Matt Mietzel’s comprehensive experience provides him with an intuitive ability to advise his clients on the management and protection of their intellectual property through even the trickiest of legal situations. Matt has extensive experience in preparing and prosecuting domestic and international patent applications, primarily in the mechanical and electromechanical arts. Beyond patent prosecution, Matt also has experience in the preparation of validity and infringement opinions, trademark prosecution, licensing, IP due diligence, and litigation matters. “In my practice, I find that compared to other patent attorneys, I have more of a genuine understanding of my clients’ problems and struggles, enabling me to advise them authentically and work with them on a deeper level.” – Matt Mietzel Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Matt was an engineer in the automotive industry for over seven years. Whereas some engineers work solely in manufacturing or design, Matt gained experience in manufacturing, design, and research and development. Matt also has a deep understanding of the business needs of his clients, having earned a master’s degree in business administration. These experiences provide Matt with a strong foundation for advising clients on the management and protection of intellectual property. Matt was also a patent agent at a technology corporation where he learned first-hand about client expectations and how best to service clients. During his three years in that role, he prepared and prosecuted patent applications, led innovation workshops and patent design-around efforts, developed patent portfolio management strategies, and was involved in technology licensing matters. Matt has also served as acting in-house patent counsel for a Fortune 500 company managing a range of intellectual property matters. The combination of these diverse experiences provides Matt with an excellent understanding of the many aspects of intellectual property prosecution and intellectual property management. Outside of the office, Matt enjoys time with his family, hiking, and travelling.

Tiffany's practice involves counseling clients ranging from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups on intellectual property matters. Her practice centers on procuring domestic and foreign patents in mechanical and electromechanical matters, and coordinating international patent portfolios. In particular, she has experience representing clients and protecting intellectual property rights in automotive technologies (including engine, drivetrain, powertrain, hybrid vehicle, and vehicle controls), aviation technologies, alternative energy, optics, and consumer products including personal care products, among others. Tiffany additionally has extensive experience in design patent prosecution. Tiffany’s practice also focuses on counseling clients regarding patentability investigations, infringement and freedom to operate analyses, and the negotiation and preparation of various intellectual property agreements, including licensing agreements and joint development agreements. She received her doctorate in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan with a focus in the thermal fluid sciences and an interdisciplinary thesis in combustion and materials science. She was a recipient of the prestigious National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship funded by the Department of Defense. After graduating, Tiffany was an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Drexel University for three years where she established a laboratory conducting federally funded research and taught courses in the thermal fluid sciences and engineering design sequences. At Michigan and Drexel, Tiffany's research involvement included: flame synthesis and materials analysis of nanomaterials for bio- and sensor applications, catalytic ignition of oxygenated fuels for microcombustors, in situ diode laser diagnostics in a flame environment, and chemical kinetic modeling of silane combustion. Tiffany has presented at numerous technical conferences, published twelve refereed articles, actively mentored students through both university and federally sponsored programs, and served on federal grant funding panels. She was awarded $850,000 as primary/senior investigator and an additional $1,300,000 as senior personnel on government funded research. Tiffany’s interdisciplinary background, as well as her experiences and successes in the scientific and academic communities, enable her to build relationships and connect with inventors to understand and protect advanced and emerging technologies. Tiffany is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, a member of the Michigan State Bar, and admitted to the Federal District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan. Tiffany is an adjunct professor at the University of Michigan in the College of Engineering where she currently teaches patent law in the Center for Entrepreneurship. Tiffany believes that teaching results in a deeper understanding of the subject matter, and also allows for her continued involvement in STEM education. Tiffany serves on the executive board for the Women in IP Committee for the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and also chairs their Presence and Branding Sub-Committee. In her personal time, Tiffany enjoys sailboat racing, travel, and photography, and is a licensed sailplane pilot.

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.

Hope Shovein is a skilled trademark attorney who works hard to ensure her clients receive the best guidance on intellectual property matters. Hope Shovein focuses her practice on the procurement and enforcement of trademark rights. Hope`s work encompasses trademark clearance searches and opinions, prosecuting trademark applications, managing domestic and international trademark portfolios, drafting and negotiating agreements, preparing and responding to cease and desist letters, and representing clients in opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, as well as litigation. Hope specializes in helping clients enforce their rights in any medium, including the unauthorized use of trademarks and copyright protected material in website content, online ads, spam, social media, online marketplaces and auction sites. She handles notice and takedown complaints under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act and has successfully represented clients in arbitration proceedings under ICANN`s Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy and other alternative dispute resolution policies. Hope also has experience with administrative agencies such as the FDA and CPSC with respect to product review and clearance. Online enforcement is a key strength of Shovein, although she also excels in brand management - World Trademark Review 1000 Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Hope worked in the intellectual property department of a major automotive company, where she gained a valuable background in domestic and international trademark law. Hope`s in-house legal experience has given her valuable perspective into providing clients with cost-effective and targeted legal service. She uses this perspective to assist clients across a range of industries on intellectual property matters.

