Mr. Drapkin’s practice is focused on strategic patent counseling. He guides clients in the development and management of their patent portfolios, emphasizing patent preparation and prosecution in both the U.S. and abroad. He also has substantial experience in patent infringement and validity analysis, providing written opinions and counseling clients on product design. In addition, he advises his clients on prelitigation strategies and key licensing negotiations.
Mr. Drapkin regularly visits the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and has significant expertise in working closely with the Office to advance cases to allowance. He also has experience with a number of cost-effective techniques to accelerate examination of important cases. He concentrates his practice on the electrical and computer related arts, and has particular expertise in complex communications systems and components.
He has extensive experience in a wide range of technologies, including: wireless and optical communications and components, signal processing, coding, data networks, network security and encryption, packet telephony and multimedia communications, nanotechnology, computer architecture, circuit design, and software. He previously served as a Senior Researcher at the University of Colorado College of Engineering.
Mr. Drapkin is a very active leader in the IP community, as he regularly speaks and writes on important IP topics. He has held a number of key leadership positions at the Intellectual Property Section of the Colorado Bar Association, culminating with his service as Chair of the IP Section for the 2009-2010 term. He also sits on the CBA’s Board of Governors. Outside of the CBA, he serves on the Board of the Silicon Flatirons Law and Technology Center, and is the only attorney on the Industry Advisory Board for the University of Denver School of Engineering and Computer Science.
Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Drapkin served as a Patent and Licensing Fellow at the University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office, where he focused on the Electrical Engineering, Computer Science, and Physics Departments. He prepared and prosecuted patent applications, and addressed complex intellectual property and licensing issues.
He has also held a number of noteworthy legal positions in both the public and private sectors, including work at the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division, and in a Judicial Clerkship with U.S. District Judge Richard W. Vollmer, Jr.