James is an Associate who focuses on resolving intellectual property disputes. He leverages an engineering background and experience as an Examiner for the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to provide practical counsel to clients.

Before joining Michael Best as an attorney, James worked for the firm as a law clerk and legal extern. He researched and drafted memoranda on issues such as prior art, claim interpretation, and likelihood of confusion. He also prepared claims and arguments to the USPTO. James previously worked as an extern and a Patent Agent for an IP boutique firm, where he drafted and prosecuted patent and trademark applications, responded to Office actions, and conducted freedom-to-operate analyses.

Earlier, James spent four years as an Examiner at the USPTO, where he focused on mechanical subject matter. As an Examiner, James evaluated countless patent applications and conducted many attorney and inventor interviews.

Upon earning his undergraduate degree in Textile Engineering, James began his professional career as a Process Improvement Engineer for Milliken & Company, where he spent more than a year analyzing product quality, manufacturing processes, and efficiency.