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- Joel A. Austin
Joel Austin is a shareholder in Reinhart’s Intellectual Property Practice, where he focuses on global patent acquisition, defense and enforcement of diverse mechanical and electrical technologies. Delivering sophisticated counsel, Joel partners with his clients, which include manufacturers of all sizes, in developing strategic patent portfolios, asserting and defending patent rights and leveraging investments in research and development.
Joel becomes part of his clients’ teams, beginning each relationship by ensuring a comprehensive knowledge of their business, intellectual property objectives and core technologies.
Drawing on his mechanical engineering education from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and his practical engineering experience at a defense company, Joel provides both legal acumen and an extensive depth of practical industry knowledge. Leveraging his unique patent enforcement and defense experiences, Joel thoughtfully counsels clients to develop robust intellectual property portfolios that provide meaningful and strategic business advantages.
Joel is an exceptional adviser, highly regarded by his clients who trust his guidance to make informed decisions. He approaches every client interaction with a sense of ownership, treating it as if it were his own investment, project or business. A thoughtful, straightforward approach has earned him a reputation for delivering effective yet sophisticated solutions.
Outside of the office, Joel enjoys spending time with his family, doing everything from cross-country road trips to family dinners to off-roading adventures.
Education
- J.D., magna cum laude, Marquette University Law School (Technical Editor and Associate Editor, Marquette Law Review)
- B.S.M.E., magna cum laude, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Bar Admissions
Wisconsin
Court Admissions
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Practices
Services
- Patent Preparation and Prosecution |
- Patent and Intellectual Property Litigation |
- Patent Searches - Patentability, Right-to-Use and Validity |
- Patent, Trademark and Copyright Licensing |
- Inter Partes Review and Post Grant Review |
- Intellectual Property Due Diligence and Audits |
- Trade Secret and Nondisclosure Counseling
- Provided patent enforcement and defense counsel in more than two dozen post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent Trial and Appeal Board, including inter partes review proceedings and related district court litigations. Further defended clients’ rights on appeal to the Federal Circuit.
- Developed tailored patent portfolio strategies for existing products and planned future developments to enhance clients’ industry presence.
- Managed worldwide patent portfolios that include utility and design patent assets in, for example, the United States, South America, Europe and Asia.
Honors
- Memorial Writing Competition (First Place, "Examining the Policy and Potential Impact of the 'Cooperative Research and Technology Enhancement Act of 2004': Congress' Latest Attempt to Promote Cooperative Research")
- ASCAP Nathan Burkan Memorial Competition (First Place, "Re-Hanging the Corporate Veil: Shielding Corporate Actors from Secondary Copyright Liability")
- American Bar Association (Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law)
Affiliations
- State Bar of Wisconsin (Intellectual Property Law Section)
- American Bar Association (Section of Intellectual Property Law)
News & Insights
- "Sovereign Immunity of Patents: While a Strong Benefit to Patent Owners, These Patents Remain Subject to Traditional Challenges"
- "Examining the Policy and Potential Impact of the ‘Cooperative Research and Technology Enhancement Act of 2004’: Congress’ Latest Attempt to Promote Cooperative Research"
- "Re-Hanging the Corporate Veil: Shielding Corporate Actors from Secondary Copyright Liability"