Bill Hulsey

Bill established HULSEY PC to apply a range of highly specialized experiences to a broad span of technical fields.

Overview

• Mr. Hulsey began his career as nuclear engineering-trained US Navy submarine officer, and, after his active-duty military service, he continued his career by obtaining the experience and professional degrees, licenses and certifications to serve as a patent attorney in Texas and Tennessee, registered before US Patent & Trademark Office.

• Today, Mr. Hulsey responds to the Texas and Southeast U.S call for experienced entrepreneurs and professionals to support and refocus on emerging technologies, in artificial intelligence (AI), and deep technologies (new fundamental technologies-including nuclear power (both fission and fusion)) and nuclear power generation, especially including small commercial reactors, as a central component of securing a strong economic future.

• Bill’s experience in AI and other similar technologies began with his work as an intelligence and security specialist with the U.S. Army’s military-industrial complex in the Washington, DC area. Through the Army ERADCOM (Electronics Research & Development Command) VISTA (Very Intelligent Surveillance & Target Acquisition) Program of emerging technologies, he focused on areas of AI and automation, advanced sensors, data fusion, which provided critical intelligence on foreign military systems and contributed to the development of advanced surveillance and targeting capabilities. The program demonstrated the Army’s early commitment to integrating advanced technology into surveillance and targeting, shaping modern battlefield intelligence systems. He has built on these experiences and understandings in his work as a patent lawyer.

• He has prosecuted well over 2,000 U.S. and foreign patents (especially in energy, aerospace, and e-commerce technologies), covering inventions and investments, collectively having a value of over $250 Billion [including patents protecting inventions supporting the F-35B Joint Strike Fighter military aircraft]. His firm has filed and received for its clients more than 1,000 trademarks for the America Cotton Belt-Delta region’s most aspiring and amazing inventors, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who are dedicated to making the world a better place.

• He is committed to manifesting a perpetual virtuous cycle of innovation and entrepreneurial growth spurring intellectual property growth, which in turn encourages fair, profitable, reasonable, and collaborative commercialization and economic development.

• Through his legal work, as well as with teaching through the University of Texas’ IC2 Institute, Mr. Hulsey has provided hundreds of hours of lectures and education in intellectual property rights formation, protection, and commercialization in over 45 countries and continents.

• Travels have taken him from USS Jacksonville (SSN699) submarine test depth (hundreds of yards beneath the ocean’s surface) to the top of Mount Sinai, Egypt and near the top of Mount Rainier, Washington, through highways at the outskirts of Brazil’s Amazon Rainforest and in Australia’s Daintree Rainforest, and a recent 2024 Antarctica expedition tour.

• Prior to pursuing his legal career, Bill’s U.S. Navy submarine service provided him with opportunities to visit and work in the Mediterranean Sea along Africa’s northern coast for nuclear submarine service aboard the USS Birmingham (SSN695) to observe and track Soviet attack submarines.

• His work as a patent attorney has included meetings at the U.S. Embassy and Nobel Prize Museum in Stockholm, Sweden, as well as the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva, Switzerland.

Education

• J.D. in Law from Vanderbilt University, including Business Formation and Commercial Law, Patent and Trademark Law, and Entrepreneurial legal Issues. (Senior Managing Editor, Vanderbilt Law Review; Order of the Coif (Top 10% of Class), and one of two Class Officers for the 1987 graduating class.

• M.S.-Ph.D. Degree in Nuclear Engineering (in progress); Texas A&M University (expected graduation 2028).

• M.S.-Nuclear Propulsion (equiv.) through U.S. Navy Nuclear Training at the A1W Nuclear Power Prototype at Idaho National Laboratories and U.S. Navy Submarine-Trained Lieutenant Commander in Nuclear Reactor Plant Operation and Ship Propulsion: specially selected to be part of the Pre-Commissioning and Sea Trials Crew of USS Jacksonville (SSN699), under Admiral Hyman G. Rickover, founder of the U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Force. Bill also served as an Engineering Department watchstander on the USS Birmingham (SSN695) to support that ‘nuclear submarines deployment along the North African coast. His support of both ships demonstrate his connections to the Southern US states through his making significant operational contributions to the U.S.Nuclear Navy.

