Joseph M. Lafata

Mr. Lafata's practice focuses on helping clients establish and maintain their intellectual property programs, including developing corporate intellectual property policies, patent filing strategies, and trade secret protection strategies. Mr. Lafata conducts audits and prepares opinions, concerning patent infringement, enforceability, and validity. He also drafts and negotiates license agreements for domestic and international patent transfer, technology, and other intellectual property rights.

He has prepared and successfully prosecuted numerous patent applications, including performing complex prosecution before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, including petitions, appeals, protests, and reissues. Other skills include comprehensive intellectual property infringement and validity analyses for pre-litigation investigations and litigation proceedings.

Mr. Lafata represents a wide range of well-established and emerging companies in all facets of intellectual property in the electrical, electro-mechanical, and mechanical arts. He has experience in many diverse areas of technology, including telecommunications, digital and analog circuitry, power generation, power regulation, computer software, passenger and utility vehicles and applications, and turf care equipment.

Education

J.D., University of Michigan
B.S. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, cum laude, University of Michigan

Professional Affiliations

• American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Michigan Bar Association, Computer Law Section
• Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association