Marc is the Co-Chair of Brooks Kushman's intellectual property litigation practice. He has been instrumental in building, developing, and growing the team. Throughout his career, Marc has successfully tried patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright cases in Federal Courts nationwide. Marc has successfully argued appeals before the Federal Circuit including a leading decision on 101 jurisprudence, Ancora Techs., Inc. v. HTC Americas, Inc., 908 F.3d 1343 (Fed. Cir. 2018). Marc, as lead counsel, has also been prevailed in several investigations as both Complainant and Respondent in the International Trade Commission. Marc has extensive litigation experience from jury selection; presenting opening statements; examining (direct and cross) fact and expert witnesses; giving closing arguments; conducting Markman hearings; successfully arguing preliminary injunction motions; drafting successful discovery briefs, claim construction briefs, summary judgment briefs, and appeal briefs; managing electronic discovery activities; coordinating large document productions; and negotiating settlement, licensing and acquisition agreements. Marc’s current practice includes experience with Post-Grant Proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He has counseled clients in over 50 proceedings, and these proceedings continue to play major role in his patent litigation strategy. Marc has also been involved in several re-examination requests and the associated prosecution relating to patents in litigation. Marc graduated from the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law in 2001. Marc was the valedictorian of his graduating class and was an editor of the Law Review. Marc has a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan, and an undergraduate degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Notre Dame, where he graduated magna cum laude. Marc’s degrees and work experience in both mechanical and chemical engineering allow him to handle cases involving many different technologies. Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Marc Lorelli was a patent agent at an automotive corporation. During his three years in that role, he gained extensive experience in preparing and prosecuting chemical, mechanical and electrical patent applications. Marc understands how to meet his clients’ patent prosecution needs, since he was a client himself. Marc learned first-hand about client expectations and how best to service clients. This experience is invaluable to Marc’s current practice, which involves a great deal of client counseling in both prosecution and litigation matters. Outside of the office, Marc enjoys family ski vacations out west, but otherwise stays busy with his three daughters who all play hockey. Marc plays hockey himself, and tries to catch the occasional round of golf in what little free time he has.

Sangeeta serves as the firm’s Chief Executive Officer and has over 20 years of experience. Her practice includes all aspects of intellectual property litigation, prosecution and counseling, with a special focus on post-grant challenges and patent opinions. She represents several Fortune 500 clients for whom she provides strategic counseling and guidance on their global intellectual property portfolios. Sangeeta has handled numerous patent, trade secret, trademark, and unfair competition cases involving parties in the chemical, software, automotive and metallurgical industries on such matters as injection molded polyethylene terephthalate bottles, polymer reinforcements, magnetic storage devices, emission testing equipment, touch controlled switching circuits, compression molded doors, chemical vapor deposition processes and cutting tools. She has also litigated design patent and copyright infringement cases in such diverse areas as architectural building designs, automotive parts and consumer products. Sangeeta does an immaculate job of breaking down complex patent law and technology concepts and relates well with other people. She is highly proficient, responsive and committed. – IAM Patent 1000 In view of the breadth of her experience in both prosecution and litigation matters, Sangeeta is the Co-Chair of Brooks Kushman's Post Grant practice group and she is nationally recognized for her experience. She leads teams to challenge and defend patents using the post-grant challenges available in the wake of the America Invents Act. She is at the forefront of this changing landscape and its implications and works closely with clients to take proactive steps to obtain competitive advantage from an adversarial and patent procurement standpoint. Sangeeta has been instrumental in building the Post Grant practice group at Brooks Kushman. She is frequently called upon to counsel clients in developing best practices and strategic planning of their patent portfolios, including writing successful patent applications in complex and novel situations, in anticipation of possible future litigation. She works closely with clients from the earliest stages of their technical development, offering valuable advice about how to protect their inventions and new ideas in view of their business strategies. She advises clients on multi-faceted patent clearance, and adversarial matters and works with technical and legal teams to develop invalidity arguments and design around solutions to bolster her clients' positions. Through her opinion and prosecution practice, Sangeeta has extensive experience with chemical and mechanical technologies, in the areas of catalysts, food science, packaging, analytical instrumentation, dietary supplements, diagnostic kits, adhesives, plastics, therapeutics and metallurgy. A growing component of her work revolves around India. She has represented U.S. companies going into India, and Indian companies doing business in the U.S. to help obtain and protect global intellectual property assets. Prior to becoming CEO, Sangeeta served as the firm’s Chief Diversity Officer. Through her efforts, she created a culture of diversity and inclusiveness within the firm and extend the firm`s reach through pipeline initiatives and outreach efforts. Prior to this position, she also managed human resources for Brooks Kushman for over 10 years. She has been recognized as one of the Top 50 Women in PTAB Trials in 2019, a 2009 “Women Worth Watching,” a “Top Lawyer” by DBusiness and is a 2012 “Women in the Law” awardee. She has spoken at several business and legal conferences on a variety of intellectual property topics at the IP Leadership Forum, Global IP Convention, the Women Lawyer`s Association of Michigan, State of Bar Michigan, Intellectual Property Division, the Association of Press Photographers, the American Society of Engineers of Indian Origin, and TiE. Sangeeta's spare time is dedicated to community outreach. In 2012, she founded an early literacy initiative, Retooling Detroit, that assists hundreds of Detroit public school children each year—ensuring that their reading skills improve so that the cycle of illiteracy and poverty can be broken one child at a time. She is also actively involved in the Isha Foundation and its global environmental, education and health initiatives which focus on the use of meditation as a transformative tool for change.

