Kermit D. Lopez

Kermit Lopez is a registered patent attorney in KPPB LAW’s Intellectual Property Law Practice, where he helps clients realize business value by protecting their intellectual assets through patents, trademarks, and copyrights. With more than 25 years of experience in intellectual property law, Kermit has represented a wide range of clients—from global corporations such as Honeywell, Xerox, IBM, Google, and Conduent, to national laboratories including Los Alamos National Laboratory and Fermilab, as well as startups, universities, and individual inventors.

Kermit’s practice focuses on the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and international patent and trademark applications, and on the strategic development and management of intellectual property portfolios. He has successfully prosecuted patents across diverse technical fields, including electrical and electronic systems, data processing, software, artificial intelligence, machine learning, telecommunications, electromechanical devices, and mechanical inventions.

In addition to patent work, Kermit advises businesses on brand protection strategies and secures trademark registrations through the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). He also assists creators—including authors, musicians, and software developers—in obtaining copyright registrations to safeguard their original works.

Prior to co-founding Ortiz & Lopez, PLLC, Kermit served as in-house counsel for Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque and Ericsson, Inc. in Richardson, Texas. He also practiced with the law firms Felsman, Bradley, Gunter & Dillon in Austin—where he primarily prosecuted patents for IBM—and Bickel & Brewer in Dallas.

Kermit holds an AV® Preeminent Rating from Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating for legal ability and ethical standards, reflecting the esteem of his peers in the legal community. He is also an inventor, named on more than 60 issued U.S. patents in technologies ranging from wireless and streaming systems to electric vehicle charging innovations. Born in Green Bay, Wisconsin, and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Kermit is the author of the historical novel Cibolero. Inspired by his daughters, he has recently started to play piano and enjoys continuing his musical journey. He is based in KPPB LAW’s New Mexico office.