• M.A. in Economics, including Econometrics and Mathematical Economic Analysis, as well as Tech-Based Entrepreneurial Economics and Regional Economic Analysis and Local Economy Development, from The University of Virginia.

• Top-Secret-Cleared [now inactive] Electronics Engineer for The U.S. Department of The Army’s Electronics Research and Development Command (ERADCOM) designing Very Intelligent Surveillance and Target Acquisition Systems AND Physical Scientist in Foreign Science & Technology Center (FSTC) Advanced Sciences & Technologies Directorate for designing and testing military millimeter wave and microwave sensor systems.

• B.S. (with Distinction) in Theoretical Mathematics and Computer Science from Rhodes College in Memphis, TN.

• Certified Economic Developer [CEcD] and Entrepreneur Development Professional [EDP] by the International Economic Development Council, Washington, D.C. based on 120 hours of classroom training by Graduate University of Oklahoma Economic Institute [2016-2024].

Bill is admitted to practice before the following tribunals:

• Registered to Practice for the United States Patent & Trademark Office;
• The United States Supreme Court;
• The Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit;
• The United States Federal District Court for the Northern & Western Districts of Texas;
• Texas Supreme Court and all Texas Courts; and
• Tennessee Supreme Court and all Tennessee Courts.

Professional Recognition

The Martindale-Hubbell Legal Directory has for 10+ years recognized Bill as:

• “AV-Preeminent“ [highest peer rating a lawyer can receive from Martindale-Hubbell.
• “AV-Preeminent Judicial Edition”[special designation< of the AV-Preeminent rating, meaning that judges, in addition to peers, have given this high rating for legal ability and ethical standards.
• “Top Rated Texas Attorney for Ethics and Legal Ability”
• “Platinum Client Distinction Award” based on multiple evaluations of client service and relationships; and
• “National Bar Registry of Preeminent Attorneys.”

U.S. News & World Report lists HULSEY PC as one of the “Best Law Firms in America” in Texas, Tennessee, and U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Best Lawyers Magazine’s lists Bill as one of the “Best Lawyers in America” Listings for Austin, TX; Memphis, TN; Bentonville, AR; Tulsa, OK; Birmingham, AL; Jackson, MS; New Orleans & Shreveport, LA. Nominated and recognized by peers as one of the top attorneys in patent law–selection based entirely on peer review.

The American Registry of Lawyers and Law Firms listings for Bill’s law practice include the following recognitions:

• Top 1% Most Honored Professionals in America;
• Top 1% Most Honored Lawyers in America;

Justia Legal Directory gives Bill a Lawyer Rating 10-of-10 Superb for Legal Ethics and Ability.

Number 1 of the Top “Three Best Rated” Patent Lawyers in Austin, Texas, Memphis, Tennessee, Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Birmingham, Alabama from “Three Best Rated” publications

Better Business Bureau’s A+ Rating for HULSEY PC in Austin TX, Shreveport, LA, Jackson MS, Birmingham AL, Memphis TN, Bentonville, AR, and Tulsa, OK.

Winner of the 2021 International Advisory Experts Award – Intellectual Property Award for Texas

Related Certifications

Today, Bill is pursuing non-lawyer certifications as a

• • • Certified Economic Developer through the International Economic Development Council (certified 2020);
    • Certified Entrepreneurial Development Professional (certified 2023);
    • Certified Business Economist through the National Association of Business Economists (certified 2020);
    • Chartered Economist and Financial Manager by Institute of Certified Chartered Economists (chartered 2023);
    • Certified Licensing Professional through the Licensing Executive Society (in progress); and
    • Professional Engineering License (examination approved) in Nuclear Engineering through the Texas Department of Professional and Occupational Registration.

