William G. Abbatt
Patent Prosecution & Patent Litigation
Michigan OfficeP (248) 226-2760wabbatt@brookskushman.com
With 35+ years of experience as a patent attorney, Bill’s practice involves all aspects of domestic and foreign patent preparation, prosecution and assertion, including dispute resolution. He regularly counsels clients on the development and management of patent portfolios. Bill’s practice includes counselling on how to protect various aspects of inventions and monetize them by sale and licensing.
Bill has managed intellectual property matters in many technical disciplines including manufacturing, metallurgy, chemistry, medical devices and aeronautics. His background in industry plus his diverse experience in writing and prosecuting hundreds of patents have enabled Bill to spot the strengths and weaknesses in a patent when a dispute or enforcement issue arises.
He has an affinity for working with emerging entities whose value can be enhanced by effective intellectual property portfolio creation and management to help his clients’ businesses succeed. In one case, he introduced two separate clients – a physician and an entrepreneur – and brought them together to develop and protect medical devices to treat patients and enhance the quality of their lives.
Bill is a member of the Federal Bar Association – Eastern District of Michigan Chapter and currently serves as a co-chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section. He is a former council member of the Aviation Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan. Bill is a Fellow of the Michigan State Bar Foundation and a Master of the Bench (American Inns of Court). Bill also served on the steering committee that formed the Michigan Intellectual Property American Inns of Court Chapter and was its President (2017-18). He was an adjunct professor of patent law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law.
He has been appointed as an Expert Adviser and Facilitative Mediator in the Federal District Court, Eastern District of Michigan.
Outside the office, Bill enjoys flying his Beechcraft Debonair airplane, skiing, playing golf and tennis, working out and travelling to England, his birth place. He and his wife Candyce count Vail Colorado and Ft Lauderdale as favorite haunts.
Organizations and Affiliations
Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court, President (2017-18)
Federal Bar Association (Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Law Section, E.D. Mich. Chapter)
State Bar of Michigan
Michigan Patent Law Association
Adjunct Professor of (Patent) Law, University of Detroit Mercy
Beaumont Health Trustee
Recognitions
“Leading Lawyer,” Leading Lawyer Magazine, 2014-2020
“Top Lawyer,” DBusiness Magazine, 2015-2016, 2020-2021
“IAM Patent 1000 Recommended Individual,” Intellectual Asset Management, 2014-2017
Michigan Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property, 2006-2012
Press Releases
Eight Brooks Kushman Shareholders Named To 2021 Top Lawyers List
Ten Brooks Kushman Shareholders Named To 2020 Top Lawyers List
Michigan Intellectual Property Inn Of Court
Brooks Kushman Recognized as Gold-Standard Firm in Patent 1000 Listing for Third Consecutive Year
Eleven Brooks Kushman Attorneys Named Top Lawyers
Brooks Kushman Recognized as Michigan's only Gold-Standard Firm in Patent 1000 Listing
Brooks Kushman, four attorneys named IP Stars' by Managing IP
Brooks Kushman's Cantor and Angileri Recognized as 2014 Best Lawyers in America
Brooks Kushman Attorneys Honored by Michigan Super Lawyers in Intellectual Property
Brooks Kushman's Abbatt to Discuss Strategies for Protecting Medical IP at 12th Annual New Cardiovascular Horizons Conference
The Fab Five: Five Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named to 2010 Super Lawyers List; Two Attorneys Honored as Rising Stars
Brooks Kushman's Abbatt to Address Physicians, Medical Executives about Patents and Cardiovascular Medicine at 11th Annual New Cardiovascular Horizons Conference
Protecting Innovation in America: Brooks Kushman Ranked as a Top IP Firm by Fortune 100 Companies
Brooks Kushman's William Abbatt to be Keynote Speaker at Entrepreneurial Initiative of Southeastern Michigan Event
Brooks Kushman's William Abbatt to speak at the MIT Enterprise Forum on Protecting IP on a Shoe-string Budget
Six Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named to 2008 Super Lawyers List; Five Up-and-Coming Attorneys Named Rising Stars
Brooks Kushman Lawyers Named to 2007 Super Lawyers List
Michigan Tech Enterprise SmartZone* Selects Brooks Kushman to Provide Patent Assistance to U.P. Entrepreneurs and Small Businesses
Media Coverage
Featured, “Ripple effect, British ex-pat attorney looks at impact of ‘Brexit’ on IP laws,” Detroit Legal News, July 2016
Featured, “2014 Patent 1000,” Intellectual Asset Management, June 2014
Featured, “IP Stars,” Managing IP, May 2014
Featured, “Super Lawyers” Michigan Super Lawyers, September 2006
Publications
Author, “How to Protect Your Intellectual Property,” MG Magazine, October 2020
Author, “Can And Should I Patent My Idea For An App?,” June 2017
Author, “Intersection of Patents and Medicine: 5 Tips to Maximize the Inventor’s Rights,” Medical Design Technology, July 2010
Co-author, “Protecting the Crown Jewels: Intangible Company Assets – Patent Protection,” Small Business Association of Michigan, May 2007
Author, “Bringing Out the Big Gun: Invoking the Sherman Act in Patent Litigation,” Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal, December 2004
Author, “Protection of Slogans: Part of Everyday Speech and Related Issues,”
Detroit Legal News, April 2004
Presentations
Moderator, “Ex Parte and Inter Partes Patent Appeals Concerning Obviousness – The Intersection of the PTO Practice and the Courts,” Federal Circuit Bar Association, April 2017
Speaker, “Maximizing Device Patent Scope and Life: Navigating Through the Medical Device Patent Minefield,” American Conference Institute Summit on Medical Device Patents, March 2013
Speaker, “Protecting Your Patent Ideas as a Doctor,” New Cardiovascular Horizons Conference, June 2011
Speaker, “Patents and Cardiovascular Medicine: An Intersection of Practices,” New Cardiovascular Horizons Conference, June 2010
Speaker, “Intellectual Property Troubleshooting for the Medical Executive,” New Cardiovascular Horizons Conference, June 2010
Speaker, “Patent Attorneys can be Entrepreneurs too,” EISEM Entrepreneurs Forum, February 2010
Speaker, “Protecting Your IP Without Bankrupting Your Fledgling Enterprise,” MIT Enterprise Forum, November 2009
Speaker, “Use of Special Masters in IP Litigation,” Seminar at U.S. District Court – Eastern District of Michigan Judges and Clerks, October 2009
Speaker, “Strategic Management of Intellectual Property,” Society of Plastics Engineers Automotive Composites Conference, September 2005
Speaker, “Should I get a Patent? Why, When and How Successful Businesses Use Patents,” Michigan Tech Enterprise SmartZone, June 2005
Speaker, “Strategic Management of Intellectual Property,” American Institute of Chemical Engineers Spring National Meeting, April 2004
Speaker, “Evolution of the Invention from Conception through Patent Prosecution and Patent Grant: Changes Wrought by the AIPA,” Society of Plastics Engineers Automotive Composites Conference, September 2003
Education
J.D., Detroit College of Law, Editor, Law Review
M.S., Operations research & Production Engineering, University of London, England
B.S., Metallurgy & Material Sciences, University of London, England
Admissions
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Michigan
U.S. District Court, Western District of Michigan
U.S. Court of Appeals, 6th Circuit
U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Texas
Michigan Supreme Court
U.S. Supreme Court
United States Patent and Trademark Office