Graciela Gomez Cowger
Overview
As Chief Executive Officer at Schwabe, I focus on keeping our clients at the center of all we do, leveraging my training as an engineer to deliver efficiencies to our clients and our processes, and bringing diversity of thought to a historically slow-changing industry.
I practiced as an intellectual property attorney for over 20 years, helping individuals and companies protect innovations in technology and healthcare and build enduring brands. As an IP lawyer, I experienced the rapid rate of change in technology and the ever-increasing flow of data and information. We have never been more interconnected than we are now. I am passionate about finding strategies to help our clients adapt to the ways that these rapid changes impact the markets in which they operate.
Before joining Schwabe, I served as managing partner at StoFoCo LLP, a firm I founded and managed with two other partners. Prior to becoming a lawyer, I was a design and manufacturing engineer for Hewlett-Packard Co. in San Diego. That experience instilled in me a lifelong interest in innovation and process efficiencies and metrics.
Memberships & Awards
Memberships
- Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Portland Branch, Board Member
- Downtown Seattle Association, Board Member
- Washington State Women's Commission, Chair
- Washington State University Vancouver, Advisory Board Member
- Providence Health and Services, Former Oregon Community Ministry Board Member
- Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber, Former Co-Chair
- Hispanic National Bar Association, Latinas in the Profession, Former Commissioner
- Oregon Hispanic Bar Association, Past President and Board Member
- Oregon Judicial Diversity Coalition, Former Member
- Oregon Patent Law Association, Past President and Board Member
- Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, Member
Awards
- The Business Journals' 2019 Law Influencers (2019)
- IP Stars Oregon (2019-2020)
- Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Female Leader of the Year (2019)
- Latino/Latina Bar Association of Washington, Abogada Exceptional Award (2019)
- Portland Business Journal, Women of Influence Honoree (2019)
- Portland Business Journal, Executive of the Year (2018)
- Dress for Success, Athena Award Winner (2018)
- Best Lawyers Lawyer of the Year Award, Patent Law (2018)
- Oregon Super Lawyers (2006-2022)
- Best Lawyers in America Award, Patent Law (2013-2023)
- Oregon Hispanic Bar Association, Paul J. De Muniz Professionalism Award (2015)
Resources & Ideas
News
- Portland Business JournalDecember 9, 2022
- The OregonianAugust 19, 2021
- Puget Sound Business JournalMarch 1, 2021
- The Mid-Market Report Powered By Law.comJanuary 24, 2021
- June 2, 2020
- Sharing what we wish we knew for 2020 Women’s History MonthMarch 10, 2020
- Thomson ReutersMarch 4, 2020
- February 25, 2020
- Downtown Seattle AssociationJuly 29, 2019
- July 2, 2019
- February 26, 2019
- Law.comFebruary 14, 2019
- February 7, 2019
- January 18, 2019
- Oregon State BarJanuary 9, 2019
- July 24, 2018
- May 16, 2018
- Law.comMay 2, 2018
- April 13, 2018
- Vancouver SW Washington Business JournalFebruary 13, 2018
- Puget Sound Business JournalPuget Sound Business Journal, January 5, 2018
- Vancouver SW Washington Business Journal, November 3, 2017
- October 19, 2017
- October 13, 2017
- October 12, 2017
- Puget Sound Business Journal, October 12, 2017
- Portland Business Journal, October 12, 2017
- October 12, 2017
- Vancouver Business Journal, July 29, 2016
- Oregon State Bar Bulletin
Seminars & Speaking Engagements
- Innovation Day 20222022 OHSU Research WeekMay 5, 2022
- Association of Corporate CounselSeptember 23, 2021
- December 16, 2020
- Oregon Executive MBA Alumni BoardMarch 18, 2020
Publications
- Oregon BusinessAugust 3, 2022
- July 28, 2022
- May 25, 2022
- Puget Sound Business Journal, Winter 2021
- June 3, 2021
- Portland Business JournalMarch 15, 2021
- February 10, 2021
- The American LawyerMay 22, 2019
- December 22, 2017
- March 24, 2017
- September 6, 2016
- March 1, 2016
Community Activities
Community Activities
Schwabe's culture of respect and camaraderie resonates with my own deeply held values. My communities in both Vancouver, Washington and Portland, Oregon are very important to me. My relationships with clients, family and friends in these communities are at the core of my civic efforts. I have served as Co-chair and Board Member for the Hispanic Metropolitan Chamber, Member of the Oregon Community Ministry Board for Providence Health & Services, Commissioner of the Latina Commission for the Hispanic National Bar Association, past President and Board Member for the Oregon Hispanic Bar Association, and past President of the Oregon Patent Law Association.
I was appointed to the State of Washington's Women's Commission to help improve the lives of women in Washington by addressing issues such as domestic violence, childcare and support, sexual discrimination and harassment in the workplace, equal compensation and job pathways in employment, and the specific needs of women of color. I additionally serve as a member of the Washington State University Vancouver Advisory Board.
Education
- San Diego State UniversityBachelor of Science, Electrical Engineering
- University of WashingtonJuris Doctor
Admissions
Oregon State Courts
Washington State Courts
United States District Court of Oregon
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Outside The Office
- Skiing at Mt. Hood.