CANTOR COLBURN - Key Persons
Ali Caless provides clients of the Cantor Colburn's Trademark & Copyright Practice with valuable insight into trademark and copyright matters. Approachable and responsive, she makes sophisticated legal matters accessible with practical guidance.
Clients benefit from her practical, clear advice and efficient management of portfolios, including drafting strategic filing programs that are sensitive to clients' objectives and budgets. Ali provides guidance on all aspects of clients' trademarks needs, including U.S. and international brand clearance, crafting and filing trademark applications, prosecuting applications, registration issuance, maintenance, and preservation.
Ali works with clients on trademark protection and enforcement strategies, including watch programs to detect concerning third-party applications and combat online infringement. She represents clients of all sizes, from startups to Fortune 500 corporations from a broad spectrum of fields including consumer goods, entertainment, automotive, pharmaceuticals, food, and technology.
Ali is adept at helping clients resolve IP-related disputes, both offensively and defensively. She has prepared and successfully prosecuted Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) complaints against infringing domains. Ali is an experienced negotiator for settlement and consent agreements to resolve disputes involving IP rights. She is also experienced with IP due diligence for acquisitions, mergers, and divestitures, assignment transfers of IP rights, and licensing of IP rights. Ali is an active speaker and member of numerous intellectual property organizations, including leadership with MARQUES on the Education Team and with International Trademark Association (INTA) on the Trademark Administrators Committee.
Experience Highlights
Trademark Counsel Ali Caless and Patent an IP Transactions Partner David Bomzer will speak at an Ethics CLE roundtable, Ethical Practices for Communications with Clients, Opposing Parties, and the USPTO, a discussion presented by the Connecticut Bar Association's Intellectual Property Section on December 1, 2022.
Trademark Counsel Ali Caless will be part of a panel discussion on Effectively Proving Trademark Use, presented by the Fairfield County (CT) Bar Entertainment/Media/IP Committee on October 7, 2021, a virtual program.
Job Titles:
- Associate
- Associate / Hartford
- Trademark & Copyright Attorney
- Trademark & Copyright Practice Associate
Benjamin Cantor advises domestic and international clients in trademark clearance, prosecution, monitoring, and enforcement. His clients include start-ups, small businesses, global corporations, and non-profits. For clients new to intellectual property, Ben simplifies trademark concepts and helps them leverage their brands to protect their businesses and differentiate themselves in the marketplace. For clients with dedicated in-house brand protection teams, Ben offers innovative problem-solving and provides practical, reliable support. Ben approaches every interaction with curiosity and empathy, making sure to truly understand and connect with the people he works with.
Benjamin Cantor, Associate at Cantor Colburn, compares the EUIPN's CP13 and CP14 to the recently updated measures for handling bad faith and morality in US trademark law in the pursuit of solutions for tackling similar issues in his article, Bad faith and morality - an EU update and where the US stands, published in The Trademark Lawyer Issue 2, 2023.
Trademark & Copyright attorney Ben Cantor will attend the ECTA's 40th Annual Conference in Copenhagen. ECTA (the European Communities Trade Mark Association) promotes the knowledge and professionalism of members and owners alike in the fields of trade marks, designs, copyright and other IP rights within the European Union.
Cantor Colburn copyright attorneys will present the complimentary webinar, "Creativity and the Law: A Webinar for Artists on What Every Artist Should Know About Copyright," on May 28, 2020 at 5:30 PM in partnership with the Greater Hartford Arts Council. Michelle Ciotola, Ali Caless, Benjamin Cantor and Crysta Lemon Schmidt will review copyright law and how artists can protect their creative works.
Job Titles:
- Counsels
- Joins Cantor Colburn to Chair Its Life Sciences Practice Group
- Partner and Chair, Life Sciences Practice / Hartford
Bryan Zerhusen, Ph.D., counsels innovators in the chemical and life science industries in all aspects of domestic and foreign patent preparation and prosecution. Chair of the firm's Life Sciences Practice Group, Bryan's clients include solo inventors, academic institutions, foreign law firms, venture firms, as well as companies ranging from start-ups to global corporations in the medical biotechnology, agricultural biotechnology, diagnostic, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical device and healthcare sectors.
In particular, Bryan routinely performs patent drafting and prosecution; counsels clients on strategic IP portfolio management; prepares patentability and freedom-to-operate searching, analysis and opinions; prosecutes patent reexaminations; conducts due diligence investigations; and provides IP litigation support. Bryan also has extensive experience negotiating and preparing agreements relevant to the life science industry, including collaborative agreements and IP licensing agreements on behalf of solo inventors, venture firms, start-ups and emerging companies.
Experience Highlights
Cantor Colburn has expanded its Life Sciences Practice Group with the addition of Bryan D. Zerhusen, Ph.D. as a partner in the firm's Hartford headquarters office. Dr. Zerhusen will be the Chair of the firm's exceptionally talented life sciences practice.
Bryan D. Zerhusen, Ph.D., will speak at the IP Strategy Summit: Biotech & Pharma - Boston on May 14, 2025. Bryan, Partner and Chair of the Life Sciences Practice Group, will speak on the panel, "Strategic Portfolio Management: Balancing Cost, Coverage, and Value in Life Sciences."
