Doug offers comprehensive intellectual property (IP) counseling and related services, working to understand clients' business and technology needs to better help them develop, manage, and protect their intellectual assets. Doug regularly advises clients on a variety of patent-related matters in the mechanical and electrical-mechanical arts, particularly those involving automotive technologies, consumer products, and medical devices.
Doug brings a unique perspective to his practice drawn from:
- His former work as an environmental manager and solvent recovery system manager for a chemical compounding facility
- As a project engineer in the chemical process group of a global engineering consulting firm
- Serving as U.S. lead outside IP counsel for a multi-billion dollar auto parts manufacturer
- Serving as lead IP counsel for an electrical components manufacturer, a cleaning, maintenance, and safety products company, as well as a finished plastics company whose businesses are in the tens of millions of dollars
- Frequently speaking at legal seminars and at broad-level international symposiums in both Germany and China
Being community-minded, Doug serves as Chair of the board for the Northwestern Water & Sewer District, Vice President of the Bulldog Foundation's Board of Directors, and as a member of the Wood County Economic Development Commission Board of Directors. Doug takes particular interest in startups and works closely with participants in the Bowling Green State University student business incubator. He's also an avid scuba diver, having completed over 1,000 dives around the world; has a passion for the outdoors; and is a student of primitive survival techniques.
Education
J.D., cum laude, Technical Editor, University of Toledo Law Review, The University of Toledo College of Law, 1999
B.S., Mechanical Engineering, The University of Toledo, 1990
Professional Associations
- Wood County Economic Development Commission, Board Member, 2014 – present; President, 2016 – 2022
- Northwestern Water & Sewer District, Chairman, Board of Trustees, 2023-present; Board of Trustees, 2015 – present; Secretary, 2022; Vice-Chairman, 2018-2021
- Bulldog Foundation, Board Member and President, 2015-present
- Imagination Station Science Center, Board Member, 2013-present
- Paul J. Hooker Center for Entrepreneurial Leadership at the College of Business of Bowling Green State University, Advisory Board Member, 2016-present
- LaunchPad Incubation at The University of Toledo, Advisory Committee Member, 2014-2018; Search Committee Member, 2018
- Wood County Transportation Improvement District, Board Member, 2015-2020
- Rotary Club of Toledo, International Service Committee, 2015-2019; International Service Committee Chair, 2015-2016
- Wood County Bar Association, Grievance Committee, 2005-2006
- Toledo Bar Association, Admissions Committee, 2014-2015
- Toledo Intellectual Property Law Association, President, 2006-2007
- Ohio Society of Professional Engineers
- Toledo Society of Professional Engineers
Honors
- Best Lawyers in America, 2023 – 2024
- Toledo Business Journal, “Who’s Who in Toledo Area Law”
Representative Matters
- Serves as lead outside U.S. IP counsel for a $5.6 billion auto parts manufacture
- Serves as lead IP counsel for a $50 million electrical components manufacturer
- Serves as lead IP counsel for a $40 million cleaning, maintenance, and safety products company
- Serves as lead IP counsel for a $35 million finished plastics company
- Served as lead IP counsel for a $250 thousand+ clearance to operate study for new product launch