Mark Cantor specializes in trademark litigation and has tried various cases involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights. Mark is one of the founders of the firm and has been with the firm as a Shareholder since 1983. He has over 35 years of IP litigation experience. He has extensive experience in dealing with complex litigation matters in all technology areas and has tried cases relating to patents, trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights in state and federal courts and administrative tribunals throughout the country and in a number of international forums. Mark takes a special interest in his client’s IP goals by understanding how their strategies align with their business interests. He creates tailored strategies by understanding the commercial realities and working on a plan of action that is cost-effective but still provides an enforceable competitive edge for the client. Mark is specifically recognized for his trademark litigation practice. Due to his success in this field, several of Brooks Kushman’s largest clients look to Mark for trademark enforcement matters. He has also been recognized by many of the industry’s leading publications for his in-court victories, including obtaining the largest trademark jury verdict in Michigan history. Mark has handled inter partes administrative proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the International Trade Commission. Mark has been extremely active in a number of cases involving insurance coverage in intellectual property cases, to try and reduce the cost of litigation to the client. In addition to specializing in IP litigation, Mark also has a particular skill for negotiating business focused resolutions. Mark has a knack for developing creative solutions to resolve seemingly intractable disputes by fashioning a settlement based on business realities. Additionally, Mark has an active practice advising clients on the acquisition, management and licensing of intellectual property. He has worked with many clients to develop a management strategy to enable clients to accurately and efficiently manage and monetize their intellectual property portfolios. Mark served as President of the firm from 2007-2018. He has also served as General Counsel of the firm for over two decades and continues in that role today.

Reza Roghani Esfahani is an IP litigation professional with a background in mechanical and chemical technologies. Reza's practice concentrates on intellectual property litigation, with a focus on patent litigation involving a wide range of technologies including mechanical, chemical, and pharmaceuticals. Reza also has experience in the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications as well as intellectual property due diligence. Reza earned his Bachelor’s and Master's of Chemical Engineering at the University of Michigan. While pursuing his engineering degrees, Reza worked on projects directed at breast cancer therapy, live cell delivery, and the development of small molecule inhibitors of a human protein implicated in thrombosis. Additionally, Reza helped fabricate and functionalize microfluidic devices for isolating circulating tumor cells. Reza also has experience working on petroleum projects. In particular, his projects were directed toward the investigation of the aggregation kinetics of crude oil components. Reza holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Michigan. For two years, Reza taught a senior-level Chemical Engineering course at the University of Michigan as a graduate student instructor. During his time at the University of Michigan, Reza was an active member of student organizations such as the Honor Society of Chemical Engineers and the Intellectual Property Student Association.

Erin Bowles is an experienced patent attorney with a well-rounded background in counseling domestic and international clients. She applies her industry experience and expansive understanding of mechanical, material and electrical technologies to her practice. Erin's practice involves counseling domestic and international clients from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies on their intellectual property portfolios, with a focus on obtaining domestic and foreign patents and handling patent prosecution procedures. Her practice also includes patentability investigations, infringement and right-to-use analysis, and intellectual property transactions and licensing agreements, trademark, trade dress, and copyright issues. Erin has an expansive understanding of various mechanical and electromechanical technologies. In particular, she has experience representing clients and protecting intellectual property rights in the alternative energy, medical device, automotive technology, optics and lighting, aviation technology, and personal care product industries, among others. Erin brings nearly a decade of engineering experience to her law practice. During this time, Erin gained technical experience in a broad range of positions including product design, manufacturing, program management and technical sales. These experiences provide Erin with an expansive understanding of broad range of technologies such as solar power, plastic injection molding, and complex automotive sensors and control systems. While working for major international companies, Erin's involvement extended beyond daily engineering activities and crossed international boundaries. For example, Erin managed the development of advanced components from a network of global facilities and coordinated with foreign subsidiaries to design and manufacture products for international programs. Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Erin worked at an intellectual property firm, as well as in the legal department of an automotive original equipment manufacturer. She also studied international patent law at the Max Plank Institute in Munich. While in Munich, Erin learned about the patent process at the European Patent Office and met with the intellectual property departments of several international companies. This combination of diverse experiences provides Erin with an excellent understanding of the many aspects of intellectual property. Moreover, Erin's experience gives her insight into the intellectual property management challenges for both domestic and international companies in today`s global marketplace. When she is not at the office, you are most likely to find Erin on the water paddle boarding, waterskiing, wake surfing, kiteboarding, or pretty much any water sport. She also enjoys travelling, and her goal is to visit a new country every year.