Bryan D. Zerhusen, Ph.D., Esq., will attend the Life Sciences IP Due Diligence Forum on November 29-30, 2018 in Boston. Bryan chairs the Cantor Colburn Life Sciences Practice Group.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Adjunct Professor, University of Connecticut School of Law
- Chairman of Cantor Colburn 's IP Transactional Practice Group
- Transactional Practice Group Chair
Charlie O'Brien is the Chair of Cantor Colburn's IP Transactional Practice Group. He concentrates his transactional practice on the exploitation, transfer and licensing of technology. Charlie has extensive experience in all aspects of complex IP licensing, including the preparation and negotiation of patent license agreements, software license agreements, joint development agreements, trademark license agreements, material transfer agreements, joint marketing and promotion agreements, and the like. Charlie is also a member of Cantor Colburn's Litigation Department and has extensive experience in litigating IP related actions, including patent infringement actions and contractual disputes regarding IP rights. These skills provide him with useful and sometimes critical insight for his clients into issues and conflicts that can arise in IP transactional matters. This allows him to address these potential issues and conflicts early on at the transactional stage.
Experience Highlights
Charlie O'Brien will be a panelist for the webinar "Evaluating and Acquiring Patent Portfolios: Key Considerations: Structuring the Transaction, Conducting Due Diligence, Drafting and Negotiating Key Provisions" on February 23, 2023, presented by Strafford. This CLE webinar will guide patent counsel on the key considerations for evaluating and acquiring patent portfolios and provide insight into strategic considerations and transaction structures as well as the key issues to consider when conducting patent portfolio due diligence.
Cantor Colburn Partner Charles O'Brien will present an introductory workshop on IP basics for business owners, "Intellectual Property for Business Owners," coordinated by the Greater Hartford Chapter of SCORE on November 7, 2018 in Simsbury, Connecticut.
Mr. O'Brien chairs the firm's IP Transactional Practice Group and concentrates his transactional practice on the exploitation, transfer and licensing of technology, and IP rights through various IP related transactions. He has extensive experience in all aspects of complex IP licensing.
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Professor, Patent Law and Procedure, Thomas M. Cooley School of Law, Lansing, MI
- Partner / Hartford
Chris Boehm manages intellectual property portfolios for Fortune 100 companies in patent, trademark, trade secrets, and copyright matters. He provides counseling with regard to: invention development, worldwide enforcement, patent procurement, intellectual property landscaping, intellectual property maintenance, licensing, clearance, and litigation matters. He also prepares and revises intellectual property processes for our clients. Chris has handled matters involving, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and electronics, automotive technologies, vehicle safety technologies, airbags, seat belts, restraints and related systems, vehicle latch, window and roof systems, vehicle interiors, firearm technologies, toy and game industries, mechanical and electrical locks, energy, computer science, software, and telecommunications and environmental engineering.
Experience Highlights
In the June 16, 2015 Hartford Courant article, "From A Famous Tailgating Family, The Golic Cooler," Dan Haar writes about the design patent for an innovative tailgating cooler issued to Mike Golic, the former NFL defensive lineman, now co-host of ESPN's "Mike & Mike" show, and his son, Jake, who played football for Notre Dame like he did. Michael Cantor, co-managing partner of Cantor Colburn LLP and the Golics' attorney, is quoted in the article, discussing the patent process and the Golics' plans for the product.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Partner
- Japan Practice Group Leader
- Japanese Practice Group Chair
- Partner and Chair of Cantor Colburn 's Japanese
- Partner and Chair of the Japanese Practice Group / Hartford
With a focus on serving Asian companies, Daniel Lent is the partner in charge of a dedicated team of associate attorneys and support staff with specialized Asian experience. Dan lived and worked as an intellectual property (IP) lawyer in Asia and spent many years in school in Malaysia and Singapore as a youth. In 2004, he worked for Hitachi in their IP group in Tokyo, Japan. Dan was also an IP associate at the large international firm Reed Smith in their New York City office, where he also dealt extensively with Asia. With over 25 years of experience, the United States Patent and Trademark Office data shows that Dan has obtained thousands of U.S. patents and on average files approximately 250 US patents per year. Currently, he focuses on obtaining patents in the United States for clients from Japan and China. Dan visits Asia frequently and counsels Asian companies and law firms regarding IP litigation, infringement, contracts, and licensing matters. Dan is a lecturer at Japanese patent attorney groups on topics relating to changes in the U.S. patent and case law and strategies for implementing those changes.
Experience Highlights
Daniel P. Lent, partner and Chair of Cantor Colburn's Japanese Practice, has been invited by the Intellectual Property Division of the Chubu Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry, a part of the Japanese government, to give a seminar to 100 patent attorneys, IP professionals, and local enterprises in Nagoya, Japan on November 14, 2017.
Daniel Lent, partner and chair of the firm's Japanese Practice Group, will attend the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) IP Practice in Japan Pre-Meeting on October 20-21, 2015 in Washington, D.C.
Job Titles:
- Adjunct Professor, University of Connecticut School of Law, Patent Law, 2001 - 2003
- Partner and Co - Chair of the Electrical Engineering Practice / Hartford
David Fox's experience with patent law began in 1990 as a Patent Examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In 1995, Dave entered private practice counseling clients in all phases of patent prosecution. His current practice involves patent prosecution, due diligence, invalidity/non-infringement opinions and pre-litigation analysis. He has co-chaired the firm's highly productive Electrical Engineering Practice Group for more than 30 years and focuses his own practice on electrical, software, and mechanical technologies. He has been an adjunct professor of patent law at the University of Connecticut School of Law.
Experience Highlights
Job Titles:
- Partner
- IP Transactions Partner
- Member of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association
- Partner / Hartford
David has served as both in-house and outside counsel to some of the largest and most recognizable Fortune 500 companies. In these positions, he has been responsible for developing, coordinating and executing all aspects of patent protection strategies among global teams of business and technology hubs. In addition, he has developed objectives and procedures for identifying and protecting high value technology assets, and organized and led teams of technology leaders, who assisted in coordinating enterprise-wide protection efforts. David also managed patent procurement efforts by in-house and outside counsel.
