DETROIT — Brinks Hofer Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the United States, announces Todd A. Pleiness has joined the firm‘s Detroit office as an associate attorney concentrating on patent prosecution in the mechanical arts. The announcement was made by Kelly Burris, managing partner of Brinks’ Detroit office.
“We are delighted to welcome Todd to the Brinks team,” said Burris. “He brings broad-based experience in patent prosecution and hands-on engineering to support many of our clients from the Detroit office.”
Immediately prior to joining Brinks, Pleiness was an Examiner with the Elijah J. McCoy United States Patent and Trademark Office. Before joining the USPTO, he worked as a patent analyst at a research firm and as an IP attorney at a large commercial law firm and a boutique IP law firm. Prior to attending law school, Pleiness worked at General Motors as a manufacturing engineer, mainly in paint automation and application. He also worked at INA USA, gaining experience in the design and manufacturing of roller bearings for use in automotive components and powertrain.
Pleiness earned his Juris Doctor from Michigan State University and holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Kettering University. He is a member of the Michigan Bar Association and the Michigan Intellectual Property Association.
