James Kallis is an insightful patent attorney who provides his clients with high-quality intellectual property advice and a deep understanding of patent preparation and prosecution tasks. James focuses primarily on domestic and foreign patent prosecution and preparation. He has written over one thousand patent applications for applicants ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small niche companies to independent inventors. James also performs patent analysis in which he has written non-infringement and invalidity opinion letters and conducted a multitude of novelty and state-of-the-art studies. James has a great understanding of a wide array of patent office procedures from handling a multitude of different types of patent preparation and prosecution tasks. He is experienced in all aspects of U.S. patent prosecution including examiner interviews, appeals, petitions, reexaminations, and reissues. In addition to preparing and prosecuting his own patent applications, James is especially adept at prosecuting patent applications based on previously filed foreign patent applications. He regularly collaborates with foreign counsel in obtaining European, German, Chinese, Mexican, and Japanese patents. He has successfully obtained dozens of favorable patent application appeal decisions from the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences at the U.S. Patent Office. James appreciates the importance of patents to his clients and handles patent prosecution with this appreciation in mind. One patent that James prosecuted (U.S. Patent No. 6,785,825 relating to technology for reducing computer software piracy) was successfully enforced by Brooks Kushman P.C. along with another patent resulting in a $133 million jury verdict that was affirmed by the Federal Circuit (z4 v. Microsoft Corporation and Autodesk, Inc.). From this experience, James understands what it is like to be deposed and testify during a trial and to have patents scrutinized by opposing counsel and trial and appeal courts. James applies this unique perspective in his patent preparation and prosecution practice. James started his employment with Brooks Kushman as a law clerk while a full-time law student at Wayne State University. He then began practicing as an attorney with Brooks Kushman after passing the Michigan State Bar Exam.

Jeffrey Szuma is a registered patent attorney who specializes in patent prosecution and investigations, as well as post-grant proceedings including reexaminations and Inter Partes reviews. He has also been involved in both trial and appellate level patent litigation. Jeff received his M.S. degree in information systems & technology (computer information systems) and his B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of Michigan. He has three decades of experience as a patent attorney with Brooks Kushman, and during that time has helped to build the firm’s nationally recognized practice. Jeff has extensive experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications, investigating patent infringement and validity issues, and handling post-grant proceedings relating to a wide variety of computer and electrical technologies such as data storage and management systems, microprocessors, network services, data encryption, wireless communication, transducers, VoIP, interactive media services, and digital content delivery. He also has extensive experience with automotive related technologies for OEM and Tier I clients, including electrical subsystem control, information and entertainment systems, electrical connectors, battery monitoring, wireless communication systems such as tire pressure monitoring and remote entry systems, electric and hybrid vehicle subsystems, and autonomous vehicle systems. He also served for two years at Lear Corporation, a Tier I automotive supplier, as acting Division Intellectual Property (IP) Counsel for their Electronic Systems Division. In that capacity, he assisted in the operation and management of Lear's IP department and had a diverse array of responsibilities, including counseling management on strategic patent procurement, investigation, litigation, and budget matters. Jeff is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association, the Intellectual Property Law section of the State Bar of Michigan, and the Intellectual Property group of the Federalist Society. He is a past President of the Detroit Catholic Central High School Dads' Club and is active at Our Lady of Good Counsel Parish in Plymouth, Michigan.

John Rondini is a multi-faceted attorney with extensive knowledge in litigation, negotiating settlements, and licensing agreements. John’s practice includes representing clients in patent prosecution, litigation, and cyber security and data privacy matters. In recognizing the pending threat of cyber-incidents his clients may face, John has worked to help develop Brook Kushman’s Cybersecurity and Data Privacy group. John’s experience includes assessing a client’s current cybersecurity and data privacy protocols and developing a comprehensive incident response plan to ensure compliance with applicable laws. John also assists his client’s in determining the potential root cause of a breach and what type of notification may be necessary. John also has experience in addressing information and data security requirements for his clients during both vendor contractual or M&A transactions. John has also represented client’s litigation matters at the district court and appellate level, as well as, before the International Trade Commission. John has actively managed each stage of litigation from pre-suit pleadings through trial, and through appeal. John has also represented his client’s needs in negotiating settlements and licensing agreements. While representing one client’s litigation needs, John became involved in developing and growing Brooks Kushman’s Post-Grant Proceedings team. As a result, John was part of a team that handled 25 inter partes review proceedings that invalidated hundreds of patent claims being asserted against that client. John has also managed the patent prosecution docket for clients that range from Fortune 500 companies to individual inventors. John’s prosecution experience includes handling a patent application from an initial draft through allowance. Relying on his litigation and prosecution experience, John’s has also handled numerous patentability and clearance opinions on behalf of his clients. Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, John worked for nearly ten years as a hardware design and software engineer in the automotive and semi-conductor industries. This work provided John with invaluable experience that helps him further counsel his client’s intellectual property needs.

