Dustin is an experienced IP practitioner with a vast array of technical experience. Dustin Zak is a registered patent attorney who focuses his practice on patent litigation and prosecution. Dustin possesses a vast range of technical experience ranging from chemical and material arts to software applications and artificial intelligence. Dustin has technical knowledge related to cyber security and computer technologies. During his studies, he has immersed himself in many technical topics including C++, Java, and visual basic programming, networking, open source networking, end-user computing, ethical hacking and offensive security, cyber intelligence, Linux security administration, information security, risk-vulnerability analysis, and digital forensics. Prior to joining Brooks Kushman, Dustin spent more than 5 years gaining technical experience as a Research and Development Chemist at an automotive OEM supplier and in the automotive after-market refinish industry. In these roles he formulated, developed, and launched various products globally. He also participated in the creation and development of technology for measuring visual emissions for compliance with EPA method 9, and validated and generated performance criteria for raw materials including solvents, polymers, resins, pigments, additives, and final products. Dustin holds a Juris Doctor from Wayne State University graduating at the top of his class where he received the Governor’s Scholarship. He was also the Senior Articles Editor for the Wayne Law Review and a Mock Trial member. Dustin also participated in the patent procurement clinic preparing patent applications for Detroit entrepreneurs and inventors. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Polymers and Coatings Technology from Eastern Michigan University, where he received the Recognition of Excellence Scholarship, the College of technology Coating Scholarship, and the Charles Parker Scholarship.

Reid is an experienced patent professional with a well-rounded background, serving in both in-house and outside counsel positions. He applies this experience to make strategic patent decisions on behalf of his clients. Reid is a registered patent attorney with over 20 years of patent experience in the electrical and mechanical arts. He is experienced in all phases of patent prosecution, from formulating an invention disclosure to appealing claims with the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Reid has experience working with clients of various sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small start-ups. Reid has extensive experience with a variety of technologies in many industries. Prior to entering the legal profession, Reid was a technical specialist at an automotive OEM. In that capacity, he was an inventor on over 25 patents in the areas of planetary, layshaft, and hybrid transmission arrangements, actuator mechanisms, and control algorithms. Reid also worked in the Aerospace industry performing conceptual design of launch vehicles and satellites. His formal education includes a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Ph.D. in Computer Science from Michigan State University. Reid graduated summa cum laude from Michigan State University College of Law, where he was a King Scholar and a member of MSU Law Review. He represented MSU in the Giles Sutherland Rich patent law moot court competition and in the Saul Lefkowitz trademark law moot court competition.

Patrick Leonard focuses on patent applications for vehicle systems and has over 30 years of experience in designing sensors and systems for medical imaging, including CT, digital radiography, ultrasound, and endoscopic surgery. Patrick Leonard is a registered patent agent focusing on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications relating to vehicle systems. Previously, Patrick worked for a Metro-Detroit law firm as a patent agent, where he prosecuted patents for internet software, vehicle systems and lasers. Patrick has over 30 years of experience in design and development of sensors and systems for medical imaging applications, including computed tomography, digital radiology, ultrasound, and endoscopic surgery. He also has experience with military systems, including sensors and processors for autonomous vehicle navigation and mutations terminal guidance. In addition, he has worked on industrial applications, such as machine vision systems for semiconductor manufacturing, robot guidance and laser micromachining. After he was given the responsibility of managing his former company’s intellectual property demands, he became a registered patent agent.

Mr. Runk provides legal services to clients in all of the intellectual property (IP) fields which include patents, trademarks, trade secrets, and copyrights. The services primarily encompass originating intellectual property portfolios, managing those portfolios, and enforcing a client's IP against infringers. His IP services also include reviewing the IP rights of others that may pose some level of risk to a client's business plans and providing advice about the risks. Mr. Runk works in state courts, in U.S. federal courts, and teams up with foreign attorneys for international cases. Mr. Runk's primary focus is on the fields of electrical, mechanical, signal processing, control systems, information management and processing systems, computer hardware, and software technologies. Mr. Runk has worked with a wide range of technologies such as complex medical apparatus for diabetes control, catheters for atrial mapping and ablation, valve systems, lighting systems for businesses, and inventory control systems using radio frequency identification. Mr. Runk provides IP services to businesses of all sizes from start-up companies to multi-billion dollar companies, and to individuals. Mr. Runk is a registered patent attorney at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and as such is licensed to represent clients in all aspects of patents and trademarks at the USPTO. Mr. Runk has prepared, negotiated, and finalized many intellectual property licenses and settlement agreements. Additionally, Mr. Runk has also performed the due diligence necessary in IP portfolio acquisition or divestiture which includes confirming clear title, maintenance issues, trademark use issues, and many other issues. Mr. Runk has also written and negotiated the intellectual property provisions for the contracts in acquisitions and divestitures. Many of these contracts involve complex contractual provisions for ownership and contingencies. Mr. Runk has also been actively engaged in intellectual property litigation including trial to a jury. In foreign countries, Mr. Runk has managed patent and trademark oppositions in Europe and in Asian countries.

