Gary A Smith

Gary begins each project by gaining an understanding of his client’s business needs as they relate to intellectual property. As an in-house attorney for one of the “Detroit Three” automakers for over eight years, Gary focused on patent portfolio development and strategy matters. He gained experience in a wide range of IP matters during that time, acting as patent manager for several different technologies including Safety, Chassis, Body Electric, Software, and Business Methods.

Whether drafting a patent application, preparing a freedom-to-operate opinion, or counselling a client on how to deal with an infringement threat, Gary applies a sharp attention to detail and excellent communication skills from start to finish.

Gary wrote his first patent application at age 18 when he clerked for a Detroit area law firm the summer before he started university. His patent clerkship continued the following two summers, but his full-time law career began only after working as an engineer for four years followed by eight years of service in the U.S. Air Force.

Gary currently holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the Michigan National Air Guard (reserves), and he has TS-SCI Clearance.

Organizations and Affiliations

State Bar of Michigan

American Bar Association

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association

Michigan Air National Guard

Project Salute

Education

J.D., Detroit College of Law, summa cum laude

M.S., Systems Engineering, Air Force Institute of Technology

B.S., Mechanical Engineering, Stanford University

Practice Area and Industries

• Patent Prosecution & Counseling
• Trade Secrets
• Covered Business Methods
• Licensing
• Electrical & Computer Technology
• Automotive