Michael A. Essien is a Principal and Counsel with the Essien Law Office, practicing intellectual property law with a focus on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and e-commerce. Mr. Essien’s background includes both corporate and law firm experience. He is a patent attorney and supports his clients’ needs for patents, trademarks, opinions, copyrights, strategic planning, e-commerce, technology transfer agreements and client counseling regarding corporate and intellectual property protection. He is an international intellectual property consultant supporting research institutions in Africa. Mr. Essien supports businesses in entity formation and selection, agreements and licensing issues, including litigation management. He also supports several non-profit organizations as their legal counsel, assisting them on legal issues, including organization and IRS recognition. Mr. Essien is admitted to practice in the State of Minnesota, before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and is a member of Ramsey County Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association, American Bar Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association and the Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers. He frequently speaks on Intellectual Property Law and related issues and is an Adjunct Professor at Concordia and Strayer Universities. Prior to entering the practice of law, Mr. Essien worked for several years as a quality, process and new product development engineer at 3M. He is a named inventor on two issued US patents. He has extensive experience in adhesives, film technology, process engineering and start-ups. Mr. Essien received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma. His J.D. is from William Mitchell College of Law where he was a member of the Law Review. Mr. Essien was the recipient of the William Mitchell Alumni Association Student Award of Merit for exceptional contributions to the College. He volunteers with several organizations, is a board member of VOOM Foundation and Books for Africa and President of Association of Nigerian Engineers in Minnesota (ANEM).