Don specializes in counseling and protection of intellectual property rights. He is a registered Patent Attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is admitted to State and Federal Courts in Michigan. With over forty-four years of practice, Don has experience in both domestic and international procurement of patent and trademark rights and copyright, and has successfully represented numerous clients before the U.S. Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and the U.S. Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. His expertise includes procurement of mechanical, electro-mechanical, and process technology patents, as well as design patents, procurement and enforcement of foreign and domestic trademark/service mark registrations, procurement and enforcement of copyright registrations on a variety of works of authorship, and preparation of a variety of trademark and technology related agreements. Don has been named in Best Lawyers in America for many years and as one of West Michigan's best 150 lawyers (listed in 25 specialties) by Grand Rapids Magazine for the past several years.

Educational Profile
  • J.D., University of Michigan Law School (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • B.S. Science Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, MI)
  • Phi Eta Sigma Engineering Honor Society
Legal Profile
  • Gardner Linn – Of Counsel
Concentration Areas
  • Intellectual Property, including patent, trademark and copyright procurement and licensing and other related agreements.
Professional Affiliations
  • Member, American Bar Association
  • Member, State Bar of Michigan
  • Member, Grand Rapids Bar Assoc.
  • Associate Member, International Trademark Assoc.
  • Member, Federal Bar Assoc. (Western District of Michigan)
  • Former Council Member, Intellectual Property Law Section, State Bar of Michigan