Thomas Agnello is senior counsel at Michael Best & Friedrich LLP, where he has practiced law for 19 years. He focuses on complex intellectual property litigation, with an emphasis on high-stakes trademark and copyright matters.

Agnello describes his greatest career accomplishment as building a practice that draws on experience across federal courts, government service and private practice. Earlier in his career he served as a federal district and appellate law clerk and as a federal prosecutor. He has worked as an intellectual property litigator for more than a decade, and credits that breadth of experience with giving him an informed understanding of how IP issues are evaluated and decided in court.

His approach to complex intellectual property disputes is grounded in meticulous preparation, careful case assessment and sound judgment. He focuses on developing the facts thoroughly, connecting key points and presenting them in a way that is persuasive and accessible to courts and juries.

Agnello is a member of the International Trademark Association’s International Amicus Committee. He also serves on the boards of directors of the Milwaukee County Historical Society and the Cornell Club of Wisconsin.

Stacy Alexejune, a partner with Quarles & Brady, is a client-orientated litigator for product liability defense and intellectual property protection. Her appreciation for design and innovation extends into intellectual property enforcement and litigation, with an emphasis on teamwork, trade secret, copyright and unfair competition matters.

Alexejune has experience with a variety of industries and products including vehicles such as electric scooters, cars and motorcycles; industrial products and heavy equipment; lead paint and industrial processes; and healthcare entities.

She understands her clients spend time and resources on developing their products and building their brands and strives to protect their investments and important assets.

Alexejune is passionate about promoting and empowering women and mothers who practice law and values the importance of mentoring of young attorneys.

She serves on the board of directors for Special Olympics Wisconsin, is a committee member for Quarles Cares and volunteers with Quarles & Brady’ Legal Intervention for Nonviolence Clinic.

Ryann Beck is a partner and registered patent attorney at Andrus Intellectual Property Law.

She counsels clients on the full range of intellectual property matters, including domestic and international patent and trademark prosecution, licensing, enforcement and related contract negotiations. Her practice includes advisement on patentability, validity and infringement issues, with extensive experience drafting and negotiating agreements.

With a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology, and prior industry experience at NASA Johnson Space Center and Impulse Monitoring, Inc., Beck brings a wealth of technical insight to her IP practice. Her patent work spans software, automation, robotics, medical technologies, circuits and mechanical devices.

She remains active in the global IP community, serving on the International Association for the Protection of Intellectual Property (AIPPI) and American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA).

Beck is also an adjunct professor at Marquette University Law School. She also volunteers as a mentor with different Milwaukee-based organizations.

Patrick M. Bergin is a shareholder at von Briesen & Roper, s.c. and has practiced law for 25 years. His work encompasses intellectual property matters including protecting and monetizing IP and patenting new inventions. He counts his commitment to continuous learning as his greatest career accomplishment, embracing the idea that practicing law means discovering something new every day.

Bergin is driven by the satisfaction of helping clients achieve their objectives, which he describes as wide and varied depending on each client’s particular IP goals. That client-centered focus is at the core of his approach to the practice.

He is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association. Outside of the law, Bergin serves as chairperson of the Lake Beulah Management District and as president of Elmbrook Little League.

Erin Ella Block is a special counsel at Godfrey & Kahn with 11 years of experience as an attorney. She has built a practice focused on helping clients make thoughtful, strategic business decisions, going beyond answering legal questions to help them protect what they have built, resolve issues before they become larger disputes and negotiate agreements that allow important business relationships to move forward.

Block considers her greatest career accomplishment to be earning long-term client trust by being practical, prepared and deeply invested in her clients’ success.

Partnering with clients, understanding their businesses and helping them achieve meaningful success is what drives her as an attorney.

Block is actively involved in a number of professional and civic organizations. She serves on the State Bar of Wisconsin Board of Governors and is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association and the American Bar Association. She also volunteers with the Milwaukee Justice Center and the Marquette Volunteer Legal Clinic.

William Bortz is the managing attorney at Wisconsin Immigration Law Group and has practiced law for 11 years.

Bortz points to two sources of professional pride as his greatest career accomplishments: helping families stay united and employing a number of ambitious and hardworking employees.

His professional philosophy is straightforward: consistency leads to success.

On what drives him to success as an attorney, Bortz is direct — helping people is what drives him and is his greatest reward.

With more than 35 years of experience in commercial and intellectual property litigation, James F. Boyle provides guides his clients with a steady hand through what can sometimes be complex cases.

One of the founders of Boyle Fredrickson in Milwaukee, Boyle served as the firm’s president for several years. He prepares and prosecutes both patent and trademark applications and has also successfully litigated many cases involving patent infringement, trademark infringement, trade secret misappropriation and copyright infringement of misappropriated architectural works in both state and federal courts.