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.

Dondi R. Vesprini earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology in 1996 from Oakland University with a minor in Sociology. He earned his Juris Doctor degree in 1999 from the University of Detroit – Mercy School of Law where he was on the Moot Court Board of Directors, represented the law school in national moot court competition, and was a member of the St. Thomas More Society. He is admitted to practice law in the State of Michigan, the United States District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan, the United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan, and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio. Prior to joining Buckfire & Buckfire, Dondi worked for 11 years as a trial attorney for the Law Offices of Lawrence S. Katkowsky, P.C., which specialized in motorcycle accidents. Previously, Dondi worked for the Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office for two years where he tried felony drug cases and also worked on criminal appeals. Dondi has recovered millions of dollars in verdicts and settlements for his injured clients and specializes in issues affecting motorcyclists such as motorcycle accidents, roadway defect accidents, and Michigan No Fault claims. He also litigates wrongful death, automobile negligence, slip and fall, dog bite attacks, and other personal injury matters. In addition to trial work, he has also argued cases in front of the Michigan Court of Appeals, the Michigan Supreme Court and the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit in Cincinnati, Ohio. Dondi’s advocacy extends beyond the courtroom as he proposes legislation and meets with the Governor’s office, legislators and lobbyists regarding legislation affecting injured motorcyclists and non-motorcyclists alike, including but not limited to the Michigan motorcycle helmet law and fighting to preserve Michigan’s No Fault system and the benefits it provides to injured people. He recently drafted an amendment to MCL 500.3114, which was formally introduced as House Bill 4809 on May 6, 2021.

Sheldon L. Miller has defended the rights of Michigan residents as a top litigator and expert counsel for more than 40 years. Mr. Miller graduated from Wayne State University Law School in Detroit, Michigan, in 1961. In 1971, he originated the idea for what is called "mediation" in the state of Michigan. As a pioneer in this area of law, Mr. Miller was asked to form a committee to put the concept into rule form. He also served as the first mediator on behalf of the Plaintiff's Bar in the State of Michigan. In 1979, Mr. Miller served as president of the newly founded Mediation Tribunal Association, a non-profit corporation, formed to oversee the mediation process in Wayne County ( Detroit ). He served as president until 1992. With the Association of Trial Lawyers of America (ATLA), Mr. Miller served as a former vice-president, parliamentarian and secretary, and he was also president of the Detroit chapter of the ATLA. He also received the prestigious Champion of Justice award from the ATLA in 1998, and he has served on the Board of Governors of the ATLA since 1977. Mr. Miller served as president of the Michigan Trial Lawyers Association (MTLA) and also received the Champion of Justice award from the MTLA. As a trial lawyer, Mr. Miller introduced new concepts to the legal community. In Placek v. City of Sterling Heights, he served as trial and appellate counsel and brought pure comparative negligence to Michigan. This case was cited 13 times by the Illinois Supreme Court when it threw out contributory negligence and adopted comparative negligence as the standard. Mr. Miller is a frequent lecturer and author on trial strategies and also teaches trial practice as an adjunct professor of law. Mr. Miller's other accomplishments include testifying on Federal No-Fault before the U.S. Congress, founding Trial Lawyers for Public Justice, and authoring several well-received legal articles. Mr. Miller was profiled in the books The Million Dollar Lawyers and Detroit's Powers and Personalities, and he was also rated by the New York Law Journal as "one of the top tort litigators in the United States." To find out more about Sheldon L. Miller or any of our other personal injury lawyers, contact our firm near Detroit today.

Andrew R. Kravis, Esq. is an attorney licensed to practice in Michigan, New York and New Jersey. He is the CEO of Kravis & Wurgaft, P.C., a full service boutique law firm he founded in 2013. He is a graduate of Seton Hall University School of Law and received a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from The University of Southern California. Andrew’s law practice focuses on corporate, real estate, non-profit, litigation and intellectual property law.