David has been working with transactions for more than a decade, drafting and negotiating on behalf of clients many agreements directed to protecting IP generated and or transfer between parties, including joint development agreements, software as a service agreements, and asset transfer agreements. David has assisted with due diligence reviews implicating such agreements.
Also strong in patent preparation and prosecution, David has drafted and prosecuted patent applications in the mechanical, electro-mechanical, telecommunication arts, to name a few, and participated in various post grant reviews. He also has extensive experience in procuring design patents for his clients. He has also drafted many freedom-to-operate opinions and patentability opinions for his clients. Further, David has protected his clients' interests in litigation matters via various Examination Before Trial (EBT) proceedings, including taking and defending depositions, preparing and examining infringement claim charts, preparing Markman briefs and assisting in Markman hearings.
David enjoys lecturing about intellectual property and technical subject matter, and has participated in and chaired many industry conferences and panels. David has lectured about patents, including utility and design patents, as well as other forms of intellectual property, to clients, startups, and to other attorneys via local and regional committee activities. He taught Cyber Law at Quinnipiac University School of Law as an Adjunct Professor for several years. He also taught mechanical and aerospace engineering courses to undergraduate and graduate students at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering (formerly known as Brooklyn Polytechnic University) as an Adjunct Professor for several years.
Experience Highlights
David Bomzer will be a speaker at the New York City Bar Association's Intellectual Property Institute on March 24, 2025. David's topic is Recent Developments in the Interplay between USPTO Patent Practice & District Court Litigation. This year's institute will provide a comprehensive overview of recent trends, developments, and cutting-edge issues in today's intellectual property practice.
David Bomzer will attend the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) 8th annual IPOwners Spring Summit on March 6, 2025, in Washington, D.C. David, a partner and member of Cantor Colburn's IP Transactional Practice Group, is Vice Chair of the IPO's IP Transactions Committee.
David Bomzer speaks at the New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA) IP Transactions Bootcamp. This program is a webinar occurring on October 8, 15, and 21, 2024.
David Bomzer is a Patent Clinician at the PLI Patent Fundamentals Bootcamp 2024: An Introduction to Patent Drafting, Prosecution, and Litigation, a virtual program on September 17, 2024. David will speak on Patent Claim Drafting.
is a featured speaker at the Joint Patent Practice Continuing Legal Education's (JPPCLE) annual one-day seminar in New York City. David will be on the High Tech, Legislation, and Policy Panel, speaking on Pitfalls in Claim Drafting for AI Inventions.
Cantor Colburn Partner David Bomzer will be a panelist in the live interactive CLE webinar, "Protecting IP in Joint Ventures and Collaborations: Key Considerations, Management of IP, and Structuring Agreements" on April 11, 2024 from 1-2:30 PM. This CLE webinar will guide counsel to IP owners on protecting IP in a joint venture (JV) or collaboration.
This CLE course will guide business counsel in drafting nondisclosure agreements (NDAs) before engaging in confidential business negotiations. David will be a part of a panel of experts outlining best practices for negotiating and drafting NDAs based on their extensive experiences with these types of agreements. The panel will examine key contract provisions and exclusions, common negotiation challenges, and best practices to minimize the risk of litigation for misappropriation of confidential information.
David Bomzer, an active member of the New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA), currently serving as Programs Planning Committee Chair of the Transaction and Patent Practice Committees, is one of the coordinators of the NYIPLA IP Transactions Bootcamp, taking place virtually in October and November 2021.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner and Co - Chair of the Chemical and Materials Sciences Practice / Atlanta
David Rodrigues has 20+ years' experience with increasing responsibility in patent preparation and prosecution, due diligence, opinion work, including noninfringement, invalidity, and right-to-practice as well as overall strategic portfolio development. Prior to becoming a patent attorney, he worked as a Plant Chemist for Armstrong World Industries and as a Pilot Plant Manager for General Electric Silicones and the General Electric Global Research Center, making him very familiar with all aspects of large scale manufacturing and has advised clients on developing patent portfolios that were directed to scale-up and manufacturing of products.
At Cantor Colburn, Dave has drafted and prosecuted more than 600 patent applications. A large number of these patent applications were directed to polymer synthesis and to polymer processing. He has also drafted and prosecuted patent applications directed to optics, solar cells, photovoltaic cells, x-ray and electron beam devices, desalination, carbon dioxide capture and sequestration systems, wind turbines, textured surfaces for controlling bioadhesion, and the like. He works with several major clients in the plastics industry and is the lead partner for the technology transfer office of a major research university and for other clients with sophisticated technology and intellectual property portfolios that require experienced management.
Dave specializes in drafting applications that require a combination of material, chemical, mathematical, and/or mechanical skills. He has in certain cases supplemented an invention with mathematical formulas that an inventor has not been able to provide. Dave also specializes in handling time sensitive patent applications. He has been successful in getting patent applications allowed through the appeals process before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and has gotten over 70% of his appeals overturned by either the Board or the Examiner.
Experience Highlights
Partner David Rodrigues, Ph.D., will attend UConn Tech Showcase 2025 at UConn's Storrs Campus on September 18, 2025. This event unites UConn faculty, UConn students, startups, industry, and investors to showcase cutting-edge innovations. This full-day event features startup pitches, faculty talks, poster sessions, and networking to spark collaboration and amplify UConn's impact in science, tech, and entrepreneurship.
Job Titles:
- Co - Chair
- Partner
- Partner and Co - Chair, Artificial Intelligence Practice Group / Atlanta
David Kincaid is a registered patent attorney who develops and executes patent strategies for domestic and international clients. His practice focuses on electrical and computer technologies, particularly software. He works at the intersection of innovation and legal protection in areas such as artificial intelligence, augmented and virtual reality, cloud computing, and other emerging fields. Over his career, he has handled thousands of patent matters spanning both emerging and established technologies.
