Honigman LLP Patent Prosecution

Patent Prosecution

Our Team—Relat

Patent Prosecution Advanced Degrees

Brett A. Grant Griffith BIO

CHEM E

EE

CS

ME

Secondary Contact Supervising Partner

Patent Practice G Primary Contac Manager, Bi

7 Attorneys

10 Attorneys

8 Attorneys

8 Attorneys

11 Attorneys

ggriffith@honigman.com T 248.566.8502

bkrueger@ho T 616.6

Industries

Analytical Instruments

3,50

Artificial Intelligence Automotive Cloud Tech Computer/Software Communications

35+

Patents file

Patent bar-qualified practitioners

Consumer Electronics e-Commerce Industrial Materials Internet of Things (IoT) Life Sciences Medical Devices Robotics

40+ Targeted Reads in each year of targeted prosecution

WE VIEW

S T R AT E G

Speech Recognition

Representat

tionship Contacts

IP Professionals

Krueger

Group Co-Leader ct, Relationship illing Partner

onigman.com 649.1970

Orjeta Dudley Administrative Contact Patent Paralegal odudley@honigman.com T 248.566.8436

00+

ed in 2024

W IP AS A

GIC TOOL

tive IP Clients

120+

2,000+ Patents granted in 2024

“This firm can unpack a complicated situation and distill out the important issues to help find a path for client success.”

— Client quote, Chambers USA

80%

of our practice involves patent prosecution + opinion work

2024 Managing Intellectual Property U.S. Firm of the Year, Patent Prosecution, Midwest

Intellectual Property Team

R E L AT I ON SH I P M AN AGE R

P RIM A RY S UP E R V IS ING PA RT NE R

Brett A. Krueger

Grant Griffith

Partner Patent Practice Group Co-Leader

Partner

ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF

Orjeta Dudley

Spencer Hoin

Olivia And

Senior Paralegal

Paralegal

Practice Ass

SUPERVISORS

Christopher DeLucenay

Tim Flory Partner

Thomas Appledorn Partner

SCALABLE

DRAFTERS

Partner

Alex Knuth

Ryan Christiansen

Catherine N

Associate

Associate

Associate

Max Mager

Timothy Bogel

Staff Attorney

Patent Agent

BAND

Honigman’s Intellectual Property Department received a Band 1 ranking in Michigan in the 2025 edition of Chambers USA

drews

sistant

Niedermaier

John Chau

Andrew Boes

Partner

Partner Honigman is an Am Law 200 full-service general business law firm with more than 350 attorneys. We serve clients locally, across the country, and around the world, counseling on complex issues in more than 60 areas of law. We understand our clients’ businesses and are exceptionally responsive to their business goals and needs.

The proficiency and experience of our attorneys—backed by our client-centric model and competitive cost structure—allow us to successfully compete with larger national firms.

Attorney Biographies

7

Thomas Appledorn

Tom Appledorn is an intellectual property attorney who provides his clients with practical strategies to protect, leverage, and monetize their technology assets, both tangible and intangible, and counsels them on risks related to technology in general. He brings to his practice a solutions-focused approach that is informed by his years of experience as an engineer developing software and hardware.

Tom spent his first years at Honigman focusing on worldwide patent procurement and IP portfolio development and continues to work very closely with the firm’s IP procurement group to identify productive, cost-effective strategies to secure meaningful

Partner

Vice Chair, Intellectual Property Department

Co-Leader, Autonomous Vehicle Group 248.566.8522

tappledorn@honigman.com

coverage, when available. His clients are often sophisticated and understand the value that intellectual property protection can confer; they also respect third-party intellectual property and routinely enlist Tom to audit their product offerings to identify, mitigate, and navigate through, and around, other parties’ intellectual property.

In the 20 years he has been with Honigman, Tom has become a close, trusted advisor when technology, data, privacy and other technical matters are at play.

In addition to the respect he has garnered from clients, he is also sought out and highly regarded by firm colleagues and lawyers outside of the U.S.

