As a partner in the Intellectual Property Group in Hahn Loeser’s Cleveland office, Daniel J. Smola specializes in U.S. and international patent preparation and the prosecution of utility and design applications. He has patent drafting experience in a variety of industries, including: plumbing, extrusion, injection molding, radiation crosslinking of polymers, tire, marine, commercial flooring, medical device, professional tool, musical instrument accessories and household products, among others. Dan has participated in various Patent Office Quality Initiative programs including the Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP) and the Site Experience Education Program (SEE). As part of these programs, Dan has had the rare opportunity to conduct multiple Q&A sessions with groups of Patent Examiners to hear their feedback on working with Applicants and their respective patent attorneys. Having this unique perspective allows Dan to develop and implement various prosecution strategies based on his intimate knowledge of the patent examination process and the Patent Examiners themselves.
Dan also counsels clients with respect to branding policies with a focus on the selection, filing and enforcement of trademarks. Dan has drafted and prosecuted numerous trademark applications, both in the U.S. and internationally, and is experienced with the prosecution of trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings. He has transactional experience in the preparation of nondisclosure, license, transfer, purchase, co-existence, and settlement agreements for patents, trademarks and domain names and conducts IP due diligence for mergers and acquisitions. Dan also has extensive experience in conducting patentability, freedom-to-operate and trademark clearance searches and preparing related opinions. Dan provides counseling to corporate general counsel, corporate management and foreign associates to oversee the management of clients’ intellectual property portfolios including the development and the implementation of various IP strategies.
Dan is actively involved in the intellectual property community and has attended several patent and trademark programs, including the AIPLA Patent Prosecution Boot Camp with Associates (2015), the International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting (2015-18) and the INTA Trademark Administrator and Practitioners (TMAP) Meeting (2016).
Professional History
• Partner, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, 2015-present; Member, Recruiting Committee, 2014-present; Associate, 2013-15
• Associate, D. Peter Hochberg Co., L.P.A., 2006-13
• IP Project Attorney, Calfee, Halter and Griswold LLP, 2005-06
• Law Clerk, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., 2002-04
• Mechanical Engineer, Logicon FDC, 2001
• Production Supervisor Co-op, General Motors Metal Fabricating Division, 2000
• Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineer Co-op, TRW Value Division, 1998-99
Publications & Speaking Engagements
USPTO Requires U.S. Licensed Attorney for Foreign Trademark Applicants and Registrants
July 23, 2019
Community Involvement
Strongsville Economic Development Council
St. Ignatius High School Entrepreneur Academy
St. Ignatius High School Engineering Club
SEA Change (Social Enterprise Accelerator)
Memberships & Affiliations
American Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
International Trademark Association (INTA), Member
Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