He has a proven track record in preparing and prosecuting patent applications for groundbreaking inventions, including:
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning: Extensive experience with patent applications involving neural networks, computer vision, natural language processing, and learning‑based control systems deployed across diverse industries.
Autonomous and Intelligent Systems: Proficient in patenting technologies for autonomous vehicles, robotics, and advanced sensing, including navigation, control, and decision‑making algorithms.
Extended Reality and User Interaction: Skilled in protecting innovations in augmented and virtual reality, spatial computing, 3D data visualization, and human-machine interface technologies.
Cloud, Connectivity, and Infrastructure: Experienced in cloud‑native architectures, distributed computing, IoT ecosystems, and energy and power management systems that underpin next‑generation platforms.
David actively contributes to thought leadership in the legal and AI space, serving on committees with the Intellectual Property Owners Association focused on software-related inventions, AI, and other emerging technologies.
Before joining Cantor Colburn, he served as in‑house patent counsel at Hewlett‑Packard, gaining firsthand insight into both corporate and law‑firm environments. This unique experience equips him to guide clients through the invention identification process (patent mining) and to develop cost-effective patent strategies tailored to their business needs.
He advises clients across diverse sectors, including high‑tech, automotive, energy and utilities, aerospace, manufacturing, communications, metrology, medical devices, and e‑commerce.
David is committed to helping innovators protect and scale their ideas by developing practical, forward‑looking patent strategies.
Experience Highlights
Cantor Colburn Partner David Kincaid is a contributing author for the Intellectual Property Owner's Association's recently published "101 Eligibility Rejection Response Strategies," a white paper for responding to subject matter eligibility rejections.
David Kincaid, a partner at Cantor Colburn LLP, is a contributing author for the Intellectual Property Owner's Association's recently published "AI Patenting Handbook," a white paper on patenting artificial intelligence inventions.
David Kincaid, Partner and Co-Chair of the firm's AI Practice Group, will be a panelist at the Strafford (now Barbri) CLE webinar, "Protecting Artificial Intelligence-Related Inventions: Patent Eligibility, Written Description, Obviousness" on November 14, 2024, with Alexander Korenberg, Partner, Kilburn & Strode.
David Kincaid, Partner and Co-Chair of the firm's AI Practice Group, will be a panelist at the session, "Protecting AI-Related Inventions: Best Practices and Impacts on Life Sciences and Software Related Technologies" on September 19, 2022 at the 2022 Intellectual Property Owners (IPO) Annual Meeting. The conference take place on September 18-20, 2022 in Los Angeles.
Dr. Yong Tang's practice focuses on biotechnology and life science, particularly in the pharmaceutical products (e.g., small molecules, oncolytic virus therapy, biologics, monoclonal antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates) and medical devices (e.g., navigational bronchoscopy, intratumoral drug injection, microneedles, autoinjector, wearable drug delivery device, robotic-assisted surgery, drug-coated implants and sustained drug release). He also has over 12 years of IP and technology consulting experience spanning across the areas of consumer goods, food and beverage ingredients, biopolymers, antibody discovery, robotic surgery and telehealth.
Prior to joining Cantor Colburn, Yong managed a range of IP consulting projects, including patentability and prior art search, IP landscaping, patent portfolio analysis, competitive intelligence, due diligence investigations, partnership identification, technology scouting, evaluation, and licensing. He has extensive experience in IP searches, utilizing a variety of methods including keywords, patent classifications, gene sequences, citations, and corporate tree. He directed technical intelligence projects for corporations, research institutions, and economic development entities. Yong, an IBM-certified data scientist, leveraged his expertise in IP data mining and big data analytics to uncover technology trends and identify key commercialization and licensing opportunities. His work focused on translating complex datasets into actionable insights, enabling strategic decisions in intellectual property and technology management.
In addition to his IP practice, Yong was a prolific research scientist and spent seven years in cancer research on drug combination-mediated synergistic cancer treatment, drug-metabolizing enzyme and transporter-mediated multidrug resistance, and G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved apoptosis and autophagy in colon cancer. Yong is the author or co-author of more than twenty peer-reviewed research articles and gave more than fifteen presentations in national or international conferences. The NIH-National Cancer Institute (NCI) funded Yong, with the Ruth L. Kirschstein National Research Service Award (NRSA) and Institutional Research Training Grants. Fluent in both English and Mandarin, Yong brings a unique interdisciplinary approach to his practice.
Experience Highlights
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Partner
- AI Patent Practice Chair, Speaks on Artificial Intelligence and Ethics
- Partner and Co - Chair of the Artificial Intelligence Practice Group / Hartford
Eric Baron represents clients on all aspects of patent application preparation, prosecution, and patent portfolio development. Eric's patent practice focuses on electrical and mechanical arts, particularly computer hardware and software, semiconductors, telecommunications, internet and e-commerce, artificial intelligence, business methods, electrical circuits, aerospace, medical, industrial, and automotive technologies. Eric has several years of in-house experience overseeing internal invention disclosure processing and outside counsel in domestic and foreign patent matters for a broad array of aerospace and industrial technologies. Prior to joining the firm, Eric was an engineer at Hamilton Sundstrand, a division of United Technologies Corporation, where he worked as a hardware systems engineer and a software engineer on engine controls, on-board diagnostics, flight controls, air management systems, and test systems for a variety of military and commercial aircraft.
