Rutan & Tucker’s IP Partner, Bill Schaal, brings a wealth of experience in securing patent protection for his clients’ technological advancements. With over 30 years of legal expertise, Bill has helped a wide range of companies, from startups to international corporations, build strong patent portfolios. These patent portfolios have included patents directed to technologies that most everyone has used at one time or another. Given his electrical engineering background, Bill’s practice tends to focus on assisting Rutan’s clients in securing patents across many high-technology sectors such as computer electronics, mechanical and medical devices, networking architectures, software, and data security.

In addition to heading Rutan’s IP department in 2023, Bill is actively involved in the community and has been a longstanding board member for the Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County. His dedication to improving the lives of others in our community is consistent with the core values of Rutan, one of the largest full-service law firms in Orange County committed to serving our community through pro bono legal work and supporting over 200 charitable programs and philanthropic initiatives in California. 

Var Fox is a principal of Judicate West and a member of the executive committee. In addition to helping grow and run the company, Var oversees legal matters, risk management and ethics for Judicate West. Var was one of Judicate West’s first Case Managers, and continues to serve as a very effective trainer and mentor to the case management team. He is an expert on ADR rules and processes and uses this knowledge and experience to quickly assess the needs of clients; this is the reason so many JW clients seek his case consulting expertise in helping to select the right neutrals for their cases.

Var began his career in the ADR industry in 1990 with Judicate, Inc., The National Private Court System, located in New York. In 1993, he and his partner bought out the company’s West Coast interests and formed Judicate West. Since then, Var has been a guiding force in the outstanding growth and success of the firm. On the personal side, Var is active in many charitable endeavors, always looking to help those in need. Var holds a second-degree black belt in Kung Fu (which he earned in 2000), enjoys fitness on a daily basis and watching sports, his favorites being baseball and boxing.

Var says, “I’m passionate about supporting the Second Harvest Food Bank of OC and have actively participated in their Food From The Bar campaign for several years. Their dedication to supplying nourishment to those facing hunger is incredibly significant. In our family, we’ve instilled the importance of counting our blessings by helping those in need, and we strongly believe that no one should ever suffer from hunger.”

Melissa is based out of the Corporate Headquarters in Santa Ana and brings more than 15 years of experience in private dispute resolution to her role. Joining Judicate West in 2013, she oversees all marketing, advertising, and public relations. With a focus on creating a unified and influential brand presence, Melissa leads a dynamic team, leveraging her expertise to drive strategic marketing initiatives. In addition to her marketing responsibilities, she is integral to business development and neutral practice management.

Melissa holds an MBA from the Graziadio School of Business Management at Pepperdine University, complemented by a Certificate in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute. Outside of the office, she has a passion for travel.

Says Melissa, “As a firm believer in social responsibility, I am proud to support organizations such as Second Harvest, and their commitment to providing those in need access to nutritious food. Through my involvement, I hope to raise awareness and inspire others to join the fight against hunger and food insecurity.”