Harness IP is pleased to announce that two intellectual property attorneys were named “Lawyer of the Year” 2021 by Best Lawyers®. The award is presented annually to a single outstanding lawyer in a specific practice area and designated metropolitan area.

The attorneys who received the designation include:

• Glenn Forbis – 2021 Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year,” Troy, Michigan
• Bryan Wheelock – 2021 Litigation – Patent “Lawyer of the Year,” St. Louis, Missouri

Forbis and Wheelock were also included in the 2021 “Best Lawyers in America” list, along with 30 additional Harness IP attorneys selected for their expertise in one or more practice areas. By office, these attorneys include:

Metro Detroit Office

• Geoffrey Aurini – Trademark Law
• Lisabeth Coakley – Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Trade Secrets Law, Trademark Law
• Michael Doerr – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law
• Stan Erjavac – Patent Law
• Monte Falcoff – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Patent Law, Trademark Law
• Glenn Forbis – Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, Trademark Law
• Paul Keller – Copyright Law, Patent Law
• Joe Lafata – Patent Law
• Tim MacIntyre – Patent Law
• Michael Malinzak – Patent Law
• George Moustakas – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent
• Stephen Olson – Patent Law
• Jessica Sachs – Trademark Law
• Gregory Schivley – Patent Law
• Robert Siminski – Patent Law
• Jeffrey Snyder – Patent Law
• W.R. Duke Taylor – Patent Law
• David Utykanski – Litigation – Intellectual Property Law, Patent Law

Metro St. Louis Office

• Matthew Cutler – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law
• Michael Kella – Litigation – Patent, Patent Law
• Greg Meyer – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law
• Brian Panka – Patent Law
• Douglas Robinson – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent
• Joel Samuels – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Trademark Law
• Michael Smith – Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent
• Michael Thomas – Copyright Law, Patent Law, Trademark Law
• Joseph Walsh – Copyright Law, Patent Law, Trademark Law
• Bryan Wheelock – Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, Trademark Law

Metro Dallas Office

• Gerald Welch – Copyright Law, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, Patent Law, Trademark Law

In addition to the “Lawyer of the Year” and “Best Lawyer” designations, Best Lawyers introduced the “Ones to Watch” award for 2021. This award recognizes attorneys who demonstrate outstanding professional excellence early in their careers. The recipients typically have been in practice for 5-9 years.

The following attorneys received this inaugural award for patent law:

• Chris Bond – Metro Detroit Office
• Paul Kim – Metro D.C. Office
• Evan Liebovitz – Metro D.C. Office
• Scott Yackey – Metro Dallas Office

About Best Lawyers®

Best Lawyers is the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. Their lists of outstanding attorneys are compiled by conducting exhaustive peer-review surveys in which tens of thousands of leading lawyers confidentially evaluate their professional peers. If the votes for an attorney are positive enough for inclusion in Best Lawyers, that attorney must maintain those votes in subsequent polls to remain on the list for each edition.

About Harness IP

Harness IP holds a #2 ranking from IAM Media for providing counsel to 44 companies with the largest portfolios of issued U.S. patents. The firm also ranks #6 for filing the most patent applications on behalf of those companies. Founded in 1921, Harness IP’s 100+ attorneys and patent agents focus exclusively on patents, trademarks, global IP management, litigation, and other IP rights. The firm has offices in Metro Dallas, Detroit, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C. Visit www.harnessip.com for more information.