Press Releases
Barbara Fornasiero
barbara.eafocus@sbcglobal.net
248.651.7536
ANN ARBOR --- Kelly K. Burris, an attorney in the Ann Arbor office of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., is set to participate in the Air Race Classic, an all-female aviation race that dates back to 1929 and the era of famed woman pilot Amelia Earhart. This year’s race route covers approximately 2,400 miles and will be held from June 24 – June 27. Ms. Burris will fly from her Oakland County base on June 21 to the race starting point in Bozeman, Montana. The race will finish in Mansfield, Massachusetts, where the top ten winners will split a $15,000 prize.
Ms. Burris will be piloting her 1962 Beechcraft Debonair airplane, which is affectionately known as “The Deb.” Thirty-six teams are participating in the Air Race Classic and Ms. Burris is on Team #31 with her co-pilot, Erin Recke of Bellingham, Washington. Ms. Burris, one of five Michigan women in the race and the only one who resides in Southeast Michigan, says her first-time participation in the Air Race Classic combines her love of flying with the ability to raise money for the Air Charity Network, which matches people in need with free flights and other travel resources.
“Since a very young age, I have had a passion for aviation and flying, and I have always been a serious competitor. To be able to participate in such a historic event, experience the wonderful camaraderie that exists among women aviators and to hone both my flying skills and the performance of my airplane, is an opportunity I couldn’t resist. I’m also excited to be racing on behalf of my favorite charity, the Air Charity Network, and to be a part of raising awareness of women in aviation.”
According to the race website, www.airraceclassic.org, “Each plane is assigned a handicap speed and the goal is to have the actual ground speed be as far over the handicap speed as possible. The pilots are thus given the leeway to play the elements, holding out for better weather, winds, etc. The objective is to fly the perfect cross-country. In this type of race, the official standings cannot be released until the final entrant has crossed the finish line. Actually, the last arrival can be the winner.”
A pilot since 1984, Ms. Burris learned to fly at Western Michigan University while pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Aeronautical Engineering. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Burris worked for more than 11 years as an engineer in the aviation industry. As a practicing lawyer, she has handled hundreds of patent issues involving aviation. In addition to flying for pleasure and business, Ms. Burris is also a volunteer pilot with Angel Flight Mid-Atlantic and Angel Flight Central, members of the Air Charity Network.
When she’s not flying, 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. She prepares clearance/freedom-to-practice opinions, drafts and negotiates licensing agreements and joint development agreements, and supports patent and trademark litigation, including client counseling, discovery, depositions and brief writing. Ms. Burris is also involved in due diligence with mergers and acquisitions, transactional matters, management and administration of corporate intellectual property portfolios and policies, and strategic competitive intelligence.
Ms. Burris is a resident of Pleasant Ridge. She holds a law degree from Saint Louis University, a Master of Science Degree in Material Science and Engineering from Washington University and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Aeronautical Engineering from Western Michigan University.
Air Charity Network (www.aircharitynetwork.org) is a national network of several independent member organizations arranging free flights of hope and healing by transporting children and adults in need.
Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with four additional offices across the country serving the intellectual property needs of clients from around the world. The firm is one of the largest IP law firms in the country, with more than 170 attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents specializing in intellectual property litigation and all aspects of patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, unfair competition, intellectual asset management, and technology and licensing agreements. Brinks routinely handles assignments in fields as diverse as electrical, chemical, mechanical, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, nanotechnology, Internet and computer technology, as well as in trademarks and brand names for a wide variety of products and services.
