Specialized consulting for organizations demanding hands-on technical rigor and contractual clarity — from custom embedded hardware design to technology acquisition counsel.
Each engagement draws on both sides of the practice — engineering depth to understand what's being built, and legal precision to protect it. Clients don't need two firms.
Full-stack audio system design for automotive OEM and aftermarket platforms. Amplifier architecture, DSP integration, A2B signal chains, and system-level validation.
Schematic-to-fabrication PCB design for embedded systems. STM32 and ESP32 platform specialization with hands-on SMT assembly, EasyEDA Pro and KiCad, and JLCPCB production experience.
Automotive bus architecture design and reverse engineering. FDCAN and dual LIN master topologies with AEC-qualified transceivers, bench validation hardware, and VAG MQB platform familiarity.
Enterprise and home network architecture, Wi-Fi 6/6E deployment, and multi-SSID wireless controller configuration. IPv6, VLAN segmentation, and security hardening across Aruba, Cisco, and Ubiquiti platforms.
California-licensed attorney review of technology purchase agreements, NDAs, technology licensing contracts, and supplier acquisition terms — with the engineering context to understand what the language actually means in practice.
Caplan Engineering and Consulting bridges a gap that most technology firms encounter too late: the need for deep technical expertise and sound legal counsel in the same conversation. The firm is built around a single principal who holds both — an interdisciplinary engineering background and active licensure before the California State Bar.
"The most costly engineering decisions are rarely technical failures — they're contractual ones made without engineering context."
Based in San Diego, California — home to a dense cluster of defense, semiconductor, and consumer technology companies — the practice is positioned at the intersection of hardware design, automotive electronics, and technology law. Clients range from startup hardware companies navigating their first technology licensing NDA to established firms requiring independent engineering review on acquisition targets.
Active licensure with prior practice in regulatory enforcement at the California DMHC and civil advisory work at the San Diego City Attorney's Office. Focus areas include technology transactions, NDAs, and acquisition contracts.
A blended foundation spanning mechanical, civil, and electrical engineering — enabling comprehensive technical analysis across structural, systems, signal processing, and electronics domains.
Active PCB design and fabrication across STM32 and ESP32 platforms, automotive CAN/LIN bus systems, A2B audio networks, and RF/wireless infrastructure — from schematic capture through SMT assembly.
Located in one of the nation's leading technology corridors, with direct proximity to the semiconductor, defense, and consumer electronics ecosystem in Southern California.
Technology Platforms & Partners
Whether you're evaluating a complex audio architecture, navigating a technology NDA, need embedded hardware design support, or require engineering context on a supplier contract — reach out to start a confidential conversation.