Experience Highlights
Eric Baron speaks with students in the UCONN Operations and Information Management (OPIM) program for a virtual coffee chat on November 16, 2022. Eric will discuss intellectual property and how it fits into the life of an engineer.
Partner Eric Baron delves into "Who is the Inventor When AI Conceives? Dr. Thaler's Dabus" as a part of the Joint Patent Practice Continuing Legal Education (JPPCLE)'s Webinar series on June 10, 2021.
Cantor Colburn partner Eric Baron will participate in a Connecticut Invention Convention (CIC) event, Push for Entrepreneurship on November 9th, 2019, where participants will have two hours to do as many push-ups as possible with unlimited breaks. The event will take place Saturday morning, November 9th at Fairfield University, John Barrone Campus Center. This event is open to anyone between the ages of 5 and 70 who believes innovation is the key to the future and loves challenges.
Attorney Eric Baron is Vice President on the Board for The Connecticut Invention Convention and is a volunteer judge at the National competition.
Job Titles:
- Associate / Washington, D.C.
- Trademark & Copyright Attorney
- Trademark Attorney
Farzad Panjshiri is an experienced trademark and copyright attorney who fights passionately for the intellectual property rights of his clients. He has extensive experience in trademarks, copyrights, and other intellectual property rights, emphasized by his Master of Laws (LLM) degree in US Intellectual Property Law, his German Law degree, as well as his international and domestic legal experience.
Farzad concentrates his practice on all areas of trademark prosecution, enforcement, and litigation before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and practically all Intellectual Property Offices (IPOs) around the world with the help of a substantial network of foreign partners. He has been counseling individuals, small and midsize businesses, as well as large multinational companies on clearance and availability of marks; formation, maintenance, monitoring, and enforcement of marks; resolution of intellectual property disputes; and IP licensing and transactional matters. Farzad advises clients on copyright law, files copyright applications, and prosecutes applications with the U.S. Copyright Office.
He has been an active member of the International Trademark Association (INTA), American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), European Communities Trademark Association (ECTA), and Pharmaceutical Trade Marks Group (PTMG) for many years.
Outside work, Farzad likes to spend time with his wife and child, travel, play tennis and golf, try new foods, and explore new hiking spots.
Experience Highlights
Trademark attorney Farzad Panjshiri is attending the INTA roundtable "Is it Really You? NIL, Deep Fakes, and Personal Branding." This engaging session will explore the implications of NIL, the rise of deep fakes, and strategies for maintaining a strong personal brand in the digital age.
Farzad Panjshiri will attend C-IP2's 2024 Annual Fall Conference: The Importance of Exclusive Rights. This is the annual program at the George Mason University Antonin Scalia Law School produced by Center for the Intellectual Property x Intellectual Property (C-IP2). Farzad is a graduate of the school.
Cantor Colburn Trademark & Copyright Attorney Farzad Panjshiri was a guest on the video podcast, Legal Innovation & Technology. On episode 10 of the series, Safeguarding Intellectual Property in the Digital Era & the Emerging AI Related Challenges, Farzad and host Barrister Tasnuva Shelley discussed the impact of technology - specifically AI - on IP.
Hartford Stage, Hartford
Cantor Colburn is proud to be a returning sponsor of the Dress for Success Hartford 20th Anniversary Capital Catwalk event on October 27, 2025.
Howard Levy will lead a roundtable discussion, "Explore the Efficiency and Effectiveness of Accelerated Patent Examination," at the 10th Annual Corporate IP Counsel Forum in New York City on March 14, 2018.
Job Titles:
- Partner and Chair of the Korean Practice Group / Hartford
Jim Merrick leads the firm's Korean Practice Group, a dedicated team of attorneys, agents, and support professionals who focus on the unique needs of Korean clients and law firms. Jim oversees the team's work product and manages patent protection strategies aligned with client product launch timelines. Our team includes native Korean speakers who not only provide fluent language support but also bring deep cultural understanding, ensuring clear communication and meaningful collaboration.
He frequently travels to Korea to advise companies and law firms on a wide range of intellectual property (IP) issues, including litigation, infringement, licensing, and contract matters.
"As industry consolidates, Hartford's Cantor Colburn steadily becomes one of nation's largest IP law firms," written by Joe Cooper, was published by the Hartford Business Journal on April 7, 2020.
Joe Romagnano is possessed of extensive global patent prosecution experience in bioreactors, medical imaging technology, avionics, data display, power transformers, power plants, locomotives, and gas turbines. His particular focus is on biotechnology, plant patents, and small molecule pharmaceuticals. His further experience includes assistance counsel in litigation with topics including matters involving design rights and questions of inventorship. His prior legal experience includes the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation and the Global Patent Operations center of General Electric.
Joe holds dual Bachelor's degrees in Biology and Humanities and Arts from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. While an undergraduate, he also studied elemental analysis of sediment cores at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. As a Master's student in Biotechnology, also at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, his thesis focused on comparing the effects of different modes of nutrient delivery systems on root hypoxia as a part of the NASA led Advanced Life Support System Initiative. Joe received a Ph.D. in plant physiology with a concentration in crop science as a member of the Crop Physiology Laboratory at Utah State University and was a Fellow of the NASA Graduate Student Research Program. Joe has taught classes in Crop Physiology, Plant Nutrition, Agricultural Instrumentation, Plant Physiology, Fermentation, Animal Cell Culture, Photomicroscopy, Electron Microscopy, and Bioprocessing.
