić Anderson excels in developing robust patent and trademark portfolios while guiding clients through the complexities of intellectual property law and litigation. She brings three decades of experience in the field to DWT, where she represents a broad range of IP stakeholders—from individual innovators to the top Fortune 500 companies—in industries from software and electronics to medical devices to food + beverage. Trained in computer science, Maria also understands many technical aspects of her clients' innovations, with particular expertise in cloud computing and AI.

Named one of the "World's Leading Patent Professionals" by Intellectual Asset Management and recognized by The Legal 500 and others for her IP work, Maria counsels clients on all challenges and opportunities throughout the IP lifecycle. She strategically grows and develops patent portfolios both domestically and internationally, including supporting the expansion of one company's global patent portfolio from under 100 issued patents to 30,000+ over the course of a decade. In addition, she develops strategies for U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) litigation before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) for defensive purposes, focusing on inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR). Maria also has a keen eye for brand protection and has helped numerous clients establish and defend their trademarks in competitive markets. With over 30 years of experience to draw from, Maria expertly manages multimillion-dollar legal budgets to provide a full spectrum of IP support for large clients and maximizes the value of modest budgets for individuals and startups.

Beyond client work, Maria is an active participant in professional organizations and a frequent speaker at industry conferences, where she shares her insights on IP law trends and best practices. Before joining DWT, Maria worked at a U.S.-based IP law firm and co-founded its Seattle office. She also mentors up-and-coming attorneys from diverse backgrounds.