Catherine is a registered Patent Attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), is a former Patent Examiner for the USPTO, and is admitted to practice in State and Federal Courts in Michigan, as well as the Federal Circuit. Catherine specializes in the procurement and protection of intellectual property, with an emphasis on patent and trademark procurement, both domestically and internationally. Catherine works with a wide range of clients from startups and individuals to large corporations operating on a global scale, and in a wide range of industries.

Catherine expertise includes all aspects of patent and trademark law, including performing patentability evaluations and clearance evaluations, preparing and prosecuting domestic and foreign applications, and providing litigation support, with extensive technical experience in mechanical, electrical, electro-mechanical and electronic-related patents in a wide range of fields, including medical, automotive, consumer goods, control systems, firefighting equipment and systems, semiconductor, manufacturing and testing equipment, and clean technology. She handles and has extensive experience in IP due diligence reviews for mergers and acquisitions. Catherine also handles global trademark clearance evaluations.

Prior to entering the practice of law, Catherine gained valuable practical engineering and industry experience in the nuclear engineering and construction field, and has studied and gained experience in electrical engineering. Catherine was an engineer, supervisor, and Project Engineer on various projects, including pipe and pipe support stress analysis, seismic qualification of piping and other power plant commodities.

Educational Profile
  • J.D., Southern Methodist University (Dallas, TX)
  • B.S. Civil Engineering, George Washington University (Washington, D.C.)
  • Electrical Engineering Studies, University of Texas (Arlington, TX)
Professional Affiliations
  • Member, American Bar Association and Federal Bar Association
  • Member, State Bar of Michigan
  • Member, Grand Rapids Bar Association
  • Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society
  • Chairperson ex officio, Intellectual Property Law Section, State Bar of Michigan
Representative Projects
  • Catherine represented a medical device company in the intellectual property due diligence for the acquisition of preventative care products (~$2 billion).
  • Catherine represented a medical device in the intellectual property due diligence for the acquisition of a medical device manufacturer (~$50-$70 million).
  • Catherine represented a medical device company in the intellectual property due diligence for the merger with a medical device manufacturer (~$50-$70 million).
  • Catherine represented a medical device company in the intellectual property due diligence for the acquisition of a medical device designer and manufacturer (~$5-10 million).
  • Catherine represented a medical device company in the intellectual property due diligence for the acquisition of assets of a medical device product designer and manufacturer (~$5 million).
  • Catherine represented a medical device company in the intellectual property due diligence reviews of multiple medical device targets.
  • Catherine represented an Indiana based RV parts manufacturer in Intellectual Property Due Diligence in the $70 million sale of their assets to a strategic buyer.