Areas of focus

Tom’s experiences range from the high technology of Silicon Valley to the automotive

Intellectual Property

companies of Detroit and elsewhere (OEMs and suppliers). He has experience

Patent

helping to merge these two cultures in the autonomous vehicle space, which can be challenging if the parties involved do not understand the cultural differences and underpinnings that drive the culture divide. Tom’s counseling and unique perspective can narrow that divide to yield a more productive conversation from the outset.

— Structures, writes, negotiates, and advises in commercial and transactional contexts to ensure that clients’ third-party relationships are practical and well structured (e.g., with regard to licensing [traditional IP, software, SaaS, PaaS, and the like], services, development, supply, partnership, ventures, investments, M&A, and the like), attending to all aspects of commercial agreements and technology transfers involving technology or intellectual property — Prosecutes patent and trademark applications — Provides clearance and noninfringement opinions as appropriate — Negotiates IP license agreements and technology transfers — Counsels clients regarding antitrust issues in corporate deals — Supports IP and antitrust litigation and the shaping of corporate policy relating to the foregoing

8

Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Representative Matters

Education

Currently serves as a trusted adviser

University of New Hampshire

to various Tier 1 suppliers in connection

Franklin Pierce School of Law, J.D.

with investments and developments in

cum laude; Merit Scholar;

technology directed to the autonomous

Robert Benson Scholar

vehicle space, including radar, lidar,

Germeshausen Center Newsletter, Editor

data security, the internet of things, information (ownership, collection and management), motors, engines, batteries, supply chain management, and the like

Stanford University, M.S. Mechanical Engineering University of Illinois, B.S. Mechanical Engineering with a

Served as IP advisor in the bankruptcy of

Bioengineering Option

a significant OEM automotive company

with high honors

Worked in the patent

University of Birmingham

department of EMC2

Birmingham, England

Designed and maintained high-level computer networks and other tools for a large-scale electrical supplier, customizing and adapting third-party software for integration within the supplier database

Professional & Community Involvement American Bar Association American Intellectual Property Law Association Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association Young Lawyer’s Association University of Michigan Alumni Association Phi Alpha Delta

Mechanical Engineering

Admissions U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Michigan

Performed engineering work involving various technologies and technological concepts, including: — computer programming: integration of computer hardware and

Awards The Best Lawyers In America Recognized in the practice areas of:

computer software, particularly

Copyright Law, 2025

operating system design

Patent Law, 2024-2025

— microelectronics: semiconductors

Trademark Law, 2020-2025

(principles and models of

IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading

development, integrated circuit

Patent Professionals, Recognized

technology, and fabrication)

as one of the World’s Leading

— electronic circuits: design and simulation of logic systems — signal processing: digital and analog signals and systems

Patent Practitioners, 2024 Michigan Super Lawyers, Recognized as Rising Star, 2012-2019 DBusiness, Top Lawyers, 2011-2013 and 2015

— image processing: advanced signal processing and simulation 9

Andrew Boes

Andy Boes is a partner in Honigman’s Intellectual Property Department and is a member of the firm’s Patent Group and Technology Transactions Group. He is a registered patent attorney and counsels his clients on a range of technologyrelated legal issues, ranging from patent preparation and prosecution to negotiation and drafting of complex intellectual property contracts. Regardless of the project, Andy brings a client-focused practical approach shaped by his time spent as a manufacturing engineer and years of technology-related legal experience.

Partner

Andy’s counsels clients in all areas of the patent lifecycle, including: collaborating with

248.566.8434

aboes@honigman.com

in-house legal and engineering teams to develop intellectual property workflows and policies; evaluating new design concepts for patentability, freedom-to-operate, and design-arounds; and preparation and prosecution patent applications in the United States and abroad. Over the course of his career, Andy has been integrally involved

Areas of focus

in evaluation and patent procurement for a wide range of mechanical and electrical

Intellectual Property

systems, including: fuel cell and battery technologies; mobile devices, applications,

Patent

and networks; HVAC systems; and consumer goods and footwear, among others.

As a member of Honigman’s Technology Transactions Group, Andy also advises clients in various types of transactions and relationships, including mergers and acquisitions, business-to-business and businessto-consumer licensing, and joint development agreements.

Prior Experience

Education

Fraser Clemens Martin & Miller,

University of Toledo College of Law, J.D.