Boyle is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association, a Fellow of the American Bar Foundation, a Fellow of the Wisconsin Bar Foundation, the State Bar of Wisconsin (Litigation and Intellectual Property Law Sections) and the American Bar Association (Litigation, Intellectual Property and Science and Technology Sections.)

Shane Delsman is a shareholder and intellectual property practice group leader at Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., and has practiced law for 19 years.

Among his career accomplishments, Delsman points to his work on the Trademark Modernization Act with Congress and the United States Patent and Trademark Office as particularly meaningful. The experience gave him a firsthand view into how legislation is developed, negotiated and enacted, and allowed him to see his contributions reflected in the text of the law itself.

Delsman’s professional philosophy is rooted in consistency. He believes every matter entrusted to him is important to his client and approaches each one with the same level of focus, responsiveness and commitment to achieving the best possible outcome, regardless of size.

Delsman currently serves as past president of the Eastern District of Wisconsin Bar Association, on the Council for the Intellectual Property Law Section of the American Bar Association and on the Pro Bono Committee of the International Trademark Association. He previously served as president of the Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association and president of the board for the Schlitz Audubon Nature Center.

On what drives him to success, Delsman draws on Vince Lombardi’s belief that success comes from hard work, dedication and applying the best of oneself to the task at hand.

Andrew Dufresne is a partner at Perkins Coie LLP with 15 years of experience as an attorney. His greatest career accomplishment came when he argued his first appeal on behalf of an Army veteran who had waited more than 60 years to receive VA benefits for a service-related injury. Working alongside colleague Ken Albridge, Dufresne won the appeal, securing disability compensation for his client and establishing legal precedent that has continued to benefit other veterans.

Dufresne credits his success to a commitment to building relationships and continuous learning. He values the connections he has developed with colleagues, clients, co-counsel, opposing counsel, court staff and expert witnesses, noting that his professional network makes the work more rewarding and leads to new opportunities. He also finds satisfaction in approaching each case as a new puzzle with its own legal issues and technology, believing that personal investment in understanding the details leads to better outcomes for clients.

Dufresne regularly partners with the National Veterans Legal Services Program to serve pro bono clients. He serves on the board of directors for the Federal Circuit Bar Association and is a member of the amicus brief committee for the Intellectual Property Owners Association.

Jennifer Gregor is a shareholder at Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., and has practiced law for 21 years.

Among her greatest career accomplishments, Gregor points to building a practice where clients have become friends and friends have become clients, as well as being part of the team at Godfrey & Kahn.

Gregor’s professional philosophy centers on creative and efficient problem-solving. She describes herself as a strong advocate who is not afraid to work hard to get the right result, with a particular passion for tackling complex challenges.

Gregor has been involved with the International Trademark Association throughout her career and spent several years on the board of the Western District of Wisconsin Bar Association. In the community, she currently serves on the board of the All-City Swim & Dive League in Madison and volunteers regularly as a USA Swimming Official.

On what drives her to success, Gregor recalls a moment when her first-grade daughter declared that being a lawyer must be a job for moms, having grown up knowing many of her mother’s female lawyer friends. The memory stays with Gregor and reminds her of the importance of perspective, both in life and in the practice of law.

Dave Hanson is a shareholder at Reinhart with 34 years of experience as an attorney.

Hanson considers his greatest career accomplishment to be earning the trust of clients and colleagues and developing confidence and better judgment over time. The leaders he most admires lead by example, share credit and communicate clearly. For Hanson, effective leadership also requires that those being led know their leader will be honest with them and genuinely wants them to succeed.

Within the legal profession, Hanson serves on the adjunct faculty of Marquette University Law School. He has also volunteered at the Milwaukee Justice Center and represented incarcerated people in pro bono civil rights matters. In the broader community, he has been involved with tutoring and mentoring organizations including Big Brothers Big Sisters and Literacy Services of Wisconsin.

Joseph Heino brings decades of legal experience backed by a foundation in electrical engineering. Heino, a partner at Amundsen Davis, said his greatest career achievement was being selected as the firm’s service group leader for intellectual property.

He focuses most of his practice on licensing and collaboration agreements, helping clients protect, manage and enforce their IP across patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets.

An attorney for 44 years, Heino said understanding his client’s goals and exceeding their expectations through strategic thinking and results-driven analysis drives him to success. He said representing his client’s interests is both an honor and a privilege, and that commitment drive him to achieve successful outcomes.

Heino is a member of the American Bar Association, American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association and Wisconsin Intellectual Property Lawyers Association.