John LeRoy is a highly skilled litigation professional. He uses his electrical and mechanical engineering background, and two decades of intellectual property litigation experience, to represent his clients in high-tech legal disputes and complex licensing negotiations. John’s practice focuses on patent, trade secret and copyright litigation involving software, electronics, and mechanical systems. With over 20 years of experience, a Master’s degree in electrical engineering, and a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, he has successfully represented clients in many different industries. He focuses on efficiently resolving litigation disputes outside of the courtroom, leaving the jury trial as a “last resort.” And in the courtroom, John has won, and successfully defended against, multiple “$100+ million dollar” jury trials (and related appeals) involving complex technology and intellectual property claims. Leveraging his extensive software litigation experience, John leads the firm’s FRAND licensing and Open Source Software audit and compliance practice. With respect to FRAND licensing, John works with automotive OEMs and suppliers to address licensing standard essential patents for wireless communication technology. John also advises companies regarding effective use of open source software in their commercial products. He helps companies develop customized corporate policies and strategies for compliance with applicable open source license terms. John’s team manages source code audits and works closely with software developers and business managers to properly navigate the various open source license terms. John’s team has undertaken the audit-and-advice service on complex systems in the automotive, consumer electronics, medical device, and computer industries. John is devoted to his clients’ business interests. He brings a creative approach to his practice to solve the most complex issues his clients face. For example, John worked with several automotive companies to create the SmartDeviceLink Consortium, a thriving new organization of automotive companies managing an open source platform for communication between smart devices and automobiles. John is admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, Federal Circuit Court of Appeals, the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals, and the U.S. District Courts in the Eastern and Western District of Michigan, the Eastern District of Texas, the Western District of Wisconsin, and Colorado. John is also a registered patent attorney, and is authorized to practice before the U.S. Patent Office. John holds a Master’s Degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Buffalo, where he graduated cum laude. John’s background in both electrical and mechanical engineering allows him to handle patent cases involving many different technologies. John is a regular guest lecturer on Patent Fundamentals at the University of Michigan. John has also personally handled six pro bono civil actions, including a pro bono jury trial. Outside the office, John enjoys fishing and boating with his family in northern Michigan, playing ice hockey, and racing at the M1 Concourse. He is also a Pack Master for his local scout pack, which according to John, makes IP litigation look easy. Charities John regularly supports through donation and service include Alternatives for Girls, St. Jude, Gleaners Food Bank, and his local humane society.

Christopher Smith is a distinguished intellectual property attorney specializing in patent litigation, IP counseling, licensing, and patent and trademark prosecution, with extensive experience representing Fortune 500 companies and startups across diverse industries. Christopher Smith is a highly regarded intellectual property attorney, recognized for his work in IP litigation, especially in patent litigation. His practice encompasses patent and trademark prosecution and the preparation of complex invalidity and infringement opinions. In 2024, Chris was honored with the prestigious Law360 MVP Award, an accolade awarded to only six IP attorneys nationwide, highlighting his exceptional influence and impact within the IP law community. Chris is a registered patent attorney authorized to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He represents clients ranging from Fortune 500 companies to startups, leveraging a comprehensive understanding of industries including automotive (notably infotainment), medical devices, internet technologies (such as content delivery networks), and telecommunications (including fiber optics). Chris’s background in patent prosecution deepens his litigation acumen, enabling him to analyze patent file histories with precision, which is invaluable in shaping claim construction and invalidity arguments. His litigation success is rooted in both his technical expertise and extensive experience with trial teams, previously honed during his time at Kirkland and Ellis in Los Angeles. Chris is an active speaker at a number of major IP conferences, frequently sharing his insights on emerging issues in intellectual property law, offering valuable perspectives on cutting-edge topics and best practices. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Michigan and a J.D. from UCLA. His early judicial externship with the Honorable R. Gary Klausner in the Central District of California offered him a unique perspective on federal judiciary processes, which continues to inform his strategic approach in litigation. Outside the courtroom, Chris is dedicated to family and leisure pursuits, enjoying fishing, swimming with his kids, bowling, historical autograph collecting and working on his golf game.