Registered Patent Attorney, 2013-2017 Kinze Manufacturing, Legal Clerk, 2012

Distinction in Intellectual Property Law

General Dynamics Land Systems,

Kettering University, B.S.

Manufacturing Design Engineer, 2008-2011 Modine Manufacturing, Manufacturing Engineer, 2007-2008

10 Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Certificate of Concentration with

Mechanical Engineering Kappa Mu Epsilon Mathematics Honor Society Memberg

Admissions U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Michigan Ohio

Court Admissions U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

Awards The Best Lawyers in America Recognized in practice areas of: —Patent Law, 2023-2025 —Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2025

Professional & Community Involvement State Bar of Michigan Intellectual Property Law Section Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association

11

Timothy Bogel

Tim Bogel is a patent agent in the Intellectual Property Department. He has nearly 25 years of experience covering a variety of patent-related matters. During Tim’s over 20 year tenure at Honigman, he has taken the lead on a wide range of patent procurement tasks including: — drafting patent applications and prosecuting them before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO); — conducting a majority of the Intellectual Property Department’s patent searches in-

Patent Agent

house (rather than outsourcing patent searches to a third party vendor) by leveraging

248.566.8526

tbogel@honigman.com

a deep understanding of a fee-based patent search engine. These searches include: — patentability searches; — state of the art searches; and,

Areas of focus

Intellectual Property

— freedom-to-operate searches;

Patent

— leveraging the fee-based patent search engine for preparing patent watch alerts to monitor patent activity for providing clients with an advanced understanding of the competitive patent landscape; and — upon locating prior art references from the patent alerts, preparing Third Party Pre-Issuances Submissions that have contributed to the USPTO denying patent protection to a number of third party patent applicants seeking patent protection during the patent procurement process.

Furthermore, Tim’s experience is not limited to patent prosecution, as he has been a key participant in a number of patent litigation matters by: — leveraging the fee-based patent search engine in order to execute invalidity patent searches; and — preparing claim charts in view of the teachings of the uncovered prior art that was located during the invalidity searches.

Tim has also participated in many transactional matters by: — leveraging the fee-based patent search engine in order to confirm patent ownership of target entities during acquisitions.

12 Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Representative Matters

Prior Experience

Extensive mechanical and electrical arts

Rader Fishman & Grauer PLLC,

experience drafting and prosecuting

Patent Agent, 2001-2004, Patent

patent applications for clients in a

Engineer, 2000-2001

variety of industries, including:

Education — Mechanical Arts Lawrence Technological University, M.B.A. — Electro-Mechanical Arts

Business Administration with distinction

Extensive intellectual property

Lawrence Technological University, B.S.

experience including:

Electrical Engineering cum laude

— Offensive Patent Prosecution

Oakland University

{ Patent Application Preparation { Office Action Response Preparation

ABA Paralegal Certification

Admissions

{ Patentability Patent Searching { State of the Art Patent Searching { Freedom-to-Operate

Patent Searching — Defensive Patent Prosecution { Third Party Pre-Issuance

Submission Patent Searching { Third Party Pre-Issuance

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Professional & Community Involvement Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association (MIPLA), Member — Social Committee, Chair, 2006-2011 — Law School Liaison, Chair, 2011-2015

Submission Preparation — Patent Litigation { Invalidity Patent Searching { Claim Charting

— Transactional Matters { Patent Ownership Searching

13

John Chau

John Chau is an experienced patent attorney who advises clients on intellectual property matters and patent strategies. He counsels clients from a broad range of industries including automotive, medical device, and software. He specializes in intellectual property matters that intersect with Japanese and U.S. patent laws, and is involved as a member of the IP Practice in Japan Committee of the AIPLA. — Handles intellectual property matters for a tier-one Japanese automotive supplier, to include both the Japanese company and its U.S. engineering and research arms Partner

— Counsels clients on patentability, infringement, and freedom-to-operate matters

jchau@honigman.com

— Drafts and prosecutes patents relating to mechanical, electrical, and control

248.566.8484

systems technology for both the U.S. and Japanese patent office — Prepares and negotiates advanced OEM research agreements in

Areas of focus

support of R&D activity with universities and national laboratories

Intellectual Property Patent

— Represents clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) His counsel is not just limited to patent preparation and prosecution, but includes export control, licensing and joint development agreements with university and U.S. government laboratories. Prior to joining Honigman, John was seconded to the patent department of a Japanese automotive OEM.

