A U.S. Air Force veteran, Michael is experienced in all areas of intellectual property (IP) law including M&A due diligence, non-infringement and clearance opinions, IP in bankruptcy, licensing, patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret work.
An honest, straight-forward client advocate, Michael is active in the Milwaukee and Madison communities serving on several non-profit boards and frequently lecturing on various IP topics. One of the co-founders of the firm, he is a past Vice President as well as a past President for the State Bar of Wisconsin’s IP Section and St. Thomas More Lawyers’ Society and past Chair of the Milwaukee Bar Association’s IP Section. Michael is also a published author, most recently co-authoring the chapters on patents and trade secrets for the Wisconsin State Bar’s Business Advisor Series. His clients have included high tech startups, entrepreneurs, physicians, manufacturers, medical device developers, NASA, NIST, the University of Wisconsin, the University of New Mexico, a Fortune 25 giant, a 300 year old Japanese company, private equity companies, famous consumer brands, and closely held family businesses.
Noteworthy Cases
Negotiations:
• Represented biotech start-up Agro Biosciences in sale to Church & Dwight for $100 million
• Negotiated patent license agreement for Milwaukee Inventor and Doctor with Boston Scientific for medical device netting millions of dollars in royalties
• Represented software start-up True Process in sale to Baxter International allowing several of the founding principals early and comfortable retirement
• Assisted with IP due diligence for software start-up Foundry Health’s Sale to iQvia
Litigation:
• Won Foamation vs. Wedeward Enterprises lawsuit (EDWI)
• Settled Prismagraphics vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers lawsuit (Florida)
• Settled SAS v. Khan, Napean et al. lawsuit (SDNY)
• Settled AEGIS FOOD TESTING LABORATORIES, INC., vs. AEGIS SCIENCES CORPORATION lawsuit (South Dakota)
• Won Hou vs. Posey Products lawsuit and got sanctions awarded from the Chinese Court (China)
Experience
• U.S. Air Force, Top Secret Clearance, 4th Satellite Communications Squadron, Space Systems Crew Commander and Flight Operations Control Officer
• Founder, Shareholder, Board Member, Vice President, and Secretary for Boyle Fredrickson Newholm Stein & Gratz, S.C.
- Wisconsin Air National Guard, 115th F-16 Fighter Wing, Deputy Staff Judge Advocate (JAG)
- Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., Associate
- Nilles and Nilles S.C. , Associate
• New Berlin, WI School Board, Member and Board Clerk
- S.D.A.- Forest Products Laboratory, Intellectual Property Law Clerk
- U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Intern for Judge Robert Warren
- Wisconsin Department of Justice, Public Intervener’s Office, Intern
- Wisconsin State Assembly, Sergeant at Arms’ Staff.
News & Publications
• Boyle Fredrickson Among Top Trademark Firms
• Boyle Fredrickson and Kikkoman Discuss International Relations
• Camp Invention Excites Children About Math and Science
• Intellectual Property Rights Up for Grabs In Cases of Bankruptcy
• State Bar of Wisconsin Business Advisor Series
• Anti-cybersquatting Protection Act, Business Law News, State Bar of Wisconsin
• “The Napster Controversy”, Milwaukee Bar Messenger
• “Inspiring Young Inventors”, Wisconsin School News,
• American Bar Association, Legal Arsenal
Awards & Recognitions
• Recognized in Best Lawyers in America for work in Trademark Law
• Rated AV Preeminent for Over 10 years– Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
• Elite Lawyers award
• MMAC Member and Future 50 Business winner for three consecutive years plus “Master Mettle Award”
• Real Estate Holding at 840 N. Plankinton Awarded Milwaukee ”Mayor’s Urban Design Award” for bringing back 100 plus year old building along the Milwaukee River
• Awarded Unit and Headquarters Crew of the Quarter
• Awarded Company Grade Officer of the Quarter
• Awarded Combat Crew Badge
• Awarded US Air Force Commendation Medal; Meritorious Service Medal; Air Force • Achievement Medal; Combat Readiness Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Air Force Training Ribbon
• Awarded Outstanding Unit Award for the USAF’s 4SCS and WI Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing
• Served as an early warning missile detection officer in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm
Community Involvement
• Project Lead the Way, Catholic Memorial HS, Presenter and Sponsor
• Robotics 1732 Team, Marquette University HS, Presenter and Sponsor
• Head Coach
- New Berlin Athletic Association, Boys basketball; Boys baseball, Girls softball
- CYM, HS Boys Basketball
• Member and Volunteer- Holy Apostles Parish
- Parish/Pastoral Council Member and School Commission Member
- School High Interest Day and Parish Festival Volunteer and Sponsor
• Volunteer Presenter, Complex Issues in Copyright for Educators, New Berlin School District
• Camp Invention Volunteer, Sponsor and Presenter, New Berlin Public Schools, Summers
• Volunteer Presenter, Copyright Concerns for Health Professionals, St. Francis Hospital,
• Adult Youth Leader, St. Charles and St. Stephen’s Parishes, Confirmation Retreats
• Men’s Ministry Leader, Holy Apostles Parish; Men of Christ, Sponsor and Leader
• Milwaukee Guest House Sandwich Project, Volunteer and Supporter
• Blood Center of Wisconsin; American Red Cross, Supporter and Donor
Professional Activities
• Board of Trustees, St. Francis DeSales Seminary
• Elections’ Chair, New Berlin School District Board of Canvassers/Recount Commission
• New Berlin School Board Committee Member, Architect and Construction Manager Selection Committee, Orchard Lane
• Union Bargaining Team Member, School District of New Berlin
• Milwaukee Delta Upsilon Fraternity Club, 50 Year Chairman for Annual Dinner
• Uniform Computer and Information Technology Act Committee, State Bar of Wisconsin, Founding Member
• Information Technology & E-commerce Committee of the Business Law Section State Bar of Wisconsin
• State of Wisconsin Governor’s Economic Summit II, III Workshop Planner and Leader
• Wisconsin Innovative Service Center Conference on Innovation, Presenter and Sponsor,
• Caucus – The Association of High Tech Professionals, Presenter and member
• American Intellectual Property Law Association (Electronics and Computer Law, Emerging Technologies, Trade Secrets, and Licensing Committees), Member
• Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
• Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), Member, 2002-present; Milwaukee Chapter Annual Student Night Host and Sponsor for area college and high school students
• Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), Member, 2005- present.
• Paul’s University of Wisconsin Catholic Foundation, Board Member; Chair
• Buick Car Club of America, Member and Owner of 1965 Skylark Convertible