Bryan Hart combines his technical expertise and litigation experience to provide clients with strategic, forward-thinking patent counsel that anticipates both opportunities and challenges across a wide range of industries and technologies. Bryan Hart practices all areas of patent law, specializing in preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the mechanical, electrical, and software arts. He excels at mastering complex technical information while maintaining the big picture and communicating key concepts in a comprehensible, concise, and persuasive manner. His applications have covered artificial intelligence, autonomous vehicles, machine vision, object tracking for collision avoidance, seatbelt assemblies, airbag assemblies and deployment, vehicle crash testing, additive manufacturing, and automobile frames, among other areas. Bryan has extensive experience in patent litigation. He has participated in cases in federal district court, investigations before the International Trade Commission, and inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. He has experience with a wide variety of technologies, including LTE (long-term evolution) standards, in-dash GPS units, textiles, enterprise storage systems, mobile-phone operating systems, lottery-ticket printing, hydraulic fracturing (fracking) equipment, lithium-ion battery packs, 2D-to-3D conversion software, cloud computing, content distribution networks, piston solid lubricants, and prosthetic knee replacements. His litigation experience helps him keep a patent’s ultimate potential outcome-enforcement-in mind throughout the prosecution process. Bryan is a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School, where he was an Articles Editor for the University of Chicago Review. He is also a graduate of the University of Michigan College of Engineering where he earned his B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering, highest honors. He also serves as the secretary for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee of the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) and as a member of the Diversity in IP Law Committee of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA). In his free time, Bryan enjoys reading X-Men comics and taking his daughter to the local children’s science museum.

Mike Brodbine is an Executive Committee member and serves as the co-chair of the firm’s Patent Prosecution Group. He has over 20 years of experience working with global corporations on the management of patent portfolios. He counsels clients on all aspects of intellectual property matters, focusing not only on the U.S. patent landscape but also providing a global view for his clients. Mike understands the importance of effective intellectual property strategy in today’s highly-competitive business environment. He helps clients develop effective IP strategies to secure and maintain patent right for their businesses to plan and move ahead. He often consults with management and corporate counsel to build understanding between the scientist and engineers and their companies` decision makers regarding the development, application, and potential impact of new technologies in the market and within the corporate patent portfolio. Mike also has extensive experience advising clients on commercialization activities and he routinely provides clearance, infringement, validity, and state-of-the-art opinions. He has filed and prosecuted thousands of U.S. and foreign patent applications on a variety of technologies including aerospace, display panel technology, chemical coatings, plastic packaging, PET bottling, catalysts, fabric treatment, building products, automotive interior and body components, and vehicle safety systems. Ongoing dialog with clients is very important to Mike. He takes a proactive approach to ensure that lines of communication are always open, clients are kept up-to-date on the status of a project, and questions and concerns that may arise are anticipated and answered. His close working relationship with clients has led him to serve on several of his clients’ patent review and investigation committees. He has also fulfilled the role of acting chief patent counsel for one of the firm’s larger clients. Mike is a strong advocate for continuing legal education. He leads the firm’s claim drafting class that trains Brooks Kushman patent attorneys at all levels. In addition to his internal efforts, he is also is an instructor for the Patent Resources Group patent workshops. The program is targeted toward those that have less than three years’ experience in drafting patent applications. The course is valuable for private or corporate practitioners with some patent experience who desire to polish their patent drafting skills. Mike is also an adjunct professor at a local law school.

John Halan is an IP litigator who has extensive knowledge in patent, trade secret, and related commercial litigation. John M. Halan has been practicing with the intellectual property law firm of Brooks Kushman P.C. since 1990, where he has been a shareholder for many years and is the head of the firm`s trade secrets group. As a litigator, he specializes in high-stakes intellectual property litigation, including patent, trade secret, and related commercial litigation. He has tried many cases as lead or team trial counsel and has also successfully argued cases before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He also has considerable experience handling various matters before the PTAB, including inter partes reviews and appeals. In addition to litigation, John has negotiated and prepared numerous intellectual property and commercial agreements, including patent and technology license agreements. He has also prepared many infringement and validity patent opinions and has been called upon to act as a patent dispute mediator. As a licensed professional engineer, prior to attending law school and joining Brooks Kushman, John managed a number of industrial construction projects from initial design through to completion.

