Clay’s practice focuses on intellectual property and technology law, with a particular emphasis on protecting and enforcing patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets before U.S. federal courts, the International Trade Commission, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  He helps companies and innovators make intelligent decisions about their intellectual property rights — from securing and valuing IP rights, to IP due diligence reviews/audits, to enforcement and IP litigation.  Clay represents clients in a broad range of industries and technologies, including consumer products, automotive, pharmaceutical, medical device, welding technology, telecommunications, and software.  Clay also serves as an adjunct professor at the University of Cincinnati College of Law offering a seminar addressing methods of securing and protecting intellectual property rights.

University of Cincinnati(magna cum laude, B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1998)University of Cincinnati College of Law(J.D., 2001)

BusinessIntellectual Property & TechnologyInternationalLife ScienceIntellectual Property/LicensingLitigationIntellectual PropertyTechnologyeBusinessIntellectual Property/LicensingIntellectual Property/LitigationPatentsTechnology TransactionsTrademarks/Copyrights

• Intellectual Property & Technology
• Licensing & Technology Transactions
• Intellectual Property/Litigation
• Intellectual Property/Licensing
• International Business

• Counsel individual and corporate clients as to securement, ownership, licensing, avoidance of infringement, dispute resolution, and enforcement of intellectual property rights.
• Prepared and prosecuted hundreds of patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office involving a variety of technologies, including polymer and chemical arts, consumer products, automotive, pharmaceutical, medical device, welding technology, telecommunications, and software.  Also coordinated filing and prosecution of international patent applications.
• Appeared before federal courts and before the International Trade Commission for multiple clients to address patent infringement matters, with particular focus on claim construction strategy, Markman briefings and proceedings, and expert witness preparation. 
• Provide oral and written patentability, freedom to operate, non-infringement, and validity opinions.
• Negotiate complex technical transactions involving IP rights, including license, distribution, data privacy, development, confidentiality, and settlement agreements.
• Engineering work experience includes process development related to production of specialty chemicals.

​Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2010-2011, 2013)

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Publications
"Bringing Intellectual Property Issues Into The Boardroom," Corporate Board Member at NYSE (June 2013)

Presentations
“Board Challenge: Oversight of Intellectual Property Risks,” Corporate Board Member at NYSE (April 2013)

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Cincinnati Intellectual Property Law Association

Ohio State Bar Association

Cincinnati Bar Association

Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO) (International IP Law & Practice Division

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University of Cincinnati College of Law (Adjunct Professor, Intellectual Property Practice)

State of Ohio

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio

U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio

U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office