Christopher Francis is an experienced intellectual property attorney specializing in patent and trademark portfolio management, patent prosecution, and strategic IP counseling for clients across diverse industries. Christopher Francis is a skilled intellectual property attorney with extensive experience in preparing and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications. He provides comprehensive counsel to clients on all aspects of intellectual property matters, including strategically developing and managing patent and trademark portfolios that align with a client’s business objective and product lines. Chris also supports clients with intellectual property due diligence investigations during mergers and acquisitions. Chris has a broad technical background, having prepared and prosecuted mechanical, software, and electrical patent applications in numerous technologies and industries. He also advises clients on complex patent matters, including freedom to operate investigations, infringement, validity opinions, and product design strategies to navigate around existing patents. His expertise includes aligning intellectual property strategies with a client’s business goals, a skill he honed during his tenure at a Metro-Detroit general practice law firm. Before pursuing his legal career, Chris was an engineer at General Motors, gaining valuable industry experience. He holds a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University Law School and a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University College of Engineering. In his free time, Chris enjoys outdoor activities with his wife and children including backpacking, fishing, hunting, canoeing, and coaching youth baseball.

Bill Conger is a patent prosecutor who is passionate about working with his clients and making extensive efforts to understand their inventions and technologies. As a patent lawyer and Co-Chair of Brooks Kushman's chemical practice, Bill instills trust and confidence in his clients. His clients know that they can rely on him to make important decisions that keep their best interests at heart at all times. When there are several alternative paths that can be taken, Bill is skilled at recognizing the one that makes the most business sense for his client. Bill makes extensive efforts to understand his client`s technology and their business goals, making frequent client visits, and even occasionally working on-site for extended periods. Bill works directly with inventors so that he can fully understand their inventions and maximize the scope of all related patents. As a result of his effectiveness and creativity, he has twice been named as a co-inventor on patents. Based on his experience as a former Director of Patents for BASF, Bill developed an extensive international practice, assisting foreign clients in filing applications for inventions first filed in other countries. Bill`s experience allows him to finesse the originally-filed foreign application to obtain the broadest possible protection in the United States, to reduce costs to the client, and to shorten prosecution as well. Bill also takes great pleasure in drafting original patent applications. He likens the process to writing the great American novel because it allows him to weave together a compelling persuasive argument that leaves the audience with enough information to understand the story being told, without encouraging them to start a new one. When not involved with technology or IP issues, Bill enjoys tennis, boating, and hunting for precious gemstones in various areas of the country, particularly the West and Northwest."

Stephanie M. Mansfield, Ph.D. is a registered patent agent with a focus on the biomedical and mechanical arts. Stephanie Mansfield is a registered patent agent with over 25 years of experience in drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the biomedical and mechanical arts, with particular emphasis in the areas of medical, orthopedic, and biomechanical devices, surgical instruments, tissue engineering, audio equipment, and consumer products. For example, Stephanie has drafted patents many directed to joint prostheses, engineered tissues, drug-delivery devices, and consumer products which have been enforced or licensed, some for multi-million dollar sums. Stephanie’s multi-disciplinary doctoral research combined the areas of muscle physiology, biomechanics, plastic surgery, and cell biology. She has found that her scientific background and prior research experience create an instant rapport with many inventors, especially medical doctors and scientists. In addition to patent preparation and prosecution for her clients, Stephanie’s practice includes patentability searches and evaluations, competitor patent and technology monitoring, technical design and product development consulting, technical support for freedom to operate opinions, and all aspects of domestic and foreign portfolio management. Stephanie works with clients of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 corporations, to hospitals, universities and research institutions, to smaller start-ups and individual physicians. She has developed client relationships where she is involved in the early stages of a client's product development cycle, where this access allows her to assist clients with decisions regarding new product directions based on her investigation and understanding of current patents and competitors in a particular field. Stephanie finds that responsiveness to a client's intellectual property needs, whatever those may be, is a key factor in maintaining a solid client relationship, as well as being able to anticipate a client's future requirements and proactively provide solutions.