James Proscia is a talented IP attorney with over 20 years of patent prosecution experience and degrees in chemistry, biotechnology, electrical engineering and physics. Jim, serving as the Chair of Brooks Kushman's Applied Physics Practice Group and Co-Chair of the Chemistry Practice Group, brings over 20 years of patent prosecution experience to the table. His degrees in chemical physics, physics, chemistry, electrical engineering, and biotechnology, coupled with his diverse expertise across a broad range of industries, make him a reliable and proficient professional. Jim's specialization lies in working with universities, where he represents technology transfer departments to protect and monetize their inventions. His unique background as a former adjunct professor and researcher equips him with deep knowledge of both sides of this relationship. He excels in collaborating closely with professors and scientists to draft and prosecute patent applications, leveraging his diverse educational background to work effectively on a wide range of technologies. Jim has substantial experience in various sub-fields of physics, including solid-state physics, optics, electricity and magnetism, mechanics, and atomic and molecular physics. His expertise extends to optical systems, medical resonance imaging, and image processing, as well as circuit design. He has drafted patent applications in areas related to photonic emission, Brillouin light scattering, the photoacoustic effect, single photon sources for scalable quantum optical circuits, parity-time (PT) symmetric wireless telemetric sensors and systems, and multi-spectral scattering-matrix tomography. His expertise also extends to solid-state physics, electricity and magnetism, mechanics, atomic and molecular physics, and optical communication. In addition to his physics expertise, Jim has a strong technical background in organic chemistry and has collaborated with clients in the chemical and pharmaceutical industries on small-molecule therapeutics, drug formulation and delivery technologies, and chemical process technologies. His patent prosecution and opinion work encompass medical and diagnostic devices and biotechnology. Specific examples include methods for treating diseases, diagnostic assays, biomarkers, pharmaceuticals, diagnostic agents, blood analysis methods, food processing techniques, and biofuel technologies. With nearly 20 years of laboratory experience before transitioning to patent law, Jim conducted extensive research in semiconductor films and modeled the optical properties of multilayer films. ‎Jim applies his considerable technical experience to the procurement of patents, both ‎foreign and domestic, and to assist in client counseling and patent portfolio management. His deep understanding of an inventor’s work language allows him to draw out the essential information required to obtain patents with excellence. In addition to preparing and prosecuting patent applications, Jim consults clients on developing patent portfolio strategies and preparing freedom to operate opinions, particularly in relation to the chemical and electrical arts. Jim has graduate degrees in chemical physics (Harvard), physics (Harvard), biotechnology (Johns Hopkins), and electrical engineering (Ohio University). His completed graduate courses include quantum mechanics, electromagnetic theory, statistical mechanics, and signal processing. Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Jim worked as a research scientist and technical specialist at a large automotive OEM for ten years. Over his career, he was awarded fourteen patents in thin film technologies and co-authored several scientific articles. Jim has also been an in-house patent attorney at Pfizer and an adjunct professor of chemistry at Wayne State University.

David Syrowik is an experienced patent attorney who takes a client-centered approach to his practice. David Syrowik never forgets the importance of the client in the attorney-client relationship. David welcomes any opportunity to bring inventors directly into the patent prosecution and opinion process, based on his belief that lawyers can learn a great deal from their clients. David takes on the role of student when working with clients, absorbing everything that they can teach him about their work and industry so he can better describe their inventions in patent applications and obtain the broadest possible protection. He also relishes the enthusiasm clients bring to their work, saying it is what makes his work so enjoyable. David takes a similar approach to working with patent examiners. He sees patent prosecutions as a win-win negotiation, not as an all-out battle with the US Patent and Trademark Office. He is willing to work for as long as it takes with patent examiners to gain the broadest possible protection for his clients. David has authored numerous scholarly articles in the emerging field of computer law. He also teaches on the subject as an adjunct professor at University of Detroit-Mercy Law School through the Intellectual Property Law Institute. David believes that these endeavors make him a better lawyer because they ensure that he stays at the cutting edge in intellectual property. David is committed to the idea that lawyers should give back to their communities and is active in numerous professional and civic organizations.