Richard L. Kaiser has spent the past 26 years helping clients navigate the complexities of patent law with a focus on strategy, education and practical results. Kaiser is the managing partner at the Michael Best & Friedrich LLP’s Waukesha office and the past chair of the Intellectual Property Group.

While advising clients on the spectrum of IP matters, he focuses on patent prosecution, infringement and validity analysis, post-grant proceedings and agreements like licensing and non-disclosure.

Whether working with new inventors or experienced portfolio holders, Kaiser tailors his guidance to the client’s needs, educating them on the value, costs and alternatives of patent protection. Over the past decade, he has observed clients increasingly using data analytics to optimize where and how to protect innovation.

His approach to practicing law regardless of case is rooted in a lesson from the early days of his legal career.

“From my first days as a summer associate at Michael Best, I was taught that clients hate surprises,” Kaiser said. “That mantra has guided me throughout my career to focus on educating clients and being proactive in communicating all possible outcomes.”

Mark Kassel counsels clients across the full spectrum of intellectual property law, with a focus on patents, trademarks, copyrights and licensing. He is a partner at Foley & Lardner‘s Madison office, where he is the former chair of the firm’s Chemical, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Practice and a past leader of the Intellectual Property Department.

Kassel regularly drafts and negotiates agreements ranging from licenses and joint ventures to consulting and distribution arrangements. He also advises on patent validity, non-infringement and portfolio strategy. Beyond patents, Kassel manages worldwide trademark portfolios and enforces trademark rights, while additionally serving as primary copyright counsel.

He is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association, the National Association of Patent Practitioners and the Licensing Executives Society, among other professional affiliations.

Joseph A. Kromholz is a founding shareholder, vice president, head of litigation and registered patent attorney at Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.C., and has been licensed in Wisconsin since 1989 — more than 35 years in the practice of law.

Kromholz counts helping build Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.C. — an intellectual property boutique with roots tracing to 1873 — and leading its litigation department for more than three decades as his greatest career accomplishment. He is particularly proud of representing sprout farmers in Brassica Protection Products LLC v. Sunrise Farms, where the court invalidated the asserted patent claims, a decision later affirmed by the Federal Circuit.

His leadership philosophy rests on three pillars: rigorous technical preparation, sound strategic judgment and unwavering integrity. He is driven by the responsibility of safeguarding client innovations and mentoring the next generation of IP litigators.

Kromholz has served on the board of directors of the State Bar of Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Section, including as past chairperson, and is a past president of the Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association. He formerly served as an adjunct professor at Marquette University Law School and currently chairs the City of Whitewater Community Development Authority.

Joseph Leone chairs DeWitt LLP’s Intellectual Property practice group. He has clients from around the world who turn to him to secure and enforce their intellectual property rights.

He helps clients secure patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets and asserting and defending those rights in state and federal court. Leone also regularly represents both applicants and opposers in actions before the Trademark Trial & Appeal Board.

Leone is frequently engaged in opinion work, drafting freedom to operate opinions for U.S. manufacturers and foreign companies importing goods into the country.

Leone is active in several professional organizations. He is a member of the Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association, Wisconsin State Bar Intellectual Property Law Section, University of Wisconsin Extended Campus – MS in Applied Biotechnology Advisory Board and American Chemical Society and serves as secretary for the Catholic Diocese of Madison Foundation Board of Directors.

A registered patent attorney for more than 25 years, John Manion is one of the founding shareholders of Ryan Kromholz & Manion, S.C. in Brookfield. The firm’s managing partner, he leads the patent law team.

Manion’s practice includes counseling clients on patent prosecution, patent infringement and validity issues, trademark prosecution, litigation, licensing, contracts and transactions. He has written and prosecuted hundreds of utility patents and design patents and has supervised the preparation and prosecution of many others, both in the United States and abroad.

Manion holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and primarily represents manufacturers throughout Wisconsin. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

He is active in many legal and professional organizations including the Milwaukee Bar Association where he served as co-chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section, the Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association where he served as secretary/treasurer and president, the Alumni Board of Directors at the Marquette University College of Engineering and the Alumni Board of Directors at Marquette University Law School. He is presently a member of the Marquette University Law School Woolsack Society.

Manion is a guest lecturer at Marquette University’s College of Engineering on intellectual property law issues.

For more than 25 years of experience, Richard McKenna, a partner at Foley & Lardner, LLP, has helped clients in a broad range of intellectual property matters. He has extensive experience counseling clients in the selection, adoption and use of trademarks.

A licensed patent attorney, McKenna regularly counsels clients in the prosecution of U.S. and foreign patents, product clearance studies, potential patent infringement analysis and developing effective worldwide intellectual protection strategies. He has also represented several clients in domain name disputes.

Based on his technical background and a bachelor’s degree in materials and metallurgical engineering, McKenna has addressed patent issues in material science, mechanical arts and in the areas of medical devices, food products and processing, automotive products, office furniture, power tools and other industrial products.

