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David Heckadon Receives LEED® AP Distinction From U.S. Green Building Coucil

October 2008

Gordon & Rees partner and Co-Chair of the Green Technology & Climate Change Practice Group, David R. Heckadon, has earned the LEED® AP ("Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design Accredited Professional") distinction by the U.S. Green Building Council, based in Washington, D.C.

Mr. Heckadon is the first registered patent attorney in the United States to have earned the LEED® AP distinction. His technical background is in mechanical engineering.

He is only the ninth attorney in San Francisco and the 18th attorney in California to receive LEED® AP status.

Mr. Heckadon is the second attorney at Gordon & Rees to receive the LEED® accreditation. Aristotle (Aris) Evia, a construction and environmental attorney also in the firm's San Francisco office, became a LEED® AP in September 2008.

As a key member of both the firm's Intellectual Property and Green Technology practice groups, Mr. Heckadon has extensive experience in patent applications for renewable energy and new building materials companies, green issues, and greenhouse gas legislation.

As both a LEED® AP and registered patent attorney, Mr. Heckadon is ideally suited to secure patent protection for new materials, devices and processes in the green building space while also counseling clients on LEED® contract documents and all aspects of the LEED® certification process, as well as the rapidly emerging government regulations like California's Green Building Standards Code and San Francisco's Green Building Ordinance. Mr. Heckadon also practices trademark law and has experience drafting confidentiality and non-disclosure agreements to protect the intellectual property of companies operating in the green building space.

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