Mitchell A. Katz

Mitchell A. Katz is Chair of Ballard Spahr's Intellectual Property Department. He also is the Practice Leader of the Patents Group and a member of the group's chemical, pharmaceutical, and nanotechnology teams.

Mr. Katz serves as patent counsel to numerous chemical and pharmaceutical companies ranging from large multinational corporations to small start-ups and various universities. He focuses on domestic and international patent procurement, client counseling, and opinion writing, as well as reexaminations and international opposition proceedings.

Mr. Katz has been an expert witness in a patent and trade secret litigation and is a frequent speaker at conferences on the subject of patent protection for chemical inventions. Before entering private practice, he worked in the chemical industry for both E. I. du Pont de Nemours, Inc., and The Dow Chemical Company, and was a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in the chemical arts.

Mr. Katz is Adjunct Professor of patent law at Emory University School of Law.

Professional Activities

American Bar Association

American Chemical Society, Division of Chemistry and Law
Past Program Chair (1998-2002); past Assistant Program Chair (1997-1998)

American Institute for Chemical Engineers

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Association of University Technology Managers

Atlanta Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section

Federal Circuit Bar Association 

State Bar of Georgia, Intellectual Property Section

Intellectual Property Owners

Society of Plastics Engineers

Recognition & Accomplishments

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, intellectual property law, 2009-2012

The Best Lawyers in America, patent law, 2013

Recognized as one of "IP Stars" in Georgia by Managing Intellectual Property magazine, 2013

Publications

Co-author, "Court Revamps Patent Inequitable Conduct," Ballard Spahr Alert, May 31, 2011

Speaking Engagements

"Hot Topics and Current Events in Chemical Patent Law," American Chemical Society, Georgia Section, March 20, 2012

"Therasense – Inequitable Conduct and Ethical Considerations in IP Practice," Seventh Annual SpringPosium IP CLE Conference, Atlanta Bar Association IP Section and Georgia State University College of Law, April 30, 2011

"European Patent Opposition Practice – A U.S. Patent Attorney's Perspective," State Bar of Georgia, IP Law Section, April 12, 2008

"Advanced Topics in Patent Law – A Sea Change in Patent Protection?" Society of Plastics Engineers, Southern Section, October 15, 2007

"Protecting Your Invention – Getting it Right from the Start," Society of Plastics Engineers, Southern Section, September 17, 2007

Board Memberships

Emory IP Society Advisory Board

Virginia Tech Campaign, Atlanta Region, Chair

Georgetown University Law Center (J.D. 1992)

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (B.S., chemical engineering, 1984, cum laude)

Georgia

Virginia

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office