Cynthia L. Pillote, Partner at our Phoenix law office
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Cynthia L. Pillote

Partner
Biography

Cynthia Pillote has over twenty years of experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the United States and around the world. She helps clients develop, implement, and manage intellectual property strategies, including due diligence, invalidity and infringement analysis and technology transfer and licensing.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Cynthia was a process engineer at Motorola and Digital Equipment Corporation (DEC). Her engineering experience includes semiconductor process development and thin-film manufacturing, including development of and work with deposition, etch and clean processes, process equipment and organic and inorganic chemicals. Cynthia is also experienced in nanotechnology, batteries and electrochemical devices, and organic and inorganic chemical compounds and processes. Cynthia leverages her engineering experience in her understanding of clients’ technologies and business strategies and in protecting their intellectual property rights.

Credentials

Bar Admissions

  • Arizona
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office


Court Admissions

  • Supreme Court of Arizona
  • United States Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
  • United States District Court, District of Arizona
  • United States District Court, Eastern District of Michigan


Education

  • Arizona State University, Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law (J.D.)
  • Arizona State University (M.S., Materials Science Engineering)
  • Arizona State University (B.S., Chemical Engineering)
    • Tau Beta Pi
Experience

Awards & Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers in America®: Ones to Watch, Patent Law (2025)

Previous Professional Experience

  • Motorola, Inc., Senior Engineer
  • Digital Equipment Corporation, Engineer

Professional Memberships and Activities

  • International Trademark Association

Community Involvement

  • Arizona Nanotechnology Cluster, Board Member
  • Center for Applied Nanoionics at ASU, Board Member
  • Community Health Charities of Arizona, Board Member
  • Arizona Yacht Club, Board Member

Representative Presentations and Publications

  • “Getting Off to a Good Start: Strategies for Startup Companies to Identify, Protect and Defend their Intellectual Property,” Presenter, AzCI Workshop (October 2014)
  • “Getting to the Bottom of Protecting Your Nanotechnology,” Presenter, ASU Law Nanotechnology Seminar (April 17, 2014)
  • “Strengthening Your Patent Portfolio, Improving Current Processes for Identifying, Protecting and Commercializing Innovations,” AUTM 2010 Eastern Region Meeting (June 2010)
  • “An Overview of IP Law and Nanotechnology,” Presenter, ASU Law Nanotechnology Seminar (April 2010)
  • “Deposition of Hard Carbon Films for Hard Disk Protection Layers” Materials Science and Engineering Master of Science Thesis (December 1991)