Attorney Bios
Partners
David W. Carstens
As a partner in the firm, David W. Carstens brings together a highly-skilled background in patent law and engineering to develop winning strategies for clients. He is knowledgeable in all aspects of intellectual property - including patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets - and helps clients to evaluate their needs and do what is required to protect their innovations.
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Colin Cahoon
The combination of Colin Cahoon's legal expertise with a distinguished career in the armed forces enables him to provide clients with smart, technical legal counsel. As a partner in the firm, Mr. Cahoon concentrates his practice in patent law and aviation law. Mr. Cahoon brings a depth and breadth of experience to his practice that enables him to advise clients on a broad spectrum of intellectual property issues.
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Vincent J. Allen
Mr. Allen offers clients a background that is rarely seen among attorneys. In his practice, he combines an aircraft maintenance degree with an electrical engineering degree to provide clients with knowledgeable, effective, and efficient legal representation. Mr. Allen has prosecuted numerous patent and trademark applications and is a shrewd litigator of both intellectual property and aviation disputes. As creator and editor of the firm's intellectual property newsletter, The Umbrella, he makes a special effort to stay abreast of recent developments and proposed changes in the law.
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Jeffrey G. Degenfelder
Mr. Degenfelder is a registered patent attorney and a member of the State Bar of Texas. He is a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot with extensive flight experience. His primary practice areas are intellectual property law, aviation law and complex litigation. He is a member of the State Bar of Texas and a registered patent attorney.
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James R. Gourley
James Gourley joined Carstens & Cahoon, LLP as an associate in 2005. He focuses his practice on intellectual property law, franchise law, and litigation. Mr. Gourley is a graduate of Southern Methodist University Dedman School of Law. Before attending law school, Mr. Gourley attended the University of Oklahoma where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree with distinction in Chemical Engineering.
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Chris Kilgore
Chris Kilgore has been litigating complex tort and product liability cases throughout the United States for more than twenty years. During that time, he has represented both plaintiffs and defendants, giving him a valuable perspective that has enabled him to not only achieve excellent results, but to do so in an economical and efficient manner.
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Fred J. Meier
Fred J. Meier is a seasoned litigator with over 35 years of trial practice representing both Defendants and Plaintiffs in a variety of matters ranging from aviation products-liability to employment and business disputes. He is admitted to practice in Texas, California, and all districts of the U.S. District Courts for Texas and California, U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Fourth, Fifth and Ninth Circuits, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
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Associates
Bobby W. Braxton
Bobby W. Braxton joined Carstens & Cahoon, LLP as an associate in 2007. His primary practice area is patent law. Mr. Braxton graduated from Texas A&M University in 2004 with a bachelor of science in chemical engineering.
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Zachary W. Hilton
Zachary Hilton joined Carstens & Cahoon, LLP as an associate in 2006. His primary areas of practice include intellectual property law and aviation law.
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Mandy Jenkins
Mandy Jenkins joined Carstens & Cahoon, LLP as an associate in 2008. Mandy earned her J.D degree at Baylor University School of Law in May 2008 and earned a B.S. degree in chemistry from Texas A&M University in May 2005. Her primary practice area is patent law.
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Celina M. Orr
Celina M. Orr joined Carstens & Cahoon, LLP as an associate in 2007. Her practice area is intellectual property, with an emphasis on patent prosecution and trademarks. She is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and also earned her B.S. in Chemistry and B.A. in Spanish from the University of Texas.
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Steven H. Washam
Steven H. Washam is an associate with Carstens & Cahoon, LLP. As a fully licensed patent attorney, he practices in all areas of intellectual property law.
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Of Counsel
Hays V. Hettinger
Mr. Hettinger joined the firm in 2009. He specializes in federal aviation law, having spent 33 years as counsel with the Federal Aviation Administration, retiring as Assistant Chief Counsel at Headquarters.
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Kevin Klughart
Kevin Klughart is a lifelong learner who also happens to be a Patent Attorney and Electrical Engineer. His practice includes all aspects of Intellectual Property law, with a particular emphasis on patent preparation/prosecution in the electrical, electronic, semiconductor, and software technology fields.
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