McCrackenFrank

Thomas P. Riley

Partner

Tom’s practice encompasses a wide range of technology and brand asset planning, development, protection, and enforcement, focused on helping clients realize long term value from intellectual property. Tom’s services range from counseling during initial business conception to help a client plan and enact a workable IP portfolio strategy, to obtaining and maintaining world wide protection of IP assets, through helping the client realize return on IP investments through enforcement and licensing of IP capital.

Tom has extensive experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications from disclosure through appeal to the Federal Circuit, coordinating large worldwide patent portfolios, analyzing new technologies for patent avoidance, and counseling patent owners regarding possible patent enforcement actions. Tom also prosecutes trademark applications, tries trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings, and counsels brand owners regarding development, avoidance, and assertion of branding rights.

Technical Expertise: mechanical, electro-mechanical, and computer software technologies, including surgical and prosthetic devices, surgical navigation systems, geodetic surveying and navigation systems, DC motor controls, storage containment systems, fragrancing devices, candles, vacuum pump technology, heavy machinery, steel and concrete industrial processing lines, automotive and recreational vehicle accessories, water filtration systems, variable digital printing systems, demand optimization systems, digital photography, liquid crystal displays, thin film lenses, construction machinery, distilling systems, and petrochemical processing systems.

Tom has been an adjunct professor at Valparaiso University School of Law and DePaul University College of Law, where he taught courses in patent prosecution procedure and patent drafting.

Professional Associations
American Intellectual Property Law Association
Chicago Bar Association
Indiana State Bar Association
International Trademark Association

Legal Experience
Botkin & Hall LLP, South Bend, IN
Associate Patent Attorney, 2002-2003

Young & Basille, P.C., Troy, MI
Patent Clerk, 2002

Non-Legal Experience
Chicago Bridge & Iron, Plainfield, IL
Civil Engineer

John E. Chance & Associates, Houston, TX

Opus Corporation, Minnetonka, MN

Publications
Prosecution History Estoppel: The Choice Between Public Interest and Inventors' Property Rights, 36 Val. Univ. L.R. 239 (2001).