Brooks Kushman

Brooks Kushman P.C. is an intellectual property and technology law firm headquartered in Royal Oak, Michigan, with additional offices in California, Washington D.C., and Nevada. Established in 1983, it is recognized as a national IP boutique. The firm features over 90 intellectual property professionals, including 36 partners and 73 IP practitioners. Brooks Kushman holds national Tier 3 rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation and Trademark Law, and regional Tier 1 rankings in Intellectual Property Litigation, Patent Litigation, Patent Law, Copyright Law, and Trademark Law in Detroit by U.S. News and World Report's "Best Law Firms" 2025 edition. Chambers USA also recognizes the firm in Band 2 for Intellectual Property in Michigan.

The firm's IP litigation practice boasts significant expertise across diverse technology areas. A cornerstone of their practice lies within the automotive industry, representing OEMs and suppliers in patent and trademark litigation, with many litigators possessing engineering backgrounds. Beyond automotive, Brooks Kushman handles matters in consumer electronics, manufacturing, medical devices, computer technology, aerospace, chemicals, biotechnology, retail, software, and telecommunications. While the firm represents both plaintiffs and defendants, its recent tracked case history indicates a primary focus on defending operating companies, with nine defendant appearances compared to two as plaintiff.

Brooks Kushman has secured notable outcomes in patent litigation. These include a $133 million jury verdict for z4 Technologies against Microsoft and Autodesk in a patent dispute. The firm also achieved a favorable jury verdict for Smartrend Manufacturing Group, Inc. against Opti-Luxx, Inc., finding willful infringement of design and utility patents related to LED school bus signs and awarding lost profits. In a case for Ford Motor Company against FMReps Consulting Enterprises, LLC, the firm secured an early dismissal based on Section 101 invalidity of asserted software patents. Additionally, Brooks Kushman successfully defended beauty brand Kitsch against design patent and trademark infringement allegations.

The firm maintains a robust Post-Grant Proceedings practice, recognized as a leader in handling reviews before the United States Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) since 2012. Their PTAB experience encompasses Inter Partes Review (IPR), Post-Grant Review (PGR), Covered Business Methods (CBM) reviews, interferences, derivations, reexaminations, and oppositions. Key attorneys like Christopher C. Smith have handled over 170 PTAB matters, while Frank A. Angileri has represented clients in over 70 such proceedings. Prominent IP litigation partners include Frank A. Angileri (President and recognized as a Senior Statesperson in IP by Chambers, and 2026 "Lawyer of the Year" for Intellectual Property Litigation and Patents in Detroit), John S. LeRoy (Co-Chair of Litigation), Christopher C. Smith (Co-Chair of Litigation), and Thomas W. Cunningham.