Mentor Team: Nick Somers
- Partner and Patent Attorney at Lee & Hayes, PC
- Nick Somers on LinkedIn
Nick Somers is a patent attorney and partner at Lee & Hayes, where he works with startups, growth‑stage companies, and established technology teams to develop intellectual property (IP) portfolios that support long‑term business objectives. His practice focuses on helping technical teams think strategically about IP in the context of product development, competitive positioning, and future financing or partnership opportunities.
Nick’s interests center on IP management and valuation, treating IP as a business asset that directly influences enterprise value, investment decisions, competitive differentiation, and the ability to form meaningful partnerships. He works closely with engineers and founders to translate technical innovation into defensible, decision‑relevant IP strategies that align with how businesses grow and scale.
With a background in mechanical engineering (WSU ’12) and law (Syracuse ’16), Nick is particularly focused on bridging the gap between technical teams and business leadership. He enjoys helping engineers understand not just what IP is, but why it matters and how thoughtful IP strategy can shape market entry, attract capital, reduce risk, and create optionality as companies evolve.
Nick’s Coug roots run deep. He is a third‑generation Washington State University alumnus and values staying connected to the WSU engineering and entrepreneurship community through mentorship and education.
Alongside his legal practice, Nick is pursuing an MBA at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business, where he is deepening his perspective on strategy, finance, and valuation. This experience informs his approach to IP as an integrated component of business planning rather than a downstream legal exercise.
As a mentor, Nick enjoys working with students and early‑stage founders who are navigating the intersection of engineering, entrepreneurship, and commercialization, and who want to think more intentionally about how intellectual property fits into the broader business picture.