About
At TCP Law PLLC, our primary professional goal is safeguarding and enforcing our clients' intellectual property rights. We are deeply committed to aligning with our clients’ interests and helping them identify the IP rights that best serve their needs. We also strive to devise feasible strategies for attaining and enforcing these rights, always mindful of our client's unique circumstances.
John Laurence embarked on his journey in technology and law at New York University Tandon School of Engineering, where he earned his BS in Electrical Engineering. He then pursued legal studies, obtaining a JD from New York Law School and an LLM in Intellectual Property and Technology Law from Fordham University Law School. John is admitted to practice in the New York State Bar, is registered with the US Patent and Trademark Office (Patent Bar), and is a member of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.
Before transitioning into law, John honed his technical skills as an engineer in the broadcast and post-production industries. His work encompassed designing, installing, and maintaining complex systems, including video production and distribution systems, control and routing systems, post-production and special effects systems, and storage and database systems.
John Laurence
John's legal practice focuses on intellectual property law, including trademarks, patents, and copyright law. He assists individuals and businesses in developing, securing, and enforcing their intellectual property rights. With a profound understanding of the legal landscape, John has helped develop and manage patent portfolios across diverse technologies. These technologies include mechanical, electrical, and medical devices; communication and cellular systems; semiconductor manufacturing systems; business payment systems; machine learning and artificial intelligence systems; and internet-based technologies.
John has experience filing and prosecuting utility and design patent applications in the United States, Patent Cooperation Treaty applications, design patent applications in the United States, and Hague System industrial design applications. He also has experience practicing before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.
TCP Law
John has filed, prosecuted, and enforced trademarks for many brands, covering a wide range of goods and services. His practice includes filing US trademark applications, managing international registrations under the Madrid System, and handling oppositions and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
John has also contributed to monetizing intellectual property rights for clients globally, leveraging his extensive experience conducting patentability and trademark searches to develop intellectual property portfolios strategically.
Billing Practices
Our billing practices are consistent with our professional goals and uphold the same flexibility that drives our strategies. Accordingly, we will not bill you for phone conferences and non-substantive emails. Moreover, our engagements reflect a wide range of billing structures to achieve unity of interest with our clients. If hourly billing is preferred, we charge a very reasonable rate. We may also provide flat rate billing in cases where the necessary services are predictable. We may provide a capped fee billing structure if it is unclear which services best serve a client's interests.
In all cases, we intend our billing to be entirely transparent, ensuring that our clients are fully aware of the services they are paying for and the value they are receiving.
About FAQ
What is John Laurence's professional background?
What does USPTO Patent Bar registration mean, and why does it matter?
What technology areas has TCP Law handled patent work across?
Does TCP Law handle trademark work beyond basic USPTO filings?
How does TCP Law's billing work?
Can TCP Law help with PTAB proceedings and patent appeals?
Can TCP Law help build a long-term IP portfolio, not just handle one-off filings?
What do clients say about working directly with John Laurence?
Is TCP Law the right fit for technology and software IP matters
Is it a myth that solo IP firms are less capable than large firms?
About FAQ
What is John Laurence's professional background?
John Laurence began his career as an engineer in the broadcast and post-production industries before transitioning to law. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from NYU Tandon, a J.D. from New York Law School, and an LLM in IP and Technology Law from Fordham University Law School. He is a USPTO-registered patent attorney and a member of the Southern District of New York. His combined engineering and legal background directly informs his patent prosecution and IP strategy work.
What does USPTO Patent Bar registration mean, and why does it matter?
USPTO Patent Bar registration is a separate federal credential — distinct from state bar admission — required to prosecute patent applications before the USPTO on behalf of clients. Candidates must pass the Patent Bar examination and hold a qualifying technical degree. Not every IP attorney is patent bar registered. When evaluating patent counsel, verifying USPTO registration is an essential first step to ensure your application is handled by a credentialed practitioner.
What technology areas has TCP Law handled patent work across?
TCP Law has developed patent portfolios across mechanical, electrical, and medical devices; communication and cellular systems; semiconductor manufacturing; business payment systems; machine learning and AI systems; and internet-based technologies. Attorney Laurence also has experience filing Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) applications for international protection and Hague System applications for industrial designs. View patent samples across eight technology categories on the TCP Law website.
Does TCP Law handle trademark work beyond basic USPTO filings?
Yes. TCP Law's trademark practice includes managing international registrations under the Madrid System, handling oppositions and cancellation proceedings before the TTAB, and conducting comprehensive trademark searches to strategically develop IP portfolios. Attorney Laurence has filed, prosecuted, and enforced trademarks for brands across a wide range of goods and services. A free consultation is available to discuss your trademark strategy.
How does TCP Law's billing work?
TCP Law does not bill for phone conferences or non-substantive emails — a meaningful departure from standard law firm practice. Billing structures include hourly rates, flat fees for predictable matters, and capped fee arrangements when the scope is unclear. All billing is fully transparent. This flexible, client-aligned approach is detailed on the About page. A free introductory consultation is available before any financial commitment is made.
Can TCP Law help with PTAB proceedings and patent appeals?
Yes. Attorney Laurence has experience practicing before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), including inter partes review proceedings and appeals of USPTO examination rejections. TCP Law can assist with the full patent lifecycle — from application filing through post-grant challenges and enforcement. Contact TCP Law at john@tcplawfirm.com or 917-612-1059 to discuss a specific patent matter.
Can TCP Law help build a long-term IP portfolio, not just handle one-off filings?
Yes — TCP Law is explicitly oriented toward strategic IP portfolio development. The firm conducts patentability searches and trademark searches specifically to build portfolios strategically and has contributed to monetizing IP rights for clients globally. Whether you need trademark protection, patents, or copyright registration, TCP Law approaches each matter with long-term commercial value in mind.
What do clients say about working directly with John Laurence?
Clients across Google, Avvo, and Lawyers.com consistently highlight John's personal availability, technical depth, and calm communication style. One reviewer described his patent claim drafting as exactly the guidance they needed. Another praised his accessibility day and night. TCP Law holds a 5.0 rating across all three platforms based on 17 reviews. Read client testimonials to understand what working directly with an experienced IP attorney in New York looks like in practice.
Is TCP Law the right fit for technology and software IP matters?
Yes — technology and software IP is an area of particular strength. Attorney Laurence's engineering background and LLM in IP and Technology Law give him genuine technical fluency in software architecture, hardware systems, and AI-implemented inventions. Navigating software patent eligibility requires both legal expertise and technical literacy — a combination that distinguishes TCP Law from generalist IP practices. Schedule a consultation to discuss your technology IP needs.
Is it a myth that solo IP firms are less capable than large firms?
Yes. The quality of IP representation depends on the individual attorney's credentials and attention, not firm size. At TCP Law, every client works directly with John Laurence — a USPTO-registered patent attorney with an engineering degree and a specialized LLM — on every aspect of their matter. In large firms, senior attorneys are often inaccessible after intake. Read about John's background and client reviews to evaluate his qualifications directly.