Yasmeen Moradshahi is a driven patent attorney with a focus on electrical and mechanical engineering, combining hands-on technical experience with a strong foundation in intellectual property law. Yasmeen Moradshahi is a dedicated patent attorney specializing in patent prosecution and litigation with a focus on electrical and mechanical engineering, particularly in the automotive sector. She brings a wealth of hands-on experience from her time working at a major automotive company, where she contributed to the manufacturing controls simulation lab, diesel launch team, and patent profiling in the IP department. Before joining Brooks Kushman as an attorney, Yasmeen spent three years as a Technical Specialist with the firm, building a strong foundation in intellectual property law. She earned her Juris Doctor from Detroit Mercy School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Kettering University. Outside of her legal practice, Yasmeen enjoys reading, baking, traveling, weightlifting, and practicing Pilates.

Abdulai Rashid is a skilled attorney with experience in the biomedical and automotive industries. Abdulai Rashid focuses his practice on patent prosecution and litigation in the biomedical and automotive fields. He has experience in contract drafting for trademark applications, as well as aiding clients with turning their ideas into businesses or patentable inventions. Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Abdulai gained extensive experience in dispute resolution after founding Penn State Law’s Alternative Dispute Resolution Program. During this time, he coordinated 20 students through 8 competitions in negotiation and mediation. He also participated in the Penn State Law Intellectual Property Clinic in which he was responsible for connecting the Pennsylvania community to counsel and resources to drive businesses and link them to various invention development centers and opportunities. Abdulai holds a Juris Doctor from Penn State Law School. He also received a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Central Methodist University. Outside of the office, Abdulai enjoys weightlifting, yoga, running, and building figurines.

Brett J. Smith has a decade of experience securing domestic and foreign patents for clients ranging from small startups to large U.S. and global corporations. In addition to patent preparation and prosecution, he regularly conducts patentability investigations and infringement and freedom-to-operate analyses. He also negotiates and prepares intellectual property agreements, including licenses, joint development agreements, confidentiality agreements, and other types of commercial agreements involving IP. Brett counsels clients on privacy matters, advising on GDPR requirements and various state consumer privacy laws. His diverse practice includes IP litigation and patent post-issuance proceedings, providing clients with a full range of patent portfolio management tools. He has assisted in representing clients through all phases of litigation, from discovery to trial. Brett works with clients across a variety of technical fields, including automotive technologies, commercial vehicles, aviation technologies, robotics manufacturing, medical devices, garage door systems, irrigation products, packaging, consumer products, electronic products, acoustic devices, industrial systems, information technology, and agricultural machinery. Brett is committed to understanding each client’s business, allowing him to tailor his approach to their specific needs and help them achieve their business goals.

Charles Bieneman specializes in patent prosecution, counseling, and opinions for clients across industries such as automotive, telecommunications, and aerospace. Charles Bieneman is a seasoned intellectual property attorney specializing in patent prosecution, counseling, and opinions for clients in industries such as automotive, telecommunications, and aerospace. With a career spanning technical, legal, and managerial roles, Charles brings a multifaceted approach to providing comprehensive intellectual property strategies. Charles spent the early part of his career as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, where he examined claim inventions in the areas of computer software, databases, and the World Wide Web. This foundational experience gave him an in-depth understanding of the patent examination process and the inner workings of the USPTO. Building on this, Charles held management positions with two computer software companies where he developed extensive expertise in software development, project management, and consulting, equipping him with a strong technical acumen and practical insights into product development and innovation. In addition, Charles also gained experience as an attorney with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Washington, D.C. office of a national law firm. Charles graduated cum laude from the University of Michigan Law School where he was a Note Editor on the Michigan Law Review. He is also a graduate of the University of Maryland with a B.S. in Computer Science as well as a B.A. from St. John’s College in Sante Fe. In his free time, Charles likes hiking, cooking, and reading.