Doug Tsao advises clients on a broad range of intellectual property issues, including patent prosecution and litigation. He has prosecuted, licensed and litigated patents for technologies such as pharmaceuticals, small molecules, polymers, biochemical assays, software, textiles and mechanical devices. With a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina and a B.S. in biochemistry from East Carolina University, Doug uses his advanced scientific knowledge as a resource for clients in protecting their intellectual property portfolios.

Doug Tsao advises clients on a broad range of intellectual property issues, including patent prosecution and litigation. He has prosecuted, licensed and litigated patents for technologies such as pharmaceuticals, small molecules, polymers, biochemical assays, software, textiles and mechanical devices. With a Ph.D. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina and a B.S. in biochemistry from East Carolina University, Doug uses his advanced scientific knowledge as a resource for clients in protecting their intellectual property portfolios.

Doug also has experience counseling clients about trademarks, copyrights and trade secret matters, including throughout all stages of intellectual property litigation. He has been listed in North Carolina Super Lawyers Rising Stars for Intellectual Property Law (2019) and is listed among the “Ones to Watch” by Best Lawyers® (2021).

As an undergraduate at East Carolina University, Doug performed synthetic chemistry work and conducted research quantifying levels of DNA damage produced from space radiation. While pursuing his Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina, Doug focused on developing and employing computational methods to study the structure and function of proteins and RNA. He studied areas such as protein folding, macromolecular crowding and molecular mechanisms in pain perception.

Doug is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He previously served as chair of professional and public relations for the American Chemical Society’s Central North Carolina chapter. He earned his Juris Doctor degree from Wake Forest University.