Experience Highlights
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Corporate Patent Counsel
- Lecturer, LES Seminar on Strategic IP Asset Management
- Partner / Atlanta
Karl Vick has more than 20 years of experience representing clients in the global procurement, strategic planning, litigation and licensing of IP assets. He was a partner at two boutique IP firms in Chicago during the early part of his career. He then moved in-house and held positions of increasing responsibility with Ford, GE, Raytheon Company, and Cardinal Health. Karl was the Chief IP Counsel for Raytheon and the SVP & Chief IP Counsel for Cardinal Health. In his corporate roles, Karl integrated strategic IP management processes into existing business processes, developed processes to better identify high value innovations that support business objectives, and applied Six Sigma to various law functions. Karl has provided IP counsel in a wide range of industries and technologies, including general electronics, automobiles, healthcare, satellites, telecommunications, electromechanical controls, power generation and control, appliances and lighting. He has lectured on IP topics for LES, Law Seminars International, AIPLA, and the InsideLawyer SuperConference.
Experience Highlights
Cantor Colburn Partner Karl Vick will be a panelist for the Lexology webinar, Discussing the IP Industry Outlook for the U.S. in 2021, on March 3, 2021 at 1PM ET. Using NovumIP's global IP industry benchmarking report released earlier this year as the discussion starting point, Karl and the other experts on the panel will delve into major themes including COVID-19 resiliency, adapting to industry consolidation, IP protection concerns, reconsidering IP strategy, communicating value, technology challenges and the role of IP service providers.
Job Titles:
- President of Helios Management Company
Michael Cantor was a guest on Pulse of the Region radio show and podcast with Lalitha Shivaswamy, President of Helios Management Company, and Bruce Carlson, President and CEO of the Connecticut Technology Council (CTC). The panel discussed ScaleUP CT, a conference on November 2, 2017 at the Omni Hotel New Haven presented by the CTC that is designed to support emerging growth companies that excel in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Partner / Hartford
- Partner and Co
Leah Reimer is known and trusted for her leadership, having led Cantor Colburn's Chemical, Material, and Life Sciences Department and growing it into one of the firm's largest departments today, through dedication to adding maximum value to client products and services by the protection of intellectual property assets. Leah provides Fortune 50 and other technology-based companies with sophisticated, creative solutions to complex legal and technical issues. Her counsel is fully supported by the knowledge and experience gained through her Stanford Ph.D. in organic chemistry, her work as a research chemist at Eli Lilly and DowElanco, and her success as an IP attorney.
Leah's patent prosecution practice is focused primarily on polymer and materials science; pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical formulation; agricultural chemicals and their formulation; nanotechnology; and metallurgy and ceramics. She taught Advanced Patent Law at the University of Connecticut School of Law for as an Adjunct Professor for more than ten years. She is one of the Top 250 in IP Law (IP Stars) and a Woman of the Law High Achiever (Connecticut Law Tribune).
Experience Highlights
Cantor Colburn is pleased to announce that Leah Reimer, Ph.D. has been named in Managing Intellectual Property's Top 250 Women in IP for 2016. Managing Intellectual Property's research process comprises interviews and surveys and only a small subset of this group is selected for the Top 250 recognition.
Leah Reimer, Ph.D., Partner and Co-Chair of the firm's Chemical, Material, and Life Sciences Department, will speak at the International Intellectual Property Law Association (IIPLA) Annual Congress 2015 during January 5-6, 2015 at Le Méridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. She will present the topic "Prior Use Rights - Established Worldwide, but Assert Only with Caution in the U.S."
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Adjunct Professor, Advanced Patent Law, UConn Law
- Partner, Co - Chair of the Electrical Engineering Practice, Chair of the Additive Manufacturing Practice / Hartford
Brad Lawrence focuses his practice on intellectual property counseling including the protection of clients' inventions through carefully planned patent procurement. His practice also includes analysis of the IP and product positions of others and the development of licensing strategies as well as performing product clearances in the form of non-infringement and/or invalidity opinions. He also has significant prior litigation experience that includes many aspects of patent, trademark, and trade secret litigation as well as licensing and other extrajudicial resolution of IP disputes.
Experience Highlights
Brad Lawrence will speak on the panel, "Aligning Your Portfolio & IP Strategy with The Business" at the IP Strategy Summit - Palo Alto on November 12, 2024. Brad, a Partner co-chairs the Electrical Engineering Practice Group and chairs the Additive Manufacturing Practice Group.
Brad Lawrence speaks on Integrating IP into your Business Culture at the IP Leadership Executive Summit 2024 in San Jose, California, April 24-25, 2024.
Brad Lawrence will speak on the panel, "The Foundation of your IP Strategy: Innovation, Prosecution and Portfolio Management" at the Center Force IP Strategy Summit: West in Palo Alto on October 11, 2022.
Brad Lawrence will be on the Patent Prosecution Update Panel at the New York City virtual summit Risk & Uncertainty: The New Normal for IP on October 29, 2020.
On Monday, June 22, 2015, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a ruling in Kimble v. Marvel Enterprises that leaves intact a 50-year-old rule barring royalty agreements that continue after a patent expires. Cantor Colburn partner Charles O'Brien is among the experts who comment in IP Law360.
Co-Managing Partner Michael Cantor is quoted in the Connecticut Law Tribune's July 9, 2015 article, "Conn. IP Firm Helps ESPN Star Patent a Really Cool Cooler" written by Megan Spicer. Cantor Colburn assisted Mike Golic and his son Jake in securing a design patent for an innovative tailgating cooler that features multiple access points and seating.
Job Titles:
- Chairman
- Appointment by Governor Dannel P. Malloy
- Co - Managing Partner
- Co - Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn, Wil
- Co - Managing Partners
- Partner / Hartford
Michael Cantor led the remarkable growth of Cantor Colburn LLP, transforming it from a small patent law firm into one of the largest and most successful full-service intellectual property law firms in the nation, with top-ten rankings in patents and trademarks. As Co-Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn LLP for more than 30 years, Michael traveled the world, cultivating new business and establishing strong bonds with clients as a trusted advisor. Michael continues to be an active partner at the firm, focusing on nurturing these key client connections.
