Brian M. Mattson

President & Managing Partner
Registered Patent Attorney
In 1998, Patents+TMS was founded by Brian Mattson. After more than ten years of experience in intellectual property law including as a law partner at a large Chicago IP firm and as a former patent examiner at the U.S. Patent Office, Brian sought to begin a law firm that focused on patent prosecution and trademark prosecution as well as opinion work for issues that commonly arise with both patents and trademarks. Brian recognized the need for individual inventors, emerging companies in various technologies and other small to mid-sized companies to have legal representation that put their prosecution interests first! More than twelve years later-- and counting, Patents+TMS continues to fulfill the goals that Brian sought out!

In 1982, Brian began his technical training by studying electrical engineering at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Following graduation in 1986, Brian began his tenure at the United States Patent Office in Arlington, Virginia. At that time, not only was technology just beginning to boom, but computers and applications using a computer that inventors were pursuing, such as data processing and imaging, were skyrocketing! At the same time, patent applications were being filed at a pace that had never been experienced at the Patent Office. Hiring of new, skilled Patent Examiners with technical backgrounds — particularly in electrical and computer engineering — was high priority at the U.S. Patent Office. With hundreds of Patent Examiners beginning their employment at the Patent Office when Brian started, the Patent Office hired Brian as a Patent Examiner to examine patent applications in what is now Group 2900 (formerly Group 230). The original Group 230 received the first applications for computer software filed at the Patent Office, and Brian experienced first-hand the evolution of decisions regarding the patentability of software-related patents at the Patent Office. Brian's particular area of expertise as a Patent Examiner included a diverse range of patent applications incorporating measuring and testing devices and computer applications of the same.

After working for one year as a patent examiner, Brian began night school at George Mason University School of Law in Arlington, Virginia. Law school each and every night after a full day's work at the Patent Office made for a demanding four years of both work and school! George Mason University School of Law is recognized as one of the top forty law schools in the country molding its program after the University of Chicago with an emphasis on law and economics. Brian studied under one of the premier 'gurus' of patent law — Irving Kayton, and also studied anti-trust law under the esteemed Judge Douglas Ginsburg — yes, the same judge who is remembered as the only Supreme Court nominee to be withdrawn from consideration because he smoked marijuana. In 1991, Brian graduated from George Mason and simultaneously resigned from the Patent Office to pursue a position as an associate attorney with a law firm.

To that end, Brian accepted an associate attorney position with the Chicago patent law firm of Hill, Van Santen, Steadman and Simpson. Chicago seemed a natural fit for Brian because he loves the atmosphere of big cities and what they have to offer, and also due to his midwest roots — growing up in Morton, Illinois, just south of Peoria — yes, Caterpillar tractor country where Brian's dad spent the bulk of his career. At the Hill law firm, Brian prepared patent applications and trademark applications for individual inventors, small businesses and large, multi-national corporations, such as Siemens, Sony, Wrigley and Baxter Healthcare. Before starting Patents+TMS, Brian became a shareholder with the Hill law firm.

In addition to his law practice, Brian is former President of Bucktown Fine Arts, the organizers and promoters of the Bucktown Arts Fest and concurrently founded Bucktown Promotions that began the Bucktown Holiday ArtShow in 1998 — both events taking place in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago. Not only did participation in these events satisfy Brian's desire to work within the community, but they also honed his interest and knowledge of the arts in all media and the ability to work with all sorts of different people in all walks of life!

When Brian started Patents+TMS, he wanted a casual atmosphere to be enjoyed not only by him and those who worked at the firm, but also wanted an environment that gave clients of the firm a sense of relaxation, and yet professionalism, when they visited. So, unlike a more traditional downtown 'Chicago loop' location, Brian chose to open Patents+TMS in the eclectic West Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago, which is located about five miles north and west of the center of the city. Conveniently located near the California El stop on Chicago's transit system, the firm is situated about halfway between downtown and O'Hare. This year, Brian updated the outside of the office---doing some painting and plantings to give the firm a better look from the street! The firm's new street friendly appearance complements the continously changing neighborhood as more restaurants, galleries, shops and other businesses begin moving into the neighborhood--one that Patents+TMS pioneered about five years ago when we moved into our current location.

