William Abbatt is a skilled patent attorney with experience in foreign and domestic patent prosecution matters. He has a background in varying disciplines including manufacturing, chemistry, and medical devices.
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 advises clients on the development and management of patent portfolios. Bill’s practice includes counseling 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 enable 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). He was an adjunct professor of patent law at the University of Detroit Mercy School of Law. Bill received Super Lawyers designation for 2006 – 2012, 2024. He was selected for this honor subsequent to undergoing an evaluation of many different factors including peer recognition and professional achievement.
Bill also served on the steering committee that formed the Michigan Intellectual Property American Inns of Court Chapter and was its President (2017-18). The Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court is a philanthropic organization of judges, lawyers and legal educators that seeks to promote fair and ethical practice amongst junior lawyers and law students. Bill helped to found the Inn and was enthusiastic about moving into a leadership role. Bill was able to take the organization forward, while staying true to its initial goal of promoting excellence in advocacy amongst those it mentors.
Bill holds a Juris Doctor from Detroit College of Law. Before that, Bill graduated with an M.S. in Operations Research & Production Engineering and a B.S. in Metallurgy & Material Sciences at the University of London, England. He has been appointed 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 traveling to England, his birthplace. He and his wife Candyce count Vail Colorado and Ft Lauderdale as favorite haunts.
Bill holds an Airline Transport Pilot rating, a Commercial pilot’s license, and is a Certified Flight Instructor.
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
Diploma of Imperial College, University of London, England
Organizations & Affiliations
Registered Patent Attorney
Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court, Founding Member, President (2017-18)
Federal Bar Association (Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Law Section, E.D. Mich. Chapter)
State Bar of Michigan
Michigan Bar Foundation
Michigan Intellectual Property Association (MIPLA), Member
Adjunct Professor of (Patent) Law, University of Detroit Mercy
Clearview Intelligence U.K. Non-Executive Board Member
Corewell East Health Trustee
Detroit College of Business, former Member Board of Directors
Recognitions
“Leading Lawyer,” Leading Lawyers, 2014-2020, 2025
“Top Lawyer,” DBusiness Magazine, 2015-2016, 2020-2021, 2023, 2025
“Super Lawyer,” Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property, 2006-2012, 2024-2025
“Wright Brothers Master Pilot Award,” American Bonanza Society, May 2021
“IAM Patent 1000 Recommended Individual,” Intellectual Asset Management, 2014-2017
Languages
French, Spanish
Presentations
Speaker, “Welcome To a Patent Case,” E.D. Mich. In-Court Seminar, March 2025
Speaker, “A Brief History of the Michigan Intellectual Property Inn of Court,” Michigan IP Inn of Court Annual Dinner, June 2023
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
Publications
Author, “Prompting Al to Build Aircraft Model-Specific Checklists,” American Bonanza Society, May 2026
Author, “The Wright Brothers’ Navigation Through the Patent System,” Brooks Kushman Trending IP Blog, February 2025
Author, “How to Protect Your Intellectual Property,” MG Magazine, October 2020
Author, “Can And Should I Patent My Idea For An App?” Brooks Kushman Trending IP Blog, 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