Overview
Clients working in the satellite and space technology industry are at the forefront of innovation, facing evolving technical and complex legal issues. Our collaborative, cross-practice team of attorneys handles a wide variety of client matters, including patents, technology transfers, contracts and agreements, transactions, dispute resolution, and litigation.
Our team has a strong science, engineering and technology foundation. Many of our attorneys have significant expertise in these areas and have developed extensive knowledge by serving clients in the satellite and space technology industry. In addition, our Intellectual Property practice has engineers and scientists in all fields relevant to space technology, including professionals with mechanical, electrical, chemical, material science, physics, computer, and aeronautical backgrounds.
Professionals
Professionals
Experience
Experience
Calfee's representative experience in the Satellite and Space Technology sector includes the following:
- Represented startups that provide materials to American aerospace manufacturers.
- Represented several national labs in the negotiation and execution of various agreements, including:
- Cooperative Research and Development Agreements (CRADAs);
- Various technology licenses;
- Technology transfer agreements with universities; and
- Software / data agreements (e.g., development, licensing, etc.).
- Counseled clients regarding technologies used in the satellite and space industry, including:
- Additive manufacturing technologies;
- Antenna design;
- Battery technologies, including renewable energy systems;
- Computer-implemented simulation and machine learning;
- Cryogenic temperature sensors;
- Data processing, security, and authentication for space-based imaging and communications systems;
- Fiber optics;
- Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) designed for state-based processing;
- GPS (and other navigation signals);
- Gyroscopes;
- Imaging sensors for high-speed and high-resolution cameras;
- Instrumentation systems;
- MIL-STD-1553/1760 bus testing and security;
- Optical waveguides;
- Quantum sensors;
- Robotics systems;
- Satellite communications and sensor configurations;
- Sensors, processing systems and circuit designs that conform to specified size, weight and power (SWAP) requirements;
- Solar arrays;
- Solar cells (and other semiconductors);
- Space-based video communications systems;
- Space exploration equipment;
- Spin-stabilized orbital rocket guidance;
- Various materials (including binders, glass, crack-resistant laminates for air travel, metals, and ceramics), as well as process and manufacturing apparatuses; and
- Vision systems and processing of output of the vision systems, including color camera systems, lidar systems, radar systems, synthetic aperture radar (SAR) systems, and infrared (IR) systems.
In addition, Calfee attorneys have had the following specific professional experience:
- Served as an electrical engineer in his role as an officer in the U.S. Air Force (4950th Test Wing) and designed electrical engineering systems in the areas of navigation, avionics and instrumentation systems.
- Worked as a scientist at several national labs on technology relating to integrated circuit (IC) fabrication and particle physics.
Representative Clients
Representative Clients
- NASA
- Sandia National Laboratories
- A leading global designer, producer, and supplier of highly engineered aircraft components, systems, and subsystems for commercial and military aircraft
- A developer of a glass microelectromechanical system (MEMS) designed to manufacture automotive sensors that use infrared imaging for applications like security cameras and autonomous vehicles
- A leader in cryogenic temperature and magnetic solutions, and contributor to the James Webb Space Telescope
- A manufacturer of self-driving, autonomous, and zero-emission vehicles designed to safely transform the transportation experience
- A company specializing in the design and fabrication of protective shield products and materials
- A world energy leader providing equipment, solutions, and services across the energy value chain from generation to consumption
- A publicly traded, connectivity company providing direct-broadcast satellite and streaming television services, and mobile wireless services