John understands that a client's ultimate goal when investing in intellectual property is gaining a business and competitive advantage. He learns his client's business and then draws on his practical, technical, and business experience to counsel them on the strategic development and use of intellectual property rights.
A senior partner at Merchant & Gould, John practices patent law with an emphasis on client counseling. His practice includes patent prosecution, the strategic and practical development and use of patent portfolios, licensing, due diligence studies, and infringement and validity investigations. He also enjoys educating clients and mentoring developing attorneys.
John brings diverse technical experience to clients in the electrical, software, and mechanical arts. Examples of industries in which John has counseled clients include medical devices, instrumentation, metering, printing, information systems, software platforms, digital rights management, automotive equipment, and micro-electronics. Prior to law school he gained mechanical experience at Center Corporation and General Motors.
In addition to his legal practice, John serves on the Board of Directors and as Corporate Secretary for R&M Mfg. Co. He also sits on the boards for several non-profit organizations.
John is married with two boys. He spends a lot of time cheering for his kids at hockey games and helping them with homework. He has a wide range of interests from music to the arts to athletics and the outdoors.