Intellectual Property Lawyers | Patents, Trademarks & IP

Protecting Innovation. Powering Business Decisions.

Intellectual property is one of the most valuable assets a business owns—representing over 80% of the average company's value. The right IP strategy doesn't just protect ideas; it drives competitive advantage, supports growth, and creates leverage in transactions and disputes.

Ice Miller's Intellectual Property team partners with businesses at critical decision points—from defending market position when it matters most to securing and commercializing the intellectual property that makes it possible. Whether you're a startup building your first patent portfolio or a Fortune 50 company managing global brands, we deliver strategic, business-aligned IP counsel that translates technical complexity into clear, actionable decisions.

Why Clients Choose Our Ice Miller Intellectual Property Team

Right-Sized for Agility and Efficiency. Clients value our ability to deliver sophisticated IP counsel without unnecessary complexity or cost. We are large enough to handle the most complex matters—including multi-forum patent litigation, ITC investigations, and global trademark portfolios—and nimble enough to move quickly, staff efficiently, and stay closely connected to your business priorities.
IP Practitioners Who Understand Your Technology—and Your Business. Our team of nearly 40 attorneys and agents includes scientists, engineers, a former CTO, a former Supervisory Patent Examiner, and multiple former in-house patent counsel—several with over 20 years of experience building patent estates in the pharmaceutical industry. We don't just understand IP law; we understand the innovation behind it and the business decisions it supports.
Cross-Practice Integration That Competitors Can't Easily Match. IP issues rarely exist in isolation. Ice Miller's IP team works seamlessly with our litigation, life sciences, bankruptcy and restructuring, corporate, and regulatory teams—giving clients coordinated, multidisciplinary advice. Whether it's IP due diligence in an M&A deal, enforcing patents alongside a complex restructuring, or advising life sciences companies from lab to market, we connect the dots across disciplines.

Intellectual Property Results That Protect What You've Built

We measure our success by client outcomes:

Won bet-the-company patent litigation and PTAB proceedings, preserving client business lines and market positions
Negotiated complex IP licenses for major research institutions, monetizing patent portfolios across public and private partnerships
Filed more than 1,000 patent applications and secured more than 450 granted patents in a single year
Managed 800+ trademark and 350+ patent matters for a $5 billion global technology company
Facilitated strategic collaborations between emerging biotech companies and global pharmaceutical leaders

How Our IP Lawyers Help Clients Across the IP Lifecycle

Patents

Our patent lawyers enforce and defend patent rights in federal courts, the International Trade Commission (ITC), the Federal Circuit, and Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) proceedings—bringing deep technical credentials and a proven track record to high-stakes disputes. We also help clients build, manage, and monetize patent portfolios across virtually every technical discipline, from life sciences and pharmaceuticals to electrical, computer, and mechanical technologies.

Trademarks, Copyrights & Brand Protection

We enforce and protect brands domestically and internationally—through opposition and cancellation proceedings, infringement litigation, and strategic enforcement programs. Our team also guides clients through trademark selection, clearance, prosecution, and portfolio management across industries including consumer products, motorsports, insurance, technology, media, SaaS, financial services, and pharmaceuticals.

Trade Secrets

We represent both plaintiffs and defendants in state and federal trade secret litigation nationwide—moving quickly to secure injunctions, protect competitive position, and resolve disputes. We also counsel clients on building proactive trade secret programs that identify, classify, and safeguard confidential information before disputes arise.

IP Transactions & Technology Transfer

Our team provides end-to-end support for IP-driven transactions, including due diligence, portfolio valuation, licensing (in and out), joint development agreements, and strategic partnerships—ensuring IP assets are properly protected and leveraged in every deal.

Industries our Intellectual Property Team Serves

Our IP team regularly supports clients where innovation and competitive risk intersect, including:

Life Sciences & Pharmaceuticals — From patent litigation and enforcement to portfolio development, commercialization, and strategic licensing
Technology & Software — Defending IP rights in high-stakes disputes and protecting source code, user interfaces, databases, and SaaS platforms
Consumer Products & Brands — Enforcing trademarks and copyrights and managing global brand protection programs
Manufacturing & Engineering — Patent litigation and enforcement across mechanical, chemical, and electrical technologies
Higher Education & Research Institutions — IP dispute resolution, technology transfer, and complex portfolio licensing

Awards & Recognition

Ice Miller's Intellectual Property practice is consistently recognized by the industry's most respected ranking organizations:

Contact Our Intellectual Property Team

Every IP challenge starts with a conversation. Whether you need to protect a new invention, defend against an infringement claim, or structure an IP-driven transaction, our attorneys are ready to help.