Welcome!
As a Patent and Intellectual Property (IP) Attorney, I help inventors and companies develop individually tailored IP portfolios and then leverage their IP rights to drive revenue and provide value. The IP portfolios are typically centered around patents, but often include copyrights, trademarks/trade dress, trade secrets, design patents, license agreements, and other rights. I also analyze corporate IP holdings, for example in conjunction with licensing, a merger, or an acquisition, and perform product clearances before a new product is released. Finally, I defend clients and respond to allegations that they are infringing the IP of others.
In recognition of my efforts I have been named an Illinois SuperLawyer in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 after having been named a Rising Star on the Illinois SuperLawyers List for 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2012. I was also included in the 2025 list of The Best Lawyers in America® for Patent Law. I have also been named to the Patent Buddy® List of Top Patent Prosecutors (representing the top 2% of Patent Prosecutors) in the areas of "Computer, Electrical, Software, and Business Methods". Currently, I practice at Barich IP Law Group, where I am a founding shareholder. I previously worked for 15 years with one of Chicago's largest IP specialty firms and helped the firm rise to be ranked #3 in the Nation for Patent Quality (#2 in the Information Technology area) by Intellectual Asset Magazine (IAM) as well as National Tier 1 for Patent Law by U.S. News. |
As an Adjunct Professor of Law at the University Of Illinois College of Law (CoL), I teach a hands-on Patent Prosecution course that teaches students the skill of Patent Prosecution from the ground up. 2024 is my 20th year teaching the course. I have been included in the "List Of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students" with regard to my teaching at the College of Law many times.
I also founded (in 2008) and direct an IP Clinic including a Patent Track wherein law students that did well in my Patent Prosecution course draft full patent applications for student inventors and a Trademark Track wherein law students work on trademark issues with student startups. Both the inventors and startups are referred to us by the Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC) at the University of Illinois College of Engineering, typically as part of the Cozad New Venture Challenge. I have also repeatedly been included in the "List Of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students" with regard to my work with the IP Clinic. In 2015, the IP Clinic was nominated for the 2015 Illinois State Bar Association Legal Education Award.
In 2019, I re-designed and taught a course entitled Introduction to Intellectual Property which was designed for non-IP-specialist law students, such as future in-house or corporate counsel. The course included practical instruction and projects relating to patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright law and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from students.
Additionally, it was my great honor to establish the Barich Excellence in Patent Law Award at the University of Illinois CoL in 2008. The Barich Award honors 3L law students having interest and accomplishments in patent law, and especially in patent prosecution. In 2024, the Barich Award reached its 17th Anniversary.
As a Lecturer at the University of Illinois Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering Department, I began teaching Engineering Law (originally as GE 400 - now SE 400) in the Fall of 2010. In Engineering Law I seek to arm the next generation of engineers with an understanding the legal framework under which they will be working in their careers. The course has been well received by students and I have consistently earned the ranking of "Excellent" or "Outstanding" on the List of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students. I was also awarded the 2012 Alpha Pi Mu & Gamma Epsilon Excellence in Teaching Award by the Industrial Engineering and General Engineering student honor societies and the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department Head Teaching Award in 2016 and again in 2021 for my work in teaching Engineering Law. Additionally, in 2022, it was my great honor to be awarded the University of Illinois Campus-Level Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, which is presented by the Provost.
In the Fall of 2014, I began to teach a course entitled Legal Issues In Engineering Entrepreneurship (renamed Startups: Incorporation, Funding, Contracts, and IP starting in the Fall 2016 semester) through the TEC at the University of Illinois College of Engineering. I have also been included in the "List Of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students" multiple times for this class.
In 2018, I was approached by the Master's of Engineering Management Program at the University of Wisconsin- Madison ("the Engineer's MBA") and asked to create a course on Engineering Law for practicing engineers. The course has received excellent reviews and has been offered during the summer starting in 2018 and also the fall semester starting in 2022.
I have also had the pleasure of teaching a yearly lecture in the University of Notre Dame, Executive MBA program with regard to Intellectual Property for four years. Additionally, I guest lecture for Notre Dame's Introduction to Entrepreneurship class.
Additionally, I received a 2010 Young Alumni Achievement Award from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois.
I am also a Senior Member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).
I also founded (in 2008) and direct an IP Clinic including a Patent Track wherein law students that did well in my Patent Prosecution course draft full patent applications for student inventors and a Trademark Track wherein law students work on trademark issues with student startups. Both the inventors and startups are referred to us by the Technology Entrepreneur Center (TEC) at the University of Illinois College of Engineering, typically as part of the Cozad New Venture Challenge. I have also repeatedly been included in the "List Of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students" with regard to my work with the IP Clinic. In 2015, the IP Clinic was nominated for the 2015 Illinois State Bar Association Legal Education Award.
In 2019, I re-designed and taught a course entitled Introduction to Intellectual Property which was designed for non-IP-specialist law students, such as future in-house or corporate counsel. The course included practical instruction and projects relating to patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright law and received overwhelmingly positive reviews from students.
Additionally, it was my great honor to establish the Barich Excellence in Patent Law Award at the University of Illinois CoL in 2008. The Barich Award honors 3L law students having interest and accomplishments in patent law, and especially in patent prosecution. In 2024, the Barich Award reached its 17th Anniversary.
As a Lecturer at the University of Illinois Industrial and Enterprise Systems Engineering Department, I began teaching Engineering Law (originally as GE 400 - now SE 400) in the Fall of 2010. In Engineering Law I seek to arm the next generation of engineers with an understanding the legal framework under which they will be working in their careers. The course has been well received by students and I have consistently earned the ranking of "Excellent" or "Outstanding" on the List of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students. I was also awarded the 2012 Alpha Pi Mu & Gamma Epsilon Excellence in Teaching Award by the Industrial Engineering and General Engineering student honor societies and the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department Head Teaching Award in 2016 and again in 2021 for my work in teaching Engineering Law. Additionally, in 2022, it was my great honor to be awarded the University of Illinois Campus-Level Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Teaching, which is presented by the Provost.
In the Fall of 2014, I began to teach a course entitled Legal Issues In Engineering Entrepreneurship (renamed Startups: Incorporation, Funding, Contracts, and IP starting in the Fall 2016 semester) through the TEC at the University of Illinois College of Engineering. I have also been included in the "List Of Teachers Ranked As Excellent By Their Students" multiple times for this class.
In 2018, I was approached by the Master's of Engineering Management Program at the University of Wisconsin- Madison ("the Engineer's MBA") and asked to create a course on Engineering Law for practicing engineers. The course has received excellent reviews and has been offered during the summer starting in 2018 and also the fall semester starting in 2022.
I have also had the pleasure of teaching a yearly lecture in the University of Notre Dame, Executive MBA program with regard to Intellectual Property for four years. Additionally, I guest lecture for Notre Dame's Introduction to Entrepreneurship class.
Additionally, I received a 2010 Young Alumni Achievement Award from the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Illinois.
I am also a Senior Member of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers).