Paul A. Keller

Principal / Detroit Metro Office

As a registered patent attorney with more than 35 years of experience in the field, Paul has a reputation as a dedicated and effective intellectual property lawyer. Known for his excellent communication skills, Paul works closely with clients to make sure they understand their options when it comes to managing, leveraging, and protecting their IP portfolios.

Paul is valued for his ability to both balance and explain potential costs verses results. His practice includes the creation and overall management of significant domestic and international patent and trademark portfolios. He is regularly involved in a variety of technology disciplines and counsels clients regarding strategic procurement, enforcement, and licensing of utility and design patents, trademarks, and copyrights. He is also called upon to investigate and prepare freedom to practice, due diligence, and validity opinions, as well as to analyze and carry out alternative dispute resolution and litigation strategies.

Practice Areas

Industries

Paul is the author of an article on the Trademark Revision Act of 1988.

Unless it is absolutely necessary, Paul’s goal is to keep his clients out of court. He knows from experience not only how expensive litigation can be, but also its potential to disrupt business operations and derail development and expansion initiatives. Paul worked for more than a decade with Fortune 500 in-house counsel on their intellectual property jury and non-jury litigation and alternative dispute endeavors, where he frequently served as first chair on a myriad of patent, trademark and trade secret disputes.

Prior to joining Harness IP as a patent attorney, Paul was involved in the communication, construction ,and environmental industries.

Awards & Distinctions

  • Best Lawyers, Copyright Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Troy, 2019
  • Best Lawyers, Patent Law, 2013-2022
  • Best Lawyers, Copyright Law, 2017-2022
  • Michigan Lawyers Weekly, “Leaders In The Law,” 2018
  • Intellectual Asset Management (IAM), “Patent 1000,” 2018-2021
  • Leading Lawyers, named a “Leading Lawyer” for Copyright & Trademark, Intellectual Property, and Patents, 2014-2022
  • Michigan Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property, 2006, 2008-2019
  • “Top Lawyer,” DBusiness Magazine, 2010, 2014, 2020
  • Martindale-Hubbell, AV Preeminent® Rated, 5.0 out of 5.0
  • “Lawyer as Negotiator” Book Award
  • Tau Beta Pi
  • Chi Epsilon

Memberships

  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • International Trademark Association
  • Michigan Intellectual Property Inns of Court
  • Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan

Civic & Charitable

  • Birmingham Education Foundation, 1997-Present; President, 2006-2009
  • Boy Scouts of America, 1997-2005; Assistant Scoutmaster, 2000-2005
  • Jeremie Haiti Project, Mission Trip Volunteer, 2016-Present

Education

J.D., cum laude, University of Michigan, 1980

B.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, summa cum laude, University of Cincinnati, 1977

Bar & Court Admissions

Michigan

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office