He sees these non-legal professional skills, endorsements, and connections as a proactive service to our firm’s clients.

Community Enrichment

Within his local and regional community,

• Bill is a performance Tenor and Member of the Grammy-Award winning chorus ensemble of the Conspirare Symphonic Chorus and has sung over 20 major choral performances with the Austin Symphony Orchestra, including international performances and as part of the choral group for Austin’s 2015 Andrea Bocelli Concert and, most recently traveling with Waco’s St. Albans Episcopal Church semi-professional choir to England to sing in St. Albans, Canterbury, and visit London, Oxford, Cambridge on a 2024 Anglican Pilgrimage;

• In the summer of 2025, Bill will join the Conspirare Symphonic Chorus for its European venues of its Choral Festival performances in Berlin, Germany and Prague, the Czech Republic.
• Bill grew up in Memphis where his ancestors helped build Grace-St. Lukes Episcopal Church, and his family, going back six generations, established the town of Anniston, AL and built the Episcopal church of St. Michaels & All Angels. Bill frequently sings in Sunday services in the choir at both of these historical landmarks.

• Volunteer mentor and Intellectual Property (patents and trademarks) sponsor for the Baylor Student Entrepreneur New Venture Competition at Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business for the past 13 years;

• Helping form and provide a sponsorship lead role for the Rhodes College Entrepreneurship Competition since 2012, where he encourages his alma mater to promote and educate in the principles and practices of technology-led and entrepreneurship-led economic development;

• Moreover, he is devoted to the concept of “Service Above Self” and has served as President of the Austin Westlake Rotary Chapter, as that group fulfills the mission of Rotary International. Now, Board Member, Waco Rotary Chapter;

• Bill has served two terms as a Board Member of the Waco Chapter of the Military Officers Association of America.

Notable Professional Milestones:

Bill devotes his practice to serving entrepreneurs and inventors in the region of his practice to promote regional economic development through the formation of successful entrepreneurial and small business efforts. Over the years, Bill has achieved the following:

• HULSEY PC – Patents & Trademarks…
  …has twice been formally certified by the U.S. Department of Commerce International Trade Commission’s Export Services Award for providing excellent patent, trademark, and copyright services to foreign companies seeking intellectual property assistance in the U.S.
  …is Certified as a Veteran-Owned Small Business (VOSB).
  …has been Approved by the Texas Attorney General to represent the University ofTexas System and other Texas state institutions of higher learning, such as Texas A&M University and Texas State University.

• Represented Apollo Program Astronaut in multi-functional air- and space-craft design patents.

• • • Sixteen years in the construction, maintenance, and deployment of US Navy nuclear engineering reactors for submarine deployment.
    • Wrote patents deemed critical to the large military aerospace corporation successful competition for the $200 Billion U.S. Department of Defense aerospace development and construction contract.
    • Established the initial 100 patents for a silicon crystal solar cell fabrication technology deemed by the U.S. Patent Office as the “Holy Grail” of silicon fabrication technologies, forming a 12″ single-crystal silicon photovoltaic energy source.
    • Originated the U.S. Patent Office Pro Bono Inventor Assistance Program for qualified inventors in the State of Texas.
    • Served original inventor, Mr. Gordon Mathews, in patenting voicemail technologies and a wide variety of voice-based communication devices.
    • Authored “CREATING, MANAGING, AND LICENSING INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ASSETS,” a major work of over 30 hours of streaming video courses providing intellectual property education and training, through Stanford University’s Graduate School for Electronics Engineering and SemiZone, Inc.
    • Served on numerous select committees to support U.S. and international entrepreneurial efforts and activities in Texas, Tennessee, Arkansas, and through the U.S. Department of Commerce.

Bill Hulsey Patent Lawyer