Press Releases

ANN ARBOR - Kelly K. Burris, a shareholder in the Ann Arbor office of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Kansas City-based Angel Flight Central. Angel Flight Central is a volunteer, non-profit organization dedicated to removing the burdens of arranging long-distance transportation at times of personal and community crisis.

Ms. Burris is a long-time volunteer and fundraiser for Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic and Angel Flight Central, part of the Air Charity Network. A licensed pilot since 1984, Ms. Burris serves on a variety of missions transporting people with medical conditions who are unable to fly commercially to and from medical appointments, military personnel and their families, and medical supplies. Since 2008, Ms. Burris has raised more than $50,000 for Angel Flight, largely through her participation in the Air Race Classic, an all-female aviation race that dates back to 1929 and famed pilot Amelia Earhart. Ms. Burris won the Air Race Classic in 2009 and completed her third race in 2010. In 2009, Ms. Burris won the Unsung Hero Award from the State Bar of Michigan for her efforts with Angel Flight. Earlier this year, Ms. Burris was a recipient of the 2010 Women in the Law award from Michigan Lawyers Weekly, honored for both her legal accomplishments and her charitable endeavors.

Ms. Burris focuses her legal practice on the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications in the mechanical, material science and electrical arts. Prior to practicing law, Ms. Burris spent more than 11 years in the aerospace industry with McDonnell Douglas and Boeing, where she worked in diverse areas such as advanced composite materials, advanced design, production manufacturing, ballistics research and in virtual reality and CAD/CAM technology and applications. Ms. Burris holds a U.S. Patent in the area of fiber optics.

Ms. Burris is a resident of Ann Arbor. She holds a law degree from Saint Louis University, a Master of Science degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Washington University and a Bachelor of Science degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Western Michigan University. Ms. Burris has also served as an adjunct professor at Thomas M. Cooley Law School.

To learn more about Angel Flight Central, please visit http://www.angelflightcentral.org/.

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 newest office in Washington D.C. More information is available at www.usebrinks.com.