Lauren Gregory Leipold
Co-Editor of Gadgets, Gigabytes & Goodwill Blog
Lauren is co-editor of the Gadgets, Gigabytes & Goodwill Blog and a partner in Seyfarth’s Intellectual Property practice group. Lauren works hand in hand with clients from a wide range of industries to create and execute customized intellectual property protection programs that align their goals with the practical realities of emerging e-commerce trends. Although Lauren has experience litigating a wide range of commercial disputes, she has focused primarily on protecting clients’ intangible assets. She regularly counsels on brand protection strategy and mitigation of risk in connection with the launch of new marketing campaigns. Lauren has designed and implemented trademark enforcement programs for clients ranging from startups to large, international corporations. She also assists clients in securing, protecting, enforcing, and licensing other intangible assets, from copyright to trade secrets to publicity rights.
Puya Partow-Navid
Co-Editor of the Gadgets, Gigabytes & Goodwill Blog
Puya is co-editor of the Gadgets, Gigabytes & Goodwill Blog and a partner in Seyfarth’s Intellectual Property practice group in the LA office. With nearly a decade of experience as an engineer, Puya provides his clients with a real-world understanding of their technology. He draws upon more than 10 years of experience as a patent attorney to get his clients’ inventions allowed as patents, and a happy client is a client with an issued patent. Puya’s work also includes assisting clients with patent re-examination and reissue, litigation support, infringement analysis, patent validity analysis, freedom to operate analysis, and trademark prosecution and oppositions. As an inventor that has sat on the other side of the table, Puya knows the patent process can be confusing. He also knows how exciting it is to be an inventor. Your invention is your baby, and you want it to be in good hands. Puya’s experience helps him connect with engineers, inventors, and IP owners, and allows him to clarify the patent process for his clients. Recently, Puya was named to the Los Angeles Business Journal’s 2022 Top 100 Lawyers list.
Owen R. Wolfe
Co-Editor of the Gadgets, Gigabytes & Goodwill Blog
Owen is a Contributing Editor of the Gadgets, Gigabytes & Goodwill Blog and a partner in Seyfarth’s Intellectual Property practice group in the New York office. Owen is passionate about finding creative solutions and using technology to represent his litigation clients in a robust, cost-efficient manner, advising them on the best way in which to achieve an outcome that aligns with their unique business objectives. Litigation in the US has grown increasingly complex, whether it takes place in federal or state court, before an arbitrator, or in other forums, and whether you are an individual or a large corporation. Among other things, technology and the global economy have changed many aspects of litigation, including discovery. Owen helps clients avoid litigation altogether—or, when litigation is unavoidable, navigate the challenges posed by all aspects of modern litigation in a wide variety of forums.
Brian L. Michealis
Chair of the National Intellectual Property Practice Group
Brian is the chair of Seyfarth’s national Intellectual Property practice group. Brian brings more than 30 years of experience deploying a wide range of IP protection mechanisms, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and contracts to meet diverse objectives and imperatives. Brian works with leading companies in almost all of the markets serviced by the firm. Clients range from early stage, emerging technology companies to global innovators. With nearly a decade of in-house engineering experience in manufacturing and research and development, Brian has developed and worked intimately in the development of technology that he now works daily to protect. With substantial experience in the technology development and manufacturing environments, Brian is attuned to the development process and the stages of development. This experience allows him to use the right mechanism at the right time to achieve good protection at an appropriate cost.
Edward F. Maluf
Co-Chair of the National Intellectual Property Practice Group
Ed is the editor of the Gadgets, Gigabytes & Goodwill Blog and co-chair of Seyfarth’s national Intellectual Property practice group, as well as a member of the firm’s Advertising & Marketing team. Ed has more than three decades of experience representing domestic and foreign clients. Ed is an IP litigator, prosecutor and counselor. He assists clients with a diverse array of engagements, including obtaining, enforcing and defending their IP rights. This also includes transactions where clients are in need of advice in connection with acquisitions of portfolios and other valuable intangible assets, maintenance of valuable existing IP portfolios, and licensing.
