Approach
Michael Best & Friedrich LLP has long been committed to the pursuit and protection of our clients' intellectual property rights. With more than 100 members and over a century of successes, our IP Practice Group is one of the firm's largest and one recognized nationwide for providing exceptional guidance and representation to IP clients.
Attorneys
In addition to impressive legal credentials, many of our attorneys and engineers have extensive backgrounds and advanced degrees in electronics, computer science, electrical engineering, avionics, physics, e-commerce and information technology, chemistry, mechanical and chemical engineering, food science, biotechnology, biology, medical and dental devices and structural and civil engineering. In addition, many of our lawyers have worked for major corporations and as government examiners in the United States Patent and Trademark Office, giving them a valuable perspective on our clients' IP issues.
Several of our attorneys teach IP classes in area law schools. Many others regularly speak and publish articles on IP issues and are actively involved in IP legal organizations around the country. One of our attorneys is the author of the 4th Edition of Callmann, Unfair Competition, Trademarks and Monopolies, a nine-volume treatise and one of only a few well renowned resources on trademark and unfair competition law. The firm is also co-author of Intellectual Property Law in Cyberspace, one of the first treatises to deal with ever-evolving Internet law.
Clients
We represent large, medium-sized and small companies throughout the nation and around the world. See representative clients list.
Practice
Our IP group offers a complete range of intellectual property services and guidance including but not limited to:
- Patent Prosecution and Counseling
- Mechanical
- Biotech
- Electrical
- Chemical
- Computer Software
- Business Method
- Trademark and Copyright Prosecution and Counseling
- Litigation
- Internet and E-Commerce
- Licensing, Technology Transfer, and Joint Venture Agreements
- Computer Software, System Acquisition, and Data Processing Agreements
- Advertising, Promotions and Sweepstakes Law
- IP Audits and Innovation Counseling
- M & A Due Diligence
- Rights of Publicity and Privacy
- Trade Secrets
An effective intellectual property practice requires a dedicated team of professionals who can merge their knowledge, legal and technical experience, and business acumen with the right combination of negotiation and advocacy skills to produce legal solutions that match clients' business goals and competitive philosophies. In approaching any project, we make sure we know the "big picture;" that is, we learn how the project fits into our client's short- and long-term goals; what the client hopes to achieve by protecting or licensing a particular piece of intellectual property; whether the project is global in nature or territorially limited; what the competitive landscape is in which the client's IP strategies will be implemented; and our client's budgetary constraints and financial expectations for the project. Armed with this knowledge, we are able to recommend a balanced but aggressive approach that meets the client's goals and objectives, maximizes the return on their investment, and limits downside risks.
We utilize state-of-the-art research, imaging, docketing, communication and litigation support software and hardware to enhance the impact of our work.