Our Experience

Seth M. Reiss, the Firm’s principal, received a BA degree in Biology and Chemistry from New College of Florida, a MS degree in Biochemistry from the University of Hawai`i, a JD degree from the University of Hawai`i William S. Richardson School of Law, and a LLM degree in International and Comparative law from the University of Cambridge in England. Seth was a member of the law review staff while at the Richardson School of Law.

Seth previously clerked and held the position of staff attorney to the Hawai`i Supreme Court, practiced law in both the public and private sectors, and taught law at the University of Malaya. Most recently, Seth was a partner and of counsel to the Honolulu intellectual property law firm of Godbey Griffiths Reiss, LLLP (now Godbey Griffiths). Prior to that, Seth was a partner with the Honolulu boutique firm of Watanabe Ing Kawashima & Komeiji (now Watanabe Ing LP) where Seth developed and oversaw the firm’s intellectual property, technology and Internet law practice group.

Seth emphasizes patent, trademark, copyright, technology and Internet law while also providing services in the areas of business law, commercial litigation and regulatory matters. In addition to being admitted to practice law in Hawai`i, Seth is admitted to the California state bar, the U.S. Supreme Court and the Federal and Ninth Circuit Courts of Appeal, and is a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He has served as an adjunct professor of intellectual property law at Richardson Law School, and on the boards of the Hawai`i Board of Bar Examiners, the Hawai`i Institute of Continuing Legal Education, and the Hawai`i State Bar Association’s International Law Section and Intellectual Property and Technology Section, a section Seth founded and previously served as chairperson. Seth is a WIPO UDRP panelist, a neutral for Dispute Prevention & Resolution Hawaii, a delegate to the At Large Advisory Committee of ICANN, and a fellow of the American Bar Foundation. Seth is frequent speaker on intellectual property, technology and Internet law topics.

Additional details concerning Seth’s background and experience can be obtained from his current Curriculum Vitae.

Seth is supported by Sherri Lavati, a trained legal assistant knowledgeable in the Firm’s practice areas, and students who may from time to time intern with the Firm.