Clients include multinational corporations, Fortune 100 companies, mid-size companies, high tech start-ups, universities, and government research institutes based in the U.S. and worldwide. Michael represents companies in a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, medical device, energy, consumer products, entertainment, and many more.
Michael is frequently invited to speak on IP, innovation, the law, and economic development. He is active in associations such as the International Trademark Association (INTA), the American Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), and the Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI).
Michael is also active in supporting economic development and innovation. He is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Innovations, the quasi-public agency charged with growing Connecticut's economy by making strategic capital and other investments that encourage the development of high-tech industries within the state. He is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History and a member of the Board of Directors for the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford.
Michael is an active alumnus of University of Connecticut School of Law, where he taught Patent Law as an Adjunct Professor for twenty-five years. He is a member of the Advisory Boards of the University of Connecticut School of Law and School of Engineering.
Experience Highlights
Michael Cantor, Co-Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn LLP and Chair of Connecticut Innovations, will accompany Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont and other public and private sector leaders on a trip to Israel. The weeklong trip from February 17-25, 2022 will focus on strengthening Connecticut's connections to members of Israel's innovation ecosystem, including venture capitalists, incubators, accelerators, and thought leaders.
Co-Managing Partner Michael Cantor's role in the "seamless partnership between state government and the private sector" effort to make Hartford, Connecticut an "technology-and-innovation hub" for Infosys, an India-based information technology company undergoing a major expansion in the U.S., is featured In the March 15, 2018 article, "How CT wooed Infosys to Hartford," by Mark Pazniokas (HartfordBusiness.com).
Cantor Colburn is the Fastest Growing Patent Law Firm in the U.S.
Michael A. Cantor has been elected to the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Historical Society (CHS). Mr. Cantor and his fellow trustees will help the CHS fulfill its mission to "connect you and the story of Connecticut" through exhibits, special events, guest speakers, and research opportunities.
Michael Cantor, Co-Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn, spoke at the 2012 Seoul International Trademark Forum on October 19, presented jointly by the International Trademark Association (INTA) and the Korean Trademark & Design Association (KOTA) at the COEX Intercontinental Seoul. Mr. Cantor's presentation discussed the issues of "use" and "intent to use" in the establishment of trademark rights in the United States. An audience of 250 trademark practitioners from South Korea and around the world attended the Forum. INTA and KOTA timed their event to lead up to the 43rd World Intellectual Property Congress of the Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI), also held in Seoul immediately following the International Trademark Forum.
Michael Cantor, co-managing partner of Cantor Colburn, will be part of a panel discussion on IP Landscaping and Competitor Analysis at the Best Practices in Intellectual Property (BPIP) Annual Conference on October 25, 2021, which brings global decision makers and international IP practitioners together with updates and analysis on IP global issues, trends and legislation.
Michael Cantor will be recognized as 2021 Human Relations Honorees at the National Council for Community and Justice (NCCJ) Annual Human Relations Awards Banquet on October 13, 2021 in Hartford.
Michael Cantor, Co-Managing Partner, and Michelle Ciotola, Partner and Vice Chair of the Trademark & Copyright Department, will attend the ECTA's 37th Annual Conference in Athens, Greece. ECTA (the European Communities Trade Mark Association) promotes the knowledge and professionalism of members and owners alike in the fields of trade marks, designs, copyright and other IP rights within the European Union.
Cantor Colburn is proud to sponsor the New York Intellectual Property Law Association's 96th Annual Dinner in Honor of the Federal Judiciary on March 23, 2018. The firm is a longtime sponsor of the Judges' Dinner.
Michael Cantor, Co-Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn, will be a featured speaker. Michael is an Alum of the School of Engineering and the Law School. He has been an adjunct professor teaching at the Law School for more than 20 years.
Michael Cantor is chair of the 2018 United Arts Campaign, in support of the Greater Hartford Arts Council, which kicks off on March 15, 2018 with the event, "Big Red for the Arts," which Cantor Colburn is also sponsoring.
Michael Cantor gave the keynote speech when the Connecticut State Legislature hosted the Connecticut Invention Convention at the state Capitol. 170 student inventors from 14 schools, legislators, and Cantor Colburn Associate Eric Baron, a CIC board member, attended.
Job Titles:
- Partner
- Vice Chair
- Nancy Kennedy, and David Kincaid
- Trademark & Copyright Practice Partner
Michelle Ciotola and David Kincaid's article, "Blockchain, Cryptocurrency and NFTs: Metaverse Technologies in US Trademark Applications," appears in IPLS Proceedings, a publication of the State Bar of Michigan's IP Section.
"Enforcement in the Metaverse," by Michelle Ciotola and David Kincaid is published in The Trademark Lawyer Magazine's special supplement, NFTs, Cryptology & the Metaverse, November 2022. Michelle chairs the firm's Trademark & Copyright Practice Group and David co-chairs the firm's Artificial Intelligence Practice Group.
Trademark & Copyright Practice Partner Michelle Ciotola and Associate Ben Cantor will attend the ECTA (the European Communities Trade Mark Association) 42nd Annual Conference on June 19-21, 2024 in Antwerp, Belgium. Ben is Vice-Chair of the ECTA Programme Committee.
Michelle P. Ciotola, Partner and Vice Chair of the firm's Trademark & Copyright Department, attended the European Communities Trade Mark Association (ECTA) 34th Annual Conference in Budapest, Hungary, on June 28, 2017.
