Personable but tough, Chris Chesney honed his legal litigation craft through years of special investigations litigation serving corporate clients. Chris prides himself on thinking outside of the box to create novel and winning arguments. Before Chris cut his teeth in the courts, he developed practical skills at the Michigan House of Representatives, advised business owners in South Africa, and conducted grassroots research in Scotland. Not every litigator understands what it’s like working on 70-foot-high scaffolding in a Houston oil refinery. Chris currently serves as an officer and Governing Council member for the State Bar of Michigan’s Litigation Section, serving as Treasurer for the 2,400-member section. He also presents at industry symposiums to continue his rise as a next-generation litigator. At Cronkhite Counsel, Chris serves as trial counsel using years of investigative work and real-world experience to outwork and outmaneuver opponents.

Bob Tuttle is Of Counsel at the firm and is known for his razor-sharp legal mind, his close relationships with clients and the business community, and his near-photographic memory. These traits make him one of the firm's key litigators. In conducting litigation, Bob makes it his priority to carefully understand the dispute and his client's business objectives, and to determine how to achieve those objectives in the most efficient manner. His familiarity and facility with the applicable case law, statutes, rules, and regulations allow him to devise highly creative strategies to meet clients' goals. Bob also believes in the importance of close client involvement in litigation. He is in very frequent contact with clients, to keep them apprised of the progress of their matters and invite them to participate in strategy and decision-making. Before joining Brooks Kushman in 1984, Bob was patent and trademark counsel for the former American Motors Corporation. Having worked as in-house counsel gives Bob an inside track on how corporate clients operate, what corporations need, and how best to satisfy them. Bob has also built up and maintained a wide variety of working relationships with people in the Detroit automotive industry. These relationships can often be brought into play to benefit firm clients when a dispute arises within this sector. Outside of work, Robert is a sports enthusiast and enjoys bicycling for exercise.

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.

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.

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.

Fanqi Meng is a skilled patent prosecution professional with a focus in computer systems and the electrical arts. Fanqi focuses his practice on patent prosecution and litigation in the mechanical and electrical arts, and computer systems. His practice also includes free and open-source software compliance and review. Fanqi has extensive experience in preparing and prosecuting patent applications on a variety of technologies including electronics, computers, and automotive-related arts. He has also been involved in a number of patent dispute negotiations and settlement. Fanqi spent three years working as a patent practitioner in Beijing, China, conducting various patent practices including drafting responses to office actions and interviewing with examiners. He has extensive experience in handling both Chinese domestic and international clients from the US, EU, and Japan. His international experience makes him an invaluable asset to Brooks Kushman’s patent prosecution team. Fanqi received his Juris Doctor from the University of New Hampshire School of Law (formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center). Prior to becoming a patent practitioner, Fanqi majored in Microelectronics and has extensive experience in integrated circuit designs. Particularly, he has experience in VLSI (very large scale integration) designs.

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.

Jim Kushman is the senior founding member of Brooks Kushman. His practice focuses on protection of inventions in the mechanical and electro-mechanical arts. With 50 years of intellectual property law experience, Jim has an in-depth understanding of various technologies, particularly in the automotive, glass processing, plastic blow molding, manufacturing, and consumer products industries. Jim continues to share his knowledge with the firm based on his experience with clients of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 Corporations to small and mid-sized companies. He takes a proactive approach to understand his clients’ business interests and align IP strategies with those interests in mind. He helps his clients identify “white-space” in the market for new product development and IP investment. Jim has a long-standing practice working with clients to manage global patent portfolios. He continues to counsel select clients on both domestic and international filings with respect to utility and design patents. Throughout his career, he has worked with companies around the world to manage patent portfolios.

Fatima is dedicated to providing her clients with exceptional trademark and copyright protection. 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, prepares trademark applications, drafts identifications of goods and services, and responds to office actions. She also prepares cease and desist letters and files opposition proceedings for enforcement of existing trademark rights. Fatima first joined Brooks Kushman as a Summer Associate through the Wolverine Bar Association, while also serving as a judicial intern for the Honorable Avern Cohn in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan. Fatima holds a dual Juris Doctor and MBA from Michigan State University, cum laude, where she was the Senior Productions Editor for the Michigan State Law Review and a member of the Saul Lefkowitz Trademark Moot Court Competition. Fatima also attended the University of Michigan Dearborn to earn her Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and minor in Political Science. Outside of work, Fatima enjoys exploring new middle eastern recipes, gardening, and travelling.

Libby Janda is an experienced trademark attorney with an extensive background in domestic and international trademark portfolios. Libby Janda serves as the Co-Chair of Brooks Kushman’s trademark practice, and has over 30 years of experience in intellectual property law. She manages substantial trademark portfolios both domestically and internationally, and works closely with a network of vetted international contacts that the firm has developed over the past decades. Libby handles trademark matters in a variety of industries, including the automotive field; restaurants and food products; advertising and marketing businesses; insurance enterprises; mortgage companies, banks and credit unions; and consumer products and services. She keeps her focus on her clients’ business goals and marketing strategies. She has managed several global trademark portfolios in a full range of fields, including automotive, toy and consumer goods, entertainment, advertising, food and beverage, and agricultural products. Libby brings a practical business perspective to her counselling, and works hard to build significant portfolios through an established network of trusted contacts throughout the world. She also enjoys working with smaller businesses and start-ups to support their growth and development. Libby's work encompasses selecting and clearing trademarks, prosecuting trademark applications, representing clients in trademark opposition and cancellation matters, drafting and negotiating licenses and other agreements relating to the use of trademarks and copyrights, and policing the unauthorized use or infringement of clients' rights. She further provides litigation support and consulting on trademark issues and matters. In addition, Libby assists advertising clients in the review of proper rules and regulations for specific types of product advertising, couponing and sampling. She brainstorms with clients to maintain the broadest possible protection within the realities of that client`s marketplace, taking full account of business goals in shaping an appropriate legal strategy.