With a background as a field service engineer, Thomas Miller brings a client-first mindset to his three-decades-long intellectual property practice, balancing responsiveness and clear communication with practical strategy.

A partner at Husch Blackwell, Miller helps companies of all sizes protect their intellectual property assets from early-stage product development through to commercialization and corporation transactions. He routinely works with in-house patent attorneys to manage patent portfolios, advise on protection services and maximize the value of their innovations.

He serves as the first point of legal contact to several clients and brings that business-centered perspective to his IP work. Clients appreciate his sound judgment, practical approach and ability to distill difficult concepts into actionable advice.

Miller’s clients span several industries including heavy equipment manufacturing, financial services and the software service (SaaS) sector.

Joseph T. Miotke is a partner at DeWitt LLP with 27 years of experience as an attorney. He serves on the firm’s Executive Committee and co-chairs both the Intellectual Property Group and the IP Litigation Group. Among his greatest career accomplishments is founding and building DeWitt’s IP practice in the Milwaukee market and helping grow it into a recognized resource for innovators, entrepreneurs and established companies, while also mentoring the next generation of IP attorneys.

Miotke approaches leadership through a servant leadership philosophy rooted in accountability — to clients, colleagues and the integrity of the profession. He believes the best leaders remove obstacles, listen first and measure success by the growth of their teams and the results they deliver for clients. Committed to staying at the forefront of intellectual property law, he returned to school mid-career to further study computer programming and applied artificial intelligence.

Miotke has been appointed by two Wisconsin governors and unanimously confirmed by the Wisconsin Senate to serve on the Wisconsin State Public Defender Board. He served as statewide leadership chair for Project Lead the Way Wisconsin, on the board of directors of BizStarts, as national chair of IP Basic Education for the Licensing Executives Society, as president of the Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association, and on the board of the State Bar of Wisconsin’s Intellectual Property & Technology Law Committee.

Aaron E. Schindler is an associate at Ashurst Perkins Coie LLP, where he has practiced law for three years.

Schindler counts two highlights as his greatest career accomplishments: winning three pro bono veteran disability appeals before the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims and serving as an important part of his firm’s team litigating Ozempic and Wegovy patents.

As he grows into a leadership role for more junior associates, Schindler is guided by a philosophy of paying forward the help he has received throughout his own career.

Schindler is a member of the Dane County Bar Association and the State Bar of Wisconsin. He attends Legal Mentor Network events and volunteers with the Veterans Consortium Pro Bono Program.

He is fond of a quote from Theodore Roosevelt that speaks to his drive as an attorney: “Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell ’em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find out how to do it.”

Melissa Spindler is a founding partner at Smith Keane LLP with 21 years of experience as an attorney. She counts among her greatest accomplishments the founding and sustained growth of Smith Keane LLP, which has been thriving for 11 years.

Running a small firm, she says, has given her a firsthand understanding of the decisions small business clients face daily and the direct impact every investment has on a company’s bottom line — a perspective that shapes her practical, business-forward approach to legal counsel.

Spindler is passionate about leaving the legal profession in a healthier and more inclusive place than she found it, with a focus on addressing addiction and mental health struggles that have long gone unspoken in the industry. She works to model that commitment through her involvement with WisLAP and her role organizing the Quality of Life track at the Wisconsin Solo and Small Firm Conference.

Spindler is actively involved with the State Bar of Wisconsin, where she has served on the Board of Governors, as a WisLAP mentor, on the planning committee for the Wisconsin Solo and Small Firm Conference, and as chair of the Leadership Development Committee. She is also a member of the Hartland-Lake Country Rotary club, where she is transitioning from president to Community Service Committee co-chair.

Tambryn K. VanHeyningen is a partner at Quarles & Brady LLP, where she has practiced law for 20 years. Her work is concentrated in intellectual property, with a focus on patent prosecution in the ChemBioPharma space.

VanHeyningen considers leading and growing the ChemBioPharma patent prosecution team at Quarles her greatest career accomplishment. She stepped into that leadership role during the pandemic, navigated a rapidly changing work environment and played a central role in recruiting, training and mentoring new team members. She takes particular pride in the collaborative team that was built and in the patent agents and attorneys she helped develop along the way.

Her leadership philosophy is built on setting clear expectations, providing meaningful training and feedback, and leading with flexibility and compassion. She believes her genuine enthusiasm for her work and clients is contagious and serves as a source of inspiration and motivation for her team.

VanHeyningen is a member of AUTM, the Association of University Technology Managers, and the American Bar Association. She credits both organizations with helping her stay engaged with developments in intellectual property law and technology transfer.