Contact Brian at

Qualifications:
Qualifications: Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Sworn member of the Illinois State Bar.

Affiliations:

• Member of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC)
• Member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
• Member of the International Trademark Association (INTA)

Interests:
Dining out, movies, live theater, antiques, collectibles, art — modern and contemporary, outsider art and folk art, museums, buying and selling on eBay, mid-century modern furniture and decor, sporting events, golfing, skiing, tennis, biking, working out, renovating homes, architecture and design, planning events, traveling — particularly to New York City and London and to any destination which Brian has never visited.

Aaron Morrow

Registered Patent Attorney
Aaron is originally from St. Louis and a die-hard St. Louis Cardinals baseball fan. Aaron graduated from the University of Dayton in 1997 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry. While at the University of Dayton, he was active in Sigma Nu fraternity, including serving as president during his senior year. As a graduation present, his fraternity brothers gave him the fraternity house snake, and the same two-foot long ball python "Heyward" has been with Aaron to this day.

Aaron then completed a Masters of Science degree in Biology at the University of Missouri - St. Louis. While in graduate school, Aaron learned about the profession of patent law from his friend Jason Engel (now at K&L Gates in Chicago) and realized that his love of science could be pursued through career paths other than working in a laboratory. Aaron also began playing rugby during graduate school and gained a love for the sport.

Aaron moved to Chicago in 2002 (with Heyward in his cage on the passenger seat of the car) to begin law school at The John Marshall Law School. While in law school, Aaron was a clerk for the intellectual property group of Bell, Boyd & Lloyd in Chicago and worked on patent prosecution matters for International Game Technology ("IGT") and Sony. At Bell Boyd & Lloyd, Aaron drafted his first patent application. Aaron also was a summer associate for the law firm of Senniger Powers in St. Louis where he worked on patent prosecution matters for various clients, including Sigma Aldrich. During law school, Aaron was a member of the John Marshall Review of Intellectual Property Law ("RIPL"). Aaron's comment for RIPL addressed the state of intellectual property laws and enforcement in Brazil. In his third year at John Marshall, he served as candidacy editor for RIPL. As the candidacy editor, Aaron monitored the progress of the new members of the group and mentored them in writing their own comment on intellectual property law. During his third year of law school, Aaron also resumed playing rugby by joining the Lincoln Park Rugby Club for whom he is currently a member of the executive board in the position of Secretary. Aaron graduated magna cum laude from The John Marshall Law School in June 2005.

Aaron has taken several "baseball road trips" to visit various baseball stadiums across the country. During law school, Aaron lived in a "rooftop" building on Waveland Avenue across from Wrigley Field. Even as a Cardinals fan, Aaron formed the opinion that Wrigley Field is the best stadium he has visited and developed a fondness for spending sunny afternoons sitting in the bleachers.

After graduation from law school, Aaron worked for the intellectual property firm of Alter & Weiss (now Alter and Preece). Aaron handled patent and trademark prosecution, UDRP Complaints and patent, trademark and copyright litigation matters. UDRP Complaints filed by Alter & Weiss resulted in the transfer of many internet domains to trademark owners.

Aaron joined Patents+TMS in November 2006. At Patents+TMS, Aaron has engaged in U.S. and foreign patent and trademark prosecution matters and novelty, non-infringement and invalidity opinions. He has taken advantage of the close contact between clients and the firm to provide intellectual property protection tailored to the specific needs of each client.

Qualifications:
Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Sworn member of the Illinois State Bar.

Affiliations:

• American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
• Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago (IPLAC)
• International Trademark Association (INTA)
• Illinois State Bar Association (ISBA)
• American Bar Association (ABA)
• Member of the IPLAC International Patent Law Committee
• Volunteer for Lawyers for the Creative Arts

Interests:
Lifting weights and running; fanatically attending sporting events; reading books, such as Hunter S. Thompson, Charles Bukowski, Kurt Vonnegut and Bret Easton Ellis; attending concerts, especially the annual Lollapalooza Festival in Grant Park in Chicago.

Contact Aaron at