14 Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Prior Experience

Admissions

Dinsmore & Shohl, LLP, Partner, 2016-2018

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Gifford Krass et al., Partner, 2007-2016

Michigan)

Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing

Awards

North America, Inc. In-house Counsel (Secondment) 2010-2013 United States Marine Corps, Executive Officer, Camp Pendleton, CA, 2001-2003

Super Lawyers Rising Star 2010 Blue and Gold Officer, United States Naval Academy Operation Iraqi Freedom Medal

Education Ave Maria School of Law, J.D. cum laude St. Thomas More Full-Tuition Academic Scholarship Best Oralist, St. Thomas More Moot Court Competition Vice President, Moot Court Board

Navy/Marine Corps Commendation Medal

Professional & Community Involvement Law Practice Management and Legal Administrators Section, State Bar of Michigan, Chair, 2017 Michigan State Bar Representative Assembly, 2016-current

United States Naval Academy, B.S. Control Systems Engineering Class Vice President, Honor Representative

15

Ryan Christiansen

Ryan is a registered patent attorney who focuses his practice on preparing and prosecuting patent applications. His experience as an automotive engineer enables him to serve clients with products relating to a wide range of automotive applications and other computer related technologies including speech processing, large language models (LLMs), artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and encryption.

Prior Experience Ford Motor Company, Chassis Associate

Controls Engineer; 2017-2020

rchristiansen@honigman.com

Gentex Corporation, Senior Electrical

248.566.8393

Design Engineer Intern; 2016 GHSP, Electric Engineering Intern; 2015

Areas of focus

Intellectual Property

Education

Patent

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, J.D. summa cum laude Dean’s Scholarship Michigan State University, B.S. Electrical Engineering

Admissions Michigan U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

16 Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Steve Criner

Steven Criner is an intellectual property attorney who brings over 5 years of engineering experience to his practice. Steven provides strategic counseling and guidance on domestic and international patent procurement strategies. He focuses his practice on patent preparation, prosecution, and ex parte appeals. Steven supports clients in various technology spaces, including electrical and mechanical devices, autonomous driving, vision systems, and software-based systems, among others.

Associate

248.566.8360

scriner@honigman.com

Prior Experience

Admissions

Honigman LLP, Technology Specialist

Michigan

and Summer Associate

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

McAndrews, Held & Malloy, Ltd., Summer Law Clerk

Areas of focus

Intellectual Property Patent

Progress Rail, A Caterpillar Company, Control Systems Engineer – Locomotive Controls (2019-2021) General Motors, Design Release Engineer – Air Delivery Group (2016-2019)

Education Chicago-Kent College of Law, J.D. Magna cum laude Order of the Coif Cali Award – Legal Analytics I Moot Court Honor Society, Vice President 2024 Hunton Andrews Kurth Moot Court National Championship Team, Third Best Brief, Quarter-Finalist Michigan State University, B.A. Electrical Engineering Dean’s List

17

Christopher DeLucenay

Chris DeLucenay is a patent attorney with more than 10 years of engineering experience in the avionics industry. He focuses his practice on patent preparation and prosecution in electrical, software, and hardware system fields. His experience includes serving industry-leading clients with a wide variety of technologies that include vision systems, encryption, cloud computing, and high-speed communications. In addition to traditional preparation and prosecution skills, Chris also has extensive experience with ex parte appeals and has drafted dozens of appeal briefs.

Partner

616.649.1922

cdelucenay@honigman.com

Prior Experience

Admissions

Gardner Linn Burkhart & Flory, LLP

Michigan

Associate, 2017-2018 GE Aviation, Advanced Lead Engineer/

Areas of focus

Technologist, 2011-2017

Intellectual Property Patent

Rockwell Collins

Education

The Best Lawyers in America,

magna cum laude Iowa State University, M.E. Computer Engineering Information Assurance Graduate Certificate Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, B.S. Computer Engineering University of Michigan, B.S. Neuroscience

IP Litigation

Western District of Michigan

Awards

Cooley Law School, J.D.

|

U.S. District Court for the

Electrical Engineer, 2005-2011

Western Michigan University Thomas M.

