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Marshall, Gerstein & Borun, welcomes Donald W. Rupert as a partner.  Previously with Mayer, Brown, Rowe & Maw LLP, Rupert focuses on business counseling and litigation with emphasis on complex technology matters, including all phases of intellectual property litigation and technology transfer.

“Don is a true veteran in the IP law industry.  His more than 30 years of IP practice has provided him with a depth of experience and understanding and a sophisticated perspective on issues in the field.  Don’s knowledge and expertise make him a tremendous asset to clients and the firm,” said Jeff Sharp, managing partner of Marshall, Gerstein & Borun.  “Enforcing and defending IP rights are essential to all businesses in today’s markets.  Don’s genuine understanding of our clients and their businesses further ensures that their most valuable assets will be protected.”

Rupert has handled nearly 100 intellectual property lawsuits in his career and has been lead counsel in jury and bench trials involving patent, copyright, trademark and related matters in federal and state courts throughout the country and overseas and has argued cases before the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the Seventh Circuit.  His practice also includes negotiating domestic and international licensing and litigation settlements and corporate due diligence reviews and transactions in the intellectual property area.  He has been the lead intellectual property attorney in licensing and corporate transactions that have a cumulative value of more than $15 billion.  His experiences also include patent prosecution in the mechanical, electrical, computer, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries. 

A frequent author and lecturer on intellectual property matters, professional ethics and trial techniques, Rupert also is an arbitrator of intellectual property disputes as a member of the American Arbitration Association Panel of Arbitrators.  An Alumni Fellow of Washburn University, he is an advisor for the Trial Advocacy Center, Washburn University School of Law and a member of the board of advisors for DePaul University School of Law, Center for Intellectual Property.  Rupert is also a deposition instructor for the National Institute for Trial Advocacy and a member of the committee preparing patent jury instructions to be used in the federal district courts of the Seventh Circuit.

Prior to entering law school, Rupert was a research scientist for the U.S. Air Force.  He received his J.D., cum laude, from Washburn University School of Law (1976), where he served on the board of editors for the Washburn Law Journal.  Rupert earned his B.S. in chemistry from Miami University (1968).  He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.