Job Titles:
- Managing Partner
- Co - Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn, Will Host a Roundtable Discussion on the Alice Ruling and Its Implications at the IP Strategy Summit in Atlanta on April 14, 2015
- Speaker
Managing Partner Phil Colburn has transformed Cantor Colburn into one of the nation's leading intellectual property law firms. Phil leads a team of attorneys, patent agents, and technical advisors who are committed to helping clients optimize their IP assets through the timely delivery of top quality, cost-effective legal services.
His counsel to Fortune 50 multinationals, as well as smaller companies and universities, is informed both by unique technical insights gained from his years of professional experience as a design engineer and by strategic perspectives derived from more than 30 years' practice as an IP attorney. Taking a proactive, results-driven approach allows him to help clients define their needs and implement strategies that achieve their objectives. A frequent speaker on IP issues, Phil was an adjunct professor of Patent Law and Copyright Law at Western New England University School of Law.
Experience Highlights
Cantor Colburn is sponsoring The IP Strategy Summit: Houston on October 2, 2018 at the Hotel Derek, where Co-Managing Partner Philmore Colburn II will be a featured speaker.
Phil will be part of a panel discussion on "Portfolio Management and Patent Prosecution: Going Beyond Quality." He will also lead a roundtable discussion on "Unintended Consequences of Nautilus, Highmark, Octane & ALICE for Patent Owners."
Phil Colburn will be a part of the panel presentation and discussion, "Portfolio Management & Patent Prosecution in the Era of IPRs, ALICE & OCTANE" at the IP Strategy Summit: Boston on November 15, 2017. Phil also led a roundtable discussion on "Unintended Consequences: What Patent Owners Need to Know about Nautilus, Octane, Highmark and Alice."
Phil Colburn, Co-Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn LLP, attended the IPO Committee Leadership Meeting in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2017. Phil is the Vice Chair of the IPO Open Source Committee.
Co-Managing Partner Phil Colburn will be a panelist discussing international IP protection at the 2015 Intellectual Property SpringPosium, which the firm is also sponsoring.
Phil Colburn, Co-Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn, will host a roundtable discussion on the Alice ruling and its implications at the IP Strategy Summit in Atlanta on April 14, 2015.
Phil Colburn, Co-Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn, will be a part of the panel discussion "Patent Prosecution & Monetization - Ensuring Future Revenue Stream" at the IP Strategy Summit - Monetization: Harvesting Your IP in Silicon Valley, California, in January 2015.
Cantor Colburn is proud to sponsor the Pro Bono Partnership's 2018 Gala which marks the organization's 21st anniversary of providing free legal services to nonprofits in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
Job Titles:
- Attorney
- Managing Partner
- Adjunct Professor of Patent Law, Western New England University School of Law
- Managing Partner / Hartford
Job Titles:
- Leader, General Electric Silicones, 1996 - 1998
"Hartford area law firms seek more investment in technology, less on office space," by Stephen MacLeod, published by the Hartford Business Journal, September 6, 2021, discusses law firms' plans for office space in the future. Michael Cantor is interviewed.
As industry consolidates, Hartford's Cantor Colburn steadily becomes one of nation's largest IP law firms
Cantor Colburn's Co-Managing Partner, Michael Cantor is the chairman of the board of Connecticut Innovations (CI). He was quoted in the Hartford Courant's recent article "Connecticut Innovations Board Reorganizes Its CTNext Program" (June 23, 2016).
Job Titles:
- Litigation Partner
- Pharmaceutical Litigation Chair
Pharmaceutical Litigation Chair Steve Coyle will be a panelist at the Paragraph IV Disputes Conference in New York City, November 9-10, 2021. Also attending the conference are Michael Cantor and Nick Geiger.
Pharmaceutical Litigation Chair Steve Coyle will be a panelist at the Paragraph IV Disputes Conference in New York City, April 29-30, 2019. Cantor Colburn has a dedicated Pharmaceutical Practice Group comprised of experienced litigators, Ph.D. chemists, and patent attorneys expert in other supporting technologies. Also attending from Cantor Colburn are Michael Cantor and Nicholas Geiger.
Cantor Colburn is pleased to sponsor the 8th Annual Pharma IPR Conference in Mumbai, India, on March 6-8. 2019. Steve Coyle, who leads the Pharmaceutical IP Services Practice Group and co-chairs the Litigation Department, will speak on "ANDA Filing and Litigation: Procedures to Respond."
Cantor Colburn litigation partner Steve Coyle moderated the panel "The Ongoing Jurisdiction Debate: From Mylan to TC Heartland" at the Paragraph IV Disputes Conference in New York City, which the firm also sponsored. Cantor Colburn has a dedicated Pharmaceutical Practice Group comprised of experienced litigators, Ph.D. chemists, and patent attorneys.
Thomas Mango, Partner and Trademark Litigation Chair and Trademark & Copyright Practice Associate Ben Cantor will attend the ECTA (the European Communities Trade Mark Association) 41st Annual Conference. Ben is Vice-Chair of the ECTA Programme Committee and will present a session on bad faith and morality.
Job Titles:
- Co - Managing Partner Michael Cantor Is Interviewed about the Firm 's Steady, Consistent Growth
Job Titles:
- Partner and Vice Chair of the Life Sciences Practice
Todd Garabedian, Partner and Vice Chair of the Life Sciences Practice at Cantor Colburn LLP, and other IP lawyers will participate in Diverse Careers in IP, a live panel at Quinnipiac University School of Law presented by the New York Intellectual Property Law Association (NYIPLA) on April 19, 2023. The panel will discuss opportunities for lawyers in today's intellectual property marketplace.
Job Titles:
- Patent Office Practice Committee Member