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.

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.

Isaac’s practice focuses on the preparation and prosecuting of patent applications, primarily in the computer science and electrical arts. Isaac provides counseling to clients of all sizes, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to small start-ups. Isaac has a deep understanding of various technologies in computer science and electrical systems. He has worked with clients in a broad range of industries including computer software, consumer electronics, telecommunications, automotive, and medical devices. In addition to counseling clients on patent prosecution, Isaac advises clients on complying with open source license terms and obligations. He has an in-depth understanding of various license agreements and works alongside clients to create compliance strategies. Prior to becoming a patent attorney, Isaac was a software developer at a leading computer technology corporation, where he worked closely with customers and sales to analyze customer requirements and design and implement software product features. Isaac also worked as an engineering assistant for a non-profit traffic safety organization operating in combination with local government, where he collected and studied traffic data to provide solutions to traffic problems. At Wayne State University Law School, Isaac was a Dean’s Scholar, and received scholarships including the Ira J. Spoon Endowed Scholarship and a bronze key award. Isaac was on the Wayne Law Review for two years, the second year of which he served as a senior articles editor.

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.

Dean has experience litigating patent, trademark and trade secret cases in multiple jurisdictions including United States District Courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB), the Federal Circuit, the 6th Circuit Court of Appeals, and state courts. He works with and has successfully protected many clients’ IP rights, including clients involved in bet-the-farm type litigation. Clients include Fortune 500 companies, domestic and foreign, medium to small businesses as well as individuals. He also prepares and prosecutes patent and trademark applications including appeals, inter party reviews (IPR), cancellation and opposition proceedings. He also counsels clients regarding IP related issues and prepares legal opinions including freedom to practice and invalidity opinions. Dean is a licensed attorney in Michigan and licensed as a patent attorney eligible to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He is not licensed to practice in Delaware but can be admitted to practice pro hac vice in the Delaware courts. In addition to being selected three times as a “Lawyer of the Year” by The Best Lawyers in America® he is also included in the 2015-2019 edition of Leading Lawyers at Lawyers.com® and selected by dbusiness Magazine as a 2015-2019 Top Lawyer. Other awards include: 2015-2019 IP Star by Managing IP Magazine; recognition by Acquisitions International; and by America’s Top 100 High Stakes Litigators. Dean has an AV (Preeminent) rating by Martindale-Hubbell. Dean’s publication, IP Strategies for Business Managers, provides practical advice for protecting IP and avoiding infringement. He contributed to the national publication, Inside the Minds: Litigation Strategies for Intellectual Property Cases (2012, Thomson Reuters) on topics including patent eligibility of software and business methods, trade secret case strategies, and discovery of electronically stored information (ESI). Dean is a frequent speaker on IP, including: IP Patent Camp at the MidMichigan Innovation Center (3 years); IP Webinar for VetBizCentral; IP Talk at TechTown Detroit; IP Talk at DC3S; and IP Talk – Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about IP But Were Afraid to Ask through Midland Tomorrow in cooperation with Northwood University during Entrepreneurship Week. Dean brings an entrepreneurial spirit to his work and enjoys sharing in his clients’ successes. He is also committed to keeping open communication with his clients and is readily available to answer his client’s questions. In his spare time Dean enjoys traveling with his wife Laurie and two sons. He also enjoys running and working on his 1969 Dodge Charger RT SE. Dean is the inventor on four patents relating to an electronic securities trading system, including U.S. Patent Nos. 8,788,398, 8,175,956, 7,552,085 and 7,356,499.