18 Honigman LLP

Court Admissions

Ones to Watch, 2025 Recognized in the area of Patent Law

Timothy Flory

Tim Flory is a registered patent attorney and a partner in Honigman’s Intellectual Property practice. He counsels clients on patent and trademark filing strategies. He is experienced in the procurement of mechanical, electromechanical, and process patents, as well as design patents.

— Manages significant patent portfolios — Prepares, files, and prosecutes patent and trademark applications Partner

— Handles inter partes review proceedings

tflory@honigman.com

— Advises on litigation matters

616.649.1924

Areas of focus

Intellectual Property Patent

Prior Experience

Awards

Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Flory,

The Best Lawyers in America

LLP, Partner, 2011-2018

Recognized in practice areas of:

VanDyke, Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP,

—Corporate Law, 2019-2023

Partner, 2005-2011; Associate, 1998-2004

—Patent Law, 2019-2025

General Motors Corp., Engineer, Cost

—Trademark Law, 2019-2025

Engineer, and Project Engineer, 1989-1995

—Copyright Law, 2024-2025

Education

Grand Rapids Copyright Law

University of Michigan Law School, J.D. Purdue University, M.S. Engineering

“Lawyer of the Year,” 2019 Grand Rapids Trademark Law “ Lawyer of the Year,” 2021, 2024 Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers

Michigan State University, B.S.

Recognized in the practice area

Mechanical Engineering

of Copyright Law, 2023

Admissions Michigan U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

19

Grant Griffith

Grant Griffith is a patent attorney who concentrates his practice on patent prosecution covering a wide range of technologies in the areas of: distributed storage systems (hardware and software), cloud computing, internet applications, electronics, cellular and optical networks, robotics, automotive, apparel, software, mechanical and electromechanical engineering. In addition to patent prosecution, he provides opinions for identifying potential infringers in competitive landscapes and advising on freedom to operate for new products.

Partner

248.566.8502

ggriffith@honigman.com

Areas of focus

Intellectual Property Patent

Prior Experience

Awards

Cichosz & Cichosz PLLC, Clerk

“Rock Star Attorney” award from

and Associate, 2009-2014

Google for patent portfolio work, 2021

Cantor Colburn LLP, Patent

IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading

Law Clerk, 2007-2008

Patent Professionals, Recognized as one of the World’s Leading

Education

Patent Practitioners, 2021-2024

Western Michigan University Thomas

Michigan Super Lawyers, 2020-2022

M. Cooley Law School, J.D. Michigan State University, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Professional & Community Involvement State Bar of Michigan

Admissions Michigan U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

20 Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Intellectual Property Law Section Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association

21

Brett Krueger

Brett Krueger is an intellectual property attorney with extensive experience counseling clients on identifying, evaluating, procuring, enforcing, and licensing intellectual property rights, as well as the avoidance of infringement risks. He is a co-leader of the Patent practice group.

Brett counsels clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups. He concentrates his practice on patent prosecution and opinions in the following areas: mechanical engineering; robotics; autonomous platforms (including mobility systems, Partner

Co-Leader, Patent Practice Group 616.649.1970

bkrueger@honigman.com

Areas of focus

navigation systems, and sensor systems); automation; artificial intelligence (AI); speech / natural language understanding (NLU); virtual assistants; medical devices; optical devices; software; internet applications; mobile devices; mobile communications; networking; and distributed systems (cloud computing - hardware and software).