J.C. helps businesses develop strong, distinctive brands and protect the investments behind them worldwide. His practice focuses on domestic and international trademark prosecution, clearance, portfolio management, and enforcement, drawing on extensive experience navigating IP offices across jurisdictions. He advises clients on marketplace risks, trademark availability, and creative strategies for securing and defending brand space—even in crowded fields—while balancing the risks of registration versus use. With a background in boutique IP firms and experience spanning industries from consumer products to industrial chemicals, J.C. leverages Seyfarth’s in-house tools and collaborative team to deliver practical, strategic brand protection solutions.
Stephen Lott
Since beginning his practice in 2011, Steve has focused exclusively on intellectual property law. He helps clients protect their trademarks via registration at the state and federal level, as well as internationally. He also represents clients in intellectual property litigation in federal and state courts—and in proceedings before the US Patent and Trademark Office’s Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Steve also works with clients to protect their creative works such as photographs, books, and artworks via copyright registration and enforcement.
Steve is actively involved in the intellectual property community, including the International Trademark Association and the American Bar Association’s Section of Intellectual Property, where he has worked with other IP professionals to draft resolutions to Congress and to the US Patent and Trademark Office concerning emerging issues in intellectual property law.
Matthew is a partner in Seyfarth’s Intellectual Property department in the Seattle office. He understands that effective branding encompasses more than just a trademark portfolio; it involves creating a distinct identity that fosters consumer loyalty and ensures consistent messaging. Matthew collaborates with clients across various industries to address branding-related issues, providing practical legal strategies that align with their business goals. His experience includes advertising, licensing, IP enforcement, and defending brands against cybersquatting, with a proven track record in federal and state courts as well as before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.
Vince Smolczynski
Vince works with leading companies in nearly all markets serviced by the firm, from biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and health care to computer software and consumer products. His clients range from early stage, emerging technology companies to established, legacy global innovators. Vince’s experience covers the full spectrum of commercial litigation and intellectual property practice, working with clients to obtain, enforce and defend against patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and related contracts in order to meet his clients’ objectives efficiently. He also provides data privacy counseling, and works closely with clients on the development of terms of service and policies relating to data privacy and retention.
Robert Terzoli
Robert’s intellectual property practice involves both litigation and trademark portfolio management. Robert has assisted clients in the pharmaceutical, alcoholic beverage, and computer technology spaces on both intellectual property and product liability matters. Robert litigates infringement disputes relating to all facets of IP, and has experience with opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Robert also has experience before federal trial and appellate courts. He has been a member of several trial teams where he has drafted numerous motions, prepared fact and expert witnesses, and assisted with taking witness testimony at trial in multi-million dollar lawsuits. He has also drafted on numerous motions, appellate briefing and has participated in several joint defense groups in complex litigation matters.
Kenneth (Ken) is a partner in Seyfarth’s Intellectual Property department in the Los Angeles office. His extensive knowledge across the entire IP spectrum enables him to provide comprehensive counsel focused primarily on trademark protection while also addressing related areas such as copyright and false advertising. With a strong background in technology and science, Ken advises clients on safeguarding their intangible assets in an interconnected world, working with industries like pharmaceuticals, consumer products, and alcoholic beverages. As the lead of Seyfarth’s Trademark practice and co-chair of the Advertising & Marketing group, he tackles the complex challenges clients face in advertising and trademark law, while also engaging with national and international trademark communities. Recognized for his expertise, Ken has been consistently honored as a top practitioner in intellectual property litigation and trademark law.
JC is an associate in Seyfarth’s Litigation department in the Boston office. He understands the importance of intellectual property assets and works with clients to protect and enforce their brands globally, navigating the complexities of cross-border issues. With experience assisting in-house attorneys from global companies and advising individuals and small businesses, JC distills complex legal matters into practical advice. A professionally trained musician, he brings a unique perspective to his practice, recognizing the creativity involved in developing intellectual property. Passionate about his field, JC has managed trademark portfolios, counseled on copyright usage, and successfully recovered numerous domains for his clients.
