About

• Summary CV: Word version; PDF version
• Publications (www.KinsellaLaw.com/publications)
• Issued Patents/Published Applications
• Other Biographical material
• Avvo listing

Norman Stephan Kinsella is a registered patent attorney in Houston.^* Formerly a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group of Duane Morris LLP and General Counsel for Applied Optoelectronics, Inc. (2000–2012), he has over thirty years’ law firm and in-house experience in patent, IP, and general commercial and corporate law. He has extensive patent prosecution experience in computer, electronics, software, optoelectronics, oil & gas, and other technology, for clients such as Intel Corporation, Lucent Technologies, Agere Systems, General Electric, Motorola, Thomson Consumer Electronics, Sarnoff Corporation, Applied Optoelectronics, Inc., Burr-Brown (now Texas Instruments), Schlumberger, Baker Hughes, and UPS. A selection of issued and published patents is available here.

He received an LL.M. (international business law, 1992) from King’s College London-University of London; a JD (1991) from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center-Louisiana State University; and MSEE (1990) and BSEE (1987) degrees from Louisiana State University. He is licensed to practice before the Texas, Louisiana (inactive), and Pennsylvania (inactive) bars, and is registered to practice before the US Patent Office.

Kinsella has taught as Adjunct Professor of computer law at South Texas College of Law, and served as Chair of the Computer Law Subcommittee of the Federalist Society’s Intellectual Property Practice Group, on the Board of Directors, Houston Chapter, The Federalist Society (1997–99) and Editor-in-Chief/Founding member, PBA IP Law Section [archived] Newsletter, 1997–98; was Senior Fellow, Ludwig von Mises Institute (2009–2013), and was a member of Tau Beta Pi (Engineering Honor Society) (LSU Chapter President, 1987) and Eta Kappa Nu (Electrical Engineering Honor Society) (LSU Chapter President, 1987).

He has published numerous articles and books about IP law, international law and other topics, and is an author or editor of: International Investment, Political Risk, and Dispute Resolution: A Practitioner’s Guide (2nd ed., Oxford University Press, 2020; 3rd ed. forthcoming 2026), Legal Foundations of a Free Society (Papinian Press, 2023), Trademark Practice and Forms (Oceana/Oxford, 2001–2011; West/Thomson Reuters 2011–2013), Against Intellectual Property (Mises Institute, 2008), World Online Business Law (2003-2011), Digest of Commercial Laws of the World (Oceana/Oxford 1998–2011; West/Thomson Reuters 2011–2013), Online Contract Formation (Oceana 2004), Protecting Foreign Investment Under International Law: Legal Aspects of Political Risk (Oceana 1997), and Louisiana Civil Law Dictionary (Quid Pro Books, 2011). Forthcoming books include Copy This Book: The Case for Abolishing Intellectual Property (Papinian Press, forthcoming).

^*My comments and opinions on legal and other issues are informational only and do not constitute solicitation or provision of legal advice. I  make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from my blog posts, articles, website, media appearances, or other publications or commentary. Legal advice must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case, and laws are constantly changing, so none of my comments should be used as a substitute for the advice of competent counsel. I am admitted to practice law in Texas (Louisiana and Pennsylvania: inactive) and registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office, and nowhere else, and do not intend to represent anyone desiring representation in a state where this site may fail to comply with all applicable laws and ethical rules.