Press Releases

ANN ARBOR - Steven L. Oberholtzer, Eric J. Sosenko, and Lawrence G. Almeda, shareholders in the Ann Arbor, MI office of Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., have been named Michigan Super Lawyers® for 2009 in the practice area of Intellectual Property law in the fourth annual survey conducted by Law & Politics magazine. James K. Cleland, also a shareholder, was named one of Michigan Super Lawyers Rising Stars for the second consecutive year. Rising Stars recognizes the top up-and-coming attorneys in the state who are 40 years old or younger, or have been practicing for 10 years or less.

Mr. Oberholtzer is the managing partner of the Ann Arbor office of Brinks 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 and patentability and administration of corporate intellectual property portfolios. Mr. Oberholtzer is the principal author of a primer on intellectual property law published in 2006 entitled, The Basic Principles of Intellectual Property Law, the second edition of which was most recently published in June 2009. Mr. Oberholtzer is a resident of Chelsea, MI.

Eric J. Sosenko's 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. 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 is a resident of Green Oak Township, MI.

Lawrence G. Almeda chairs the firm's Nanotechnology Practice Team. His legal practice focuses on patent procurement and patent opinions involving non-infringement, invalidity and patentability. Mr. Almeda is active in numerous professional and civic groups. He is the President of American Citizens for Justice (ACJ) and was appointed in April 2009 to the Asian Pacific American Affairs Commission for the State of Michigan by Governor Jennifer Granholm. He is a federally-appointed member of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, State Advisory Committee. Mr. Almeda is also a member of the Governor's Advisory Council on Asian Pacific American Affairs, Assistant Regional Governor of the Central Region for the National Asian Pacific American Bar Association and a past president of the Michigan Asian Pacific American Bar Association. Additionally, he is a member of the Asian Pacific American Chamber of Commerce, where he serves on the Global Strategic Committee. Mr. Almeda resides in Canton.

James K. Cleland specializes in patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret and unfair competition litigation in a broad range of technologies, including the chemical, materials science, mechanical and medical device arts, as well as in client counseling, opinion and licensing work in those same areas. He is a resident of Ann Arbor.

Super Lawyers is a listing of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. Only five percent of Michigan attorneys have been named to the Super Lawyers list and no more than 2.5% of the state's young attorneys have been named to the Rising Stars list. The selection process is based on peer nominations, blue ribbon panel review and independent research. For additional information about Super Lawyers, please visit www.superlawyers.com.

Founded in 1917, Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione is based in Chicago with five additional offices across the country, including Ann Arbor, 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 180 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.