Evan A. Raynes, JD, focuses his practice on strategic IP prosecution and counseling designed to put clients in the best position to protect and enforce their IP rights to meet their business goals and prevail in litigation.

Evan has broad experience in all aspects of trademark counseling and prosecution, including dometic and foreign trademark clearance, portfolio management, licensing, and audits.  He has prosecuted hundreds of domestic and foreign trademark applications for clients in a wide range of industries, including alcoholic beverages, apparel, cannabis, cosmetics, food, healthcare, medical devices, musical instruments, software, and steel.  Evan has also counseled clients on numerous copyright, domain name, false advertising, patent, privacy, right of publicity, social media, and trade secret issues.

In addition to his prosecution and counseling experience, Evan has substantial experience in intellectual property litigation.  He has worked on a wide range of copyright, patent, trademark, trade secret, unfair competition, and patent cases, including large cases for industry-leading companies.  He has appeared before federal courts at the district court and appellate court levels, and has substantial experience in handling opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.  He also has broad experience in electronic discovery in all types of intellectual property litigation.

Evan works on a wide range of IP-related contract matters, such as development agreements, licenses, and terms of use and privacy policies.

Evan has over thirty years of prosecution, counseling and litigation experience at both large, traditional firms and Symbus.  He was previously a partner at the Finnegan and Roetzel & Andrews law firms. 

Something Personal: Evan was born in Detroit, and his outside interests include sports of all kinds, cooking, and alternative music.

Bar Memberships: District of Columbia, California.

Education: B.G.S., University of Michigan, History and Political Science; M.A., University of Michigan, History; J.D., George Washington University Law School.

Member, Symbus Law Group, 2012 - present.

Nicola McDowall, LLB Hons (UK), has 35 years of experience advising corporate clients in diverse industries  with international operations. She has practiced in Big Law firms in the UK and the US, been general counsel of both a public and a private company and has operated her own business.  Advising clients from all perspectives, she brings a pragmatic and commercial point of view, and the ability to help you to assess risk and reward.  Nicola can provide you with outside general counsel support or other services tailored to meet your needs.  She is skilled at leveraging commercial opportunities while protecting corporate assets and core values. As a creative negotiator, Nicola aims to craft win-win relationships with national and international business partners and adversaries. She is a strategic thinker experienced at listening and understanding new business ideas, following the money, and the economics. Her experience includes support for sales team and managing compliance requirements throughout diverse distribution channels, especially franchising.

Something Personal: When not practicing law, Nicola enjoys spending time keeping healthy.You could find her hiking, cycling or rollerblading, and whenever possible, traveling near and far.

Bar Memberships: Law Society of England and Wales, California, District of Columbia

Education: LLB Hons, Birmingham University UK, Solicitors Qualifying Examinations, Guildford College of Law, UK, Solicitors Qualifying Examinations. CA and DC Bars and Certified Specialist, Franchise & Distribution Law, The State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization.

Of Counsel, Symbus Law Group, 2011 – 2013; October 2020-present.

Lisa C. James, LLB LLM (Canada Only) is a Canadian corporate and intellectual property lawyer, with expertise in trademarks, copyright, business entity management and corporate structuring. Lisa's focus is on protecting the client's assets through use of corporate and IP tools as well as supporting them in negotiations. Lisa has practiced law for over 25 years.

Lisa is pleased to lend her expertise to U.S. clients looking to expand their brands and market presence into Canada, including the formation of Canadian subsidiary corporations.

Something Personal: Lisa is an avid mountain biking, surfing and climbing enthusiast and sports fan. She has been happily married to a litigator for many years.

Bar Memberships: Law Society of Upper Canada, Canadian Bar Association

Education: LLB Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto, ON); LLM (Intellectual Property Law),Osgoode Hall Law School (Toronto, ON).

Of Counsel, Symbus Law Group, 2010 - present.

Clifford D. Hyra, JD, is a registered patent attorney with broad experience handling domestic and international patents, trademarks, and related matters. Cliff is a registered Patent Attorney with extensive experience in the fields of computer software and hardware, medical devices, material science, aerospace, mechanical/electrical devices and industrial designs.

Cliff works with clients large and small around the world to protect their interests in the U.S. and globally. He is an expert in cracking tough patent prosecution cases and extracting maximum claim scope, patent strategy, and portfolio management. Cliff also thrives in high-stakes, contested trademark proceedings.

Something Personal: Cliff enjoys running, reading, and teaching his four young children to play poker. He is active in real estate investment and the AI safety community.

Bar Memberships: Virginia

Education: BS, Aerospace Engineering, magna cum laude, Virginia Tech; JD magna cum laude, George Mason University school of Law.

Of Counsel, Symbus Law Group, 2012 - present.

Janice is the managing partner of Symbus Law Group. She spent many years at traditional law firms before founding Symbus in 2000. She has secured hundreds of trademarks and has successfully prosecuted many adversary proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She continues this work for a small number of clients, and spends time implementing a new and evolving platform to streamline the virtual practice of Symbus.

Something Personal: Janice lives on a small farm with her husband and two Irish terriers, where a dozen varieties of garlic are grown.

Bar Memberships: District of Columbia.

Education: BA, kent State University; JD,S.Texas College of Law. Certificate, Mediating Disputes, Harvard Law School, Program on Negotiation.

Member, Founder of Symbus in 2000; Managing Partner, 2000 - present.