— Manages client patent portfolios in the U.S. and worldwide

Intellectual Property Patent

— Assists clients in a wide range of intellectual property matters, including patent portfolio development, patent prosecution, trademarks, trade secrets, clearance and freedom-to-operate (FTO) studies, patentability searches, and intellectual property due diligence — Renders legal opinions on patent validity and/or patent non-infringement — Frequently provides intellectual property seminars and presentations to educate clients — Hands-on engineering experience in enterprise software development and in automated/robotic systems (hardware and software) — Worked for about eight years as an engineer designing and programming automated systems (mechanical, electrical, and software) and enterprise software systems — Worked at start-ups in Silicon Valley and understands the business perspective to intellectual property

22 Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Representative Matters

Prior Experience

Awards

Worked as an engineer for many years

Fish & Richardson P.C., Patent

IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading

before becoming a patent attorney, gaining

Attorney, 2005-2010

Patent Professionals, Recognized

a diverse set of technological experiences Worked as a mechanical engineer in the areas of machine automation and particle accelerators at companies, including IBM, Applied Materials, and Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory Worked as a software engineer at Incyte Genomics providing software solutions for machine automation and robotics

Patent Bar Review Institute LLC, Founder and President, 2003-2005 Krueger Technologies, Co-Founder and Partner, 1999-2000

as one of the World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, 2019-2024 Michigan Super Lawyers, Recognized as a Rising Star, 2013-2016 Michigan Lawyers Weekly, Recognized

Education

as an “Up and Coming” lawyer, 2012

University of New Hampshire

Professional & Community Involvement

Franklin Pierce School of Law, J.D. cum laude; Merit Scholar;

Worked as a senior software engineer at

Robert Benson Scholar

American Intellectual Property

Netflix providing information management

Germeshausen Center Newsletter, Editor

Law Association

Stanford University, M.S.

Michigan Intellectual Property

Mechanical Engineering

Law Association

systems, content management systems, and internet applications Co-founded a technology

University of Illinois, B.S.

company, where he:

Mechanical Engineering with a

—Developed automated systems (hardware and software) for DNA liquid handling and preparatory processes —Developed three-axis gantry systems using linear motors, servo motors, and stepper motors —Developed stepper motor board software solutions —Developed enterprise software solutions that allow scientists to create and execute automated experiments

Boston Patent Law Association

Bioengineering Option with high honors University of Birmingham Birmingham, England Mechanical Engineering

Admissions U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Michigan Massachusetts

23

Alex Knuth

Alex is a registered patent attorney that provides business-minded counseling at all stages of the patent lifecycle. His practice includes synthesizing invention disclosures from engineers and scientists, drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the U.S. and internationally, identifying IP portfolio growth opportunities, and evaluating patentability, freedom-to-operate, and infringement concerns.

Alex supports clients ranging from individual inventors to in-house legal teams at large corporations. His experience spans a variety of mechanical, electromechanical, and software-based technologies in the automotive, consumer

Associate

products, and data processing and storage industries, among others.

248.566.8308

aknuth@honigman.com

Prior Experience Hitachi Automotive Systems, Ltd.

Areas of focus

Education

Patent

University of Notre Dame Law School, J.D.

Intellectual Property

cum laude Journal on Emerging Technology, Senior Editor Intellectual Property and Entrepreneurship Clinic, Legal Internship Athletic Department, NCAA Compliance Externship Michigan State University, B.S. Applied Engineering

Admissions Michigan U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

24 Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Austin Miller

Austin Miller is an intellectual property attorney who focuses his practice on strategic counseling and guidance regarding intellectual property matters. Austin counsels clients on domestic and international patent procurement strategies. He focuses his practice on patent preparation and prosecution related to mechanical devices, manufacturing processes, and vehicle components. Austin also has experience in organizing and managing brand protection efforts for global brands.

Associate

248.566.8482

amiller@honigman.com

Areas of focus

Intellectual Property Patent

Prior Experience

Awards

Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Flory,

The Best Lawyers in America

LLP, Partner, 2011-2018

Recognized in practice areas of:

VanDyke, Gardner, Linn & Burkhart, LLP,

—Corporate Law, 2019-2023

Partner, 2005-2011; Associate, 1998-2004

—Patent Law, 2019-2025

General Motors Corp., Engineer, Cost

—Trademark Law, 2019-2025

Engineer, and Project Engineer, 1989-1995

—Copyright Law, 2024-2025

Education

Grand Rapids Copyright Law

University of Michigan Law School, J.D. Purdue University, M.S. Engineering

“Lawyer of the Year,” 2019 Grand Rapids Trademark Law “ Lawyer of the Year,” 2021, 2024 Grand Rapids Magazine’s Top Lawyers

Michigan State University, B.S.

