Chloe Conway is an insightful trademark attorney who helps her clients strengthen their brand identities by safeguarding their intellectual property. Her practice focuses on trademark and copyright clearance, prosecution, and enforcement. She works with clients in a variety of industries, including technology, entertainment, consumer products, sports, and hospitality.She regularly performs trademark clearance searches and prepares trademark applications, drafting identifications of goods and services and responding to office actions. She also prepares cease and desist letters and files opposition proceedings for enforcement of existing trademark rights. Chloe is also a team member of the firm’s due diligence practice and focuses on preparing trademark-related agreements, such as licensing agreements, confidentiality, non-disclosure, and settlement agreements. Chloe has experience serving as an extern at Michigan State’s Center for Ani-Counterfeiting and Product Protection (A-CAPP Center), a judicial intern for Judge Darlene O’Brien at Washtenaw County Trial Court, and a clerk for a boutique intellectual property firm. Chloe holds a Juris Doctor from Michigan State University, magna cum laude, where she was a Managing Editor for the Michigan State Law Review. Chloe has also attended Miami University to earn her Bachelor of Science in Business Marketing and a Bachelor of Science in Zoology. When she is not working, Chloe likes to spend time outdoors hiking, running, boating, skiing, and playing in rec sports leagues. If stuck inside, she can usually be found shopping or planning her next travel destination. Her favorite pastime is hanging out with friends and family at the lake.

Rebecca Cantor is a registered patent attorney with an extensive background in patent litigation as well as trademark protection and enforcement. Rebecca serves as the Chair of Brooks Kushman's life science practice group. She concentrates her practice on intellectual property litigation, with a focus on patent litigation involving a wide range of technologies including pharmaceuticals and other life sciences technologies. Rebecca also has experience in trademark disputes, both in Federal Court and in the USPTO. In addition, Rebecca counsels clients in developing strategies to protect their intellectual property. As a registered patent attorney, Rebecca is authorized to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Rebecca was a patent litigator at Vinson & Elkins LLP in New York. While there, Rebecca participated in several patent litigations, including a Hatch-Waxman litigation where she was part of a trial team that received a favorable outcome for its client. Rebecca also worked on a number of due diligence projects, many of which involved technologies related to life sciences.

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.

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.

James Bertino is an experienced patent attorney who prioritizes quality and high value results for his clients. James focuses his practice on domestic and foreign patent prosecution. He prepares, prosecutes, and advises on patents in several technical areas including the automotive, automation, and manufacturing industries. Specifically within the automotive industry, James has extensive experience in automotive technology relative to hybrid vehicles, powertrains, HVAC, safety systems, solar power, and plant automation. He counsels clients of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 Corporations to small start-ups, on a wide range of technologies. Because of James’s extensive engineering experience, James is technically proficient, being able to understand and put on paper what the invention is without having to rely solely on the inventor. He has extensive experience in novelty, validity, invalidity, state of the art, and clearance studies. As an experienced advisor, James counsels his clients honestly on their patent portfolio. In his practice, James conducts extensive research on existing technology to determine the white space within a specific technology market to ensure a client’s concept falls within the determined white space to recommend whether the client should pursue patent protection. James is also highly skilled at formulating opinions on the validity or invalidity of a particular patent during litigation proceedings, determining the current state of the art in a specific technology market, and formulating opinions on whether a client has the freedom to operate in a particular technology market. Prior to the legal profession, James worked for an automation manufacturer as a mechanical engineer. He was responsible for the mechanical design of powertrain assembly equipment. The design process included using computer aided design programs to generate the required mechanical drawings. James also worked for a large automotive OEM as a powertrain production supervisor. He was responsible for the daily operations of the department that produced the output shaft of the transmission. This included ensuring the efficiency and troubleshooting of the production machinery when a problem occurred. James is a graduate from the University of Toledo Law School. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan in Mechanical Engineering. James is a registered patent attorney and a member of the bar for the State of Michigan and the Federal District Court of the Eastern District of Michigan. In his free time, James likes to spend time on the water in his boat. He also enjoys the non-motorized time on the water and is an experienced oarsman. In 2015, he competed and won a master’s national championship in rowing.

of experience, Frank has successfully tried patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright cases in Federal Courts nationwide, the Courts of Appeals for the Sixth and Federal Circuits, and the International Trade Commission. As a registered patent attorney , Frank is authorized to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Frank has been lead counsel for a wide variety of clients, from individuals to major corporations, in intellectual property and commercial litigation matters. His litigation experience spans across various technologies and industries including, automotive, consumer electronics, industrial technologies, food and beverage, and home appliances. Frank’s practice also includes post-grant proceedings. He works with clients to challenge or defend patents through administrative trial procedures created under the America Invents Act (AIA). In addition to counseling clients, he has been a vital component in developing Brooks Kushman’s Post-Grant Proceedings practice by mentoring and training other attorneys. Early on in his career, Frank served as a law clerk to the Hon. Glenn L. Archer, Jr., former Chief Judge of the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. This experience led to involvement in almost 100 appeals over the course of his career and Frank currently leads Brooks’ Appellate Litigation Group. Frank also serves on the Board of Directors for Challenge Detroit, a revitalization effort designed to attract and retain new talent in the City of Detroit.

