Press Releases

Ann Arbor – Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., is pleased to announce that attorneys Steven L. Oberholtzer and Eric J. Sosenko have been recognized by their peers as leading lawyers in their field by The Best Lawyers® in America for 2011.

Steve Oberholtzer is the Managing Partner of the Ann Arbor office and has served on the firm’s Board of Directors. He focuses his practice on patent and trademark counseling, corporate intellectual property policy development, technology licensing, joint development and joint venture relationship agreements, United States Patent and Trademark Office administrative proceedings, including interferences, re-examinations, re-issues, trademark oppositions, patent application preparation and prosecution, providing opinions regarding infringement risks, design-around projects and patentability and administration of corporate intellectual property portfolios. He has experience in the mechanical and electro-mechanical disciplines, with particular emphasis on automotive industry issues, and has significant experience in technology areas, including medical devices, lasers, fiber optics, optical devices and heavy industrial equipment. Mr. Oberholtzer is the principal author of a primer on intellectual property entitled, The Basic Principles of Intellectual Property Law, in the second edition of which was published in 2009 following its initial publication in 2006.

Mr. Oberholtzer holds a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Kettering University, formerly known as the General Motors Institute, and received his J.D. from the Detroit College of Law at Michigan State University. He is involved with civic and professional organizations, including the Technology Transfer Society and the Licensing Executives Society. Mr. Oberholtzer is a resident of Chelsea.

Eric Sosenko is a shareholder in the firm and his intellectual property law practice at Brinks focuses on the procurement, enforcement and licensing of patents and trademarks in all industrial fields, including the mechanical, electro-mechanical, medical and material arts. He counsels on the strategic implementation and management of domestic and international intellectual property portfolios for various multinational clients and deals with a wide range of general and specific intellectual property issues, including: licensing, joint venture, consulting and other agreement issues; patent and trademark application preparation, procurement and appeals; product and trademark protectability, infringement and clearance opinions; and litigation analysis, strategy and support.

In addition to his U.S. practice, Mr. Sosenko has an extensive international practice with significant experience in international protection, both directly with all major foreign intellectual property offices and under various multinational treaties, including the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the Hague Agreement and the Madrid Protocol.

Mr. Sosenko received his J.D. and a B.S. in mechanical engineering from West Virginia University. He is active in various civic and business organizations, including the Ann Arbor Area Chamber of Commerce and the Boy Scouts of America and is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association, the State Bar of Michigan, the Washtenaw County Bar Association and the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property. Mr. Sosenko is currently serving a three year term on the Council for the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. He is a resident of Green Oak Township.

Based on the number of top listed attorneys in Intellectual Property law, Best Lawyers® also ranked Brinks #1 in Chicago, the State of Illinois, Ann Arbor (tie), and in Morrisville/Raleigh, North Carolina in the 2011 U.S. edition of the guide. The firm’s North Carolina office also ranked #1 in Biotechnology Law.

Since its inception in 1983, Best Lawyers® has become recognized as one of the definitive guides to legal excellence. Best Lawyers® is based on an exhaustive peer-review survey in which attorneys cast votes on the legal abilities of other lawyers in their specialties. The current, 17th edition of The Best Lawyers in America (2011), is based on more than 3.1 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. Lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed for inclusion in Best Lawyers®. Lawyers are voted into specialty areas entirely as a result of the votes they receive from their peers.

Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States and serves the intellectual property needs of clients around the world. Brinks has 150 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents who specialize in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark and copyright law. The firm also advises on issues relating to intellectual asset management, trade secret, unfair competition, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments for companies in the electrical, chemical, and mechanical engineering sectors; the biotechnology, pharmaceutical and nanotechnology industries; and for companies whose work relates to Internet and computer technology law. The firm’s trademark practice works on behalf of clients who deal in a wide variety of products and services. Founded in 1917, Brinks is based in Chicago and has five additional offices across the country, including its new office in Washington D.C. More information is available at www.usebrinks.com.