Joseph Teja, Jr.

Joe Teja has significant experience in counseling clients with substantial and complex portfolios in connection with IP protection strategies.

Joe represents clients in a variety of technical areas, including energy-efficient lighting technologies, efficient power generation from organic fuel cells, high speed optical memory, precision nanoscale light sources, and semiconductor device fabrication. He also has significant experience working with academic institutions to protect their IP assets.

Joe’s areas of technical expertise include optoelectronic devices and optical communications, as well as several areas of electronics and electrical engineering, including analog and digital circuits, electronic devices, semiconductor design and fabrication, telecommunications, and networks.

Representative Matters

Wrote and prosecuted family of patents for inventor Dr. Ihor Lys covering his key invention, Powercore®, a breakthrough digital power-processing technology designed to increase efficiency, lower the overall cost, and simplify installation of LED lighting systems, for which Dr. Lys won the 2008 National Inventor of the Year Award from the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation.
Provided strategic advice on development and management of patent portfolio for local solid-state lighting company, leading to favorable acquisition by global leader.
Responsible for IP due diligence on behalf of multiple investors in various fields including semiconductor fabrication processes, optical devices, and optical signal processing.
Counseled multiple venture-back start-up companies on strategic protection of primary technology to facilitate further investment and enhance valuation.
Worked closely with variety of academics, investors, and entrepreneurs in Cleantech community to develop guidelines for IP best practices.

Previous Experience

Before entering law school, Joe had over 10 years experience as a researcher and engineer in electronics and optics. He was an electrical engineer with Rheometrics Incorporated and went on to perform research at Hoechst Celanese Corp.

Joe’s specific areas of research were in electro-optics where he co-invented a patented optical waveguide device, designed and developed analytical software relating to electrically-induced molecular orientation of polymeric optical devices, and conducted research in connection with the fabrication of such devices.

Professional and Civic Activities

Boston Patent Law Association

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers

Massachusetts Bar Association

MIT Enterprise Forum of Cambridge

MIT Entrepreneurship Center

MIT Energy Club

New England Clean Energy Council

On the board of the fellowship program

Honors and Awards

Joe was selected as a Massachusetts Super Lawyers’ “Rising Star” by Law & Politics magazine.

Also Noteworthy

Joe has been a teaching assistant at MIT for undergraduate courses in electronic circuit theory. He is also fluent in Italian, and is a professional musician, regularly performing Mediterranean and Middle Eastern folk music with an acoustic ensemble around the greater Boston area.