William Abbatt is a skilled patent attorney with experience in foreign and domestic patent prosecution matters. He has a background in varying disciplines including manufacturing, chemistry, and medical devices. With 35+ years of experience as a patent attorney, Bill’s practice involves all aspects of domestic and foreign patent preparation, prosecution, and assertion, including dispute resolution. He regularly advises clients on the development and management of patent portfolios. Bill’s practice includes counseling on how to protect various aspects of inventions and monetize them by sale and licensing. Bill has managed intellectual property matters in many technical disciplines including manufacturing, metallurgy, chemistry, medical devices, and aeronautics. His background in industry plus his diverse experience in writing and prosecuting hundreds of patents enable Bill to spot the strengths and weaknesses in a patent when a dispute or enforcement issue arises. He has an affinity for working with emerging entities whose value can be enhanced by effective intellectual property portfolio creation and management to help his clients’ businesses succeed. In one case, he introduced two separate clients – a physician and an entrepreneur – and brought them together to develop and protect medical devices to treat patients and enhance the quality of their lives. Bill is a member of the Federal Bar Association – Eastern District of Michigan Chapter and currently serves as a co-chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section. He is a former council member of the Aviation Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Bill is a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation and a Master of the Bench (American Inns of Court). He was an adjunct professor of patent law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Bill received Super Lawyers designation for 2006 - 2012, 2024. He was selected for this honor subsequent to undergoing an evaluation of many different factors including peer recognition and professional achievement. Bill also served on the steering committee that formed the Michigan Intellectual Property American Inns of Court Chapter and was its President (2017-18). The Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court is a philanthropic organization of judges, lawyers and legal educators that seeks to promote fair and ethical practice amongst junior lawyers and law students. Bill helped to found the Inn and was enthusiastic about moving into a leadership role. Bill was able to take the organization forward, while staying true to its initial goal of promoting excellence in advocacy amongst those it mentors. Bill holds a Juris Doctor from Detroit College of Law. Before that, Bill graduated with an M.S. in Operations Research & Production Engineering and a B.S. in Metallurgy & Material Sciences at the University of London, England. He has been appointed an Expert Adviser and Facilitative Mediator in the Federal District Court, Eastern District of Michigan. Outside the office, Bill enjoys flying his Beechcraft Debonair airplane, skiing, playing golf and tennis, working out, and traveling to England, his birthplace. He and his wife Candyce count Vail Colorado and Ft Lauderdale as favorite haunts. Bill holds an Airline Transport Pilot rating, a Commercial pilot’s license, and is a Certified Flight Instructor.

I have been in private practice as an attorney for 22 years. I can assist with all legal needs from criminal, family, bankruptcy, social security and more. With nearly three decades of practicing law in Michigan, our team of expert attorneys has distinguished itself as a top firm in the state. We are guided by three fundamental principles: a commitment to personalized legal advocacy, a dedication to truth, and an unyielding pursuit of our clients’ desired outcomes. At the Whitaker-Payton Justice Center, we believe that your future matters, and we are here to ensure that you get the justice you deserve.

Iris Rubin is a practicing lawyer in the state of Michigan. Attorney Rubin received her J.D. from the University of Detroit in 1982.

R.J. serves as a strategic partner and counselor to his clients and their business needs across multiple industries, including automotive, finance, health care, leasing, property development, real estate development, staffing, technology, and telecom. He prioritizes developing an intimate understanding of his clients’ unique goals and challenges and applies his deep knowledge of the law to ensure proactive and results-based legal counsel. A formidable and accomplished advocate, R.J. also acts as lead trial counsel when legal disputes arise after exhausting preventive measures. Clients describe R.J. as an engaged litigator whose attention to detail, tenacity, and professionalism set him apart from other counsel. He obtains cost-effective results by quickly digging into the facts and leveraging the results in favor of his clients. R.J. previously served as chair of the State Bar of Michigan’s 2,300-member Litigation Section. Michigan Super Lawyers® has consistently recognized him as a Rising Star in Business Litigation, an award granted to only 2.5 percent of Michigan attorneys under 40. R.J.’s peers have elected him to the Fellows of the American Bar Foundation, an honorary society comprising one percent of each jurisdiction’s attorneys, judges, law faculty, and legal scholars whose public and private careers have demonstrated outstanding dedication to the highest principles of the legal profession and welfare of their communities. He is a founding member of his community’s Rotary Club.