Recognized in the practice area

Mechanical Engineering

of Copyright Law, 2023

Admissions Michigan U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

25

Max Mager

Max Mager focuses his practice on strategic counseling and guidance regarding intellectual property matters. He counsels clients on domestic and international patent procurement strategies. His technical background working as an engineer enables him to assist clients with mechanical, electromechanical and computer related technologies, particularly in the automotive industry.

Prior Experience Staff Attorney

General Motors, Global Propulsion

mmager@honigman.com

System Interface Validation Engineer

Systems Department, Propulsion

248.566.8454

Education Areas of focus

University of Detroit Mercy

Patent

cum laude

School of Law, J.D.

Intellectual Property

Fellows Award Scholarship International Intellectual Property Law Clinic Michigan Technological University, B.S. Mechanical Engineering Dean’s List

Admissions Michigan

26 Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Peter Melsa

Peter Melsa is a patent agent in the Intellectual Property department.

Peter has a broad range of knowledge and expertise in preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications for large and small companies, including Fortune 100 and 500 companies.

His practice areas have included 5G & cellular technologies, machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), data science, blockchain, business processes, insurance related technologies and processes, retail technologies, software, barcode scanners Patent Agent 616.649.1963

pmelsa@honigman.com

and related technologies, medical devices, communications, communication devices and systems, oil and gas operations, DNA optical sequencing systems, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), optics and optical systems, industrial process control systems, audience measurement, analog and digital circuits, small and large domestic appliances, consumer electronics, signal processing, virtual machines, medical imaging, and automated deployment of cloud-based computing systems.

Areas of focus

Intellectual Property Patent

Peter is also a named inventor on 23 granted U.S. patents.

Prior Experience

Education

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun

North Carolina State University, M.S.

LLP, Patent Agent

ECE - Communications/Signal

Hanley, Flight & Zimmerman,

Processing, Mathematics minor

LLC, Patent Agent

National Science Foundation (NSF)

Brake Hughes Bellermann

Graduate Studies Fellowship

LLP, Patent Agent

University of Notre Dame, B.S.

Whirlpool Corporation, Patent Agent

Electrical Engineering summa cum laude

Drinker, Biddle & Reath LLP, Patent Agent Texas Instruments Inc., Broadband Access Systems, Senior Systems

Admissions U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO))

Architect & Program Manager Tellabs Operations, Inc., Staff Research Engineer, Research Center

Awards Senior Member of IEEE in recognition of industry contributions in the areas of signal processing and communications Elected Senior Member of Technical Staff, Texas Instruments, 2001

27

Catherine Niedermaier

Catherine Niedermaier is an intellectual property attorney who focuses her practice on strategic counseling and guidance regarding intellectual property matters.

Catherine counsels clients on domestic and international patent procurement strategies, and prosecutes patents in a wide array of technologies.

Her technical background working as an engineer enables her to assist clients with mechanical, electromechanical and computer related technologies including Associate

speech processing, distributed storage systems (hardware and software), cloud

cniedermaier@honigman.com

graphical user interfaces, digital therapeutics, internet applications, cellular

computing, encryption systems, telecommunication and networking systems,

248.566.8306

and optical networks, automotive applications, apparel, and footwear.

Areas of focus

Intellectual Property Patent

Prior Experience

Admissions

Honigman LLP, Law Clerk, 2018-

Michigan

2020; Summer Associate, 2018

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Henkel Corporation, Senior Applications Engineer, 2017; Applications Engineer, 2014-2017; Engineering Intern, 2011 The Boeing Company, Engineering Technical Specialist 2, 2013-20140

Education Wayne State University Law School, J.D. cum laude; Order of the Coif; Silver Key Certificate University of Michigan College of Engineering, B.S. Industrial and Operations Engineering Dean’s list; University Honors

28 Honigman LLP

|

IP Litigation

Awards The Best Lawyers in America, 2024-2025 Recognized in the area of Patent Law, Ones to Watch, 2024-2025

29