Thomas Tom Miller
Patent Law
Patent Law
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Tom is a Shareholder and Chairs the Patents and Intellectual Property Sections. An experienced attorney most active in patent prosecution, portfolio management and providing opinions of counsel, Tom drafts and prosecutes U.S. and foreign patent applications; renders non-infringement, validity, patentability and inventorship opinions; drafts and interprets license, indemnification, employment and non-complete agreements; prepares and prosecutes trademark and copyright registrations; and counsels clients on a range of intellectual property issues including portfolio management, patent strategy, and design-around efforts.Since 1995, Tom has been practicing in the mechanical and electro-mechanical arts, with significant experience in engines, transmissions, medical devices, automotive components, aerospace components, earth-moving equipment, wind turbines, elevators, consumer products, HVAC equipment, valves, pumps, sporting goods, robotics, and automation. Well versed in the reissue, re-examination, examiner interview and appeal processes of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Tom works with clients ranging in size from large global corporations to small locally-owned businesses and independent inventors in not only maximizing the protection of their ideas, but taking advantage of their economic value as well.Before joining von Briesen, Tom founded and managed an intellectual property firm in Chicago for fifteen years, and has practiced patent law for twenty-five years in total. Prior to his career as a patent attorney, Tom was an engineer with Rockwell Automation working within its motor, drive and programmable logic controller division. Tom is a Shareholder and Chairs the Patents and Intellectual Property Sections. An experienced attorney most active in patent prosecution, portfolio management and providing opinions of counsel, Tom drafts and prosecutes U.S. and foreign patent applications; renders non-infringement, validity, patentability and inventorship opinions; drafts and interprets license, indemnification, employment and non-complete agreements; prepares and prosecutes trademark and copyright registrations; and counsels clients on a range of intellectual property issues including portfolio management, patent strategy, and design-around efforts. Since 1995, Tom has been practicing in the mechanical and electro-mechanical arts, with significant experience in engines, transmissions, medical devices, automotive components, aerospace components, earth-moving equipment, wind turbines, elevators, consumer products, HVAC equipment, valves, pumps, sporting goods, robotics, and automation. Well versed in the reissue, re-examination, examiner interview and appeal processes of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Tom works with clients ranging in size from large global corporations to small locally-owned businesses and independent inventors in not only maximizing the protection of their ideas, but taking advantage of their economic value as well. Before joining von Briesen, Tom founded and managed an intellectual property firm in Chicago for fifteen years, and has practiced patent law for twenty-five years in total. Prior to his career as a patent attorney, Tom was an engineer with Rockwell Automation working within its motor, drive and programmable logic controller division.
Recognized in Best Lawyers since 2022
Raymond Rivera
I engaged Thomas Miller at von Briesen & Roper for assistance with a utility patent application for a mechanical component my small business developed. With his three decades of experience and his leadership of the firm's Patents section, I was confident in his technical and legal expertise, which was evident. His background in portfolio management and his recognition in patent law showed in the thoroughness of the initial application draft. However, the process felt somewhat transactional. While the work product was technically sound, there were periods of several days where I received no response to my follow-up emails, which created some anxiety given the time-sensitive nature of filing. My expectations for proactive updates weren't fully met. For straightforward patent prosecution, he is certainly capable, and his deep knowledge of the Chicago legal landscape is an asset. The final filing was handled correctly. The experience was adequate for my needs, though I was hoping for a more collaborative and communicative partnership given the firm's reputation.