Eric M. Robbins
Partner | Group Leader, Intellectual Property & Technology
Eric Robbins serves as Group Leader of Ulmer’s Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Group, a sophisticated and diverse team of more than 20 dedicated attorneys who work closely together to help clients intelligently leverage their IP rights and achieve their goals. Recognized by Chambers USA as one of Ohio’s “Leaders in Their Field” in Intellectual Property, clients have described Eric as a “go-to resource for anything related to intellectual property.”
Eric counsels sophisticated clients in a wide range of industries, who trust him to oversee their IP matters involving an array of diverse technologies. This includes several domestic and international manufacturers of consumer goods, textiles, toys, consumer and commercial chemical products, electronic displays, electronic instrumentation, wire and cable products, medical equipment, eyewear, packaging, pneumatic tools, and industrial equipment and processes. Eric also provides counsel to emerging businesses working to develop key technological innovations relating to packaging, tools, sports, hunting, firefighting equipment, ecommerce, internet-of-things (IOT), and other technologies.
His experience overseeing the entire international patent portfolios of several corporate clients provides Eric with a globally-informed perspective toward establishing, preserving, defending, and commercializing proprietary IP rights. Eric’s approach begins with understanding his clients’ objectives and tailoring innovative strategies to meet those goals, with a strong emphasis on delivering desired results and optimum value.
Eric’s years of experience working as an applications engineer in the industrial control industry helps him understand the technical intricacies and business realities of his clients’ technologies. Drawing on this experience, he provides counsel on securement, ownership, licensing, infringement, dispute resolution, and enforcement of patents, trademarks, and copyrights. He also prepares and facilitates ongoing prosecution of patent applications at the USPTO, and has patent litigation experience in federal and International Trade Commission cases.
Education & Admissions
Education
- University of Notre Dame
(B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1996)
- University of Cincinnati College of Law
(J.D., 2001)
Order of the Coif
Admissions
- State of Ohio
- U.S. District Court, Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Sixth Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
- U.S. Patent & Trademark Office
Experience
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Identifies and advises clients with respect to the risks and rewards of IP ownership, prosecution, and protection strategies.
- Counsels clients as to securement, ownership, licensing, avoidance of infringement, dispute resolution, and enforcement of patents, trademarks, and copyrights.
- Manages large IP portfolios, including extensive patent portfolios, for domestic and international corporate clients.
- Prepares and facilitates ongoing prosecution of patent applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in the electrical, mechanical, and computer science arts, and coordinates the filing and prosecution of Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) and foreign national patent applications.
- Counsels clients with respect to structuring and managing invention identification and protection programs.
- Structures and documents licensing and other transactions for the commercialization of patents and related assets and rights.
- Counsels clients with respect to patent portfolio development and management and related research and development activities.
- Skilled at rendering patent-related legal analyses and opinions, including oral and written patentability, landscape, freedom to practice, infringement/non-infringement, and validity/invalidity opinions.
- Conducts IP audits/due diligence analysis of usage and ownership of intellectual property by clients and third parties.
- Manages filing and prosecution of trademark applications at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and coordinates the filing and prosecution of foreign national trademark applications.
- Drafts, analyzes, and negotiates intellectual property agreements involving licensing, joint development, supply, consulting, confidentiality, and settlement.
- Has patent litigation experience in federal court and before the International Trade Commission, including claim construction strategy, Markman proceedings, and many aspects of discovery including third party discovery and expert discovery.
- Previously worked as an applications engineer in the industrial control industry and has experience in the development of industrial motor and process control systems.
Publications & Presentations
Publications
- “Ask the Professional: What Businesses Need to Know about Data Breaches,” Cincy Magazine (Contributor, May, 2015)
Presentations
- “Disruptive Technologies – Advances that will Transform Life, Business, and the Global Economy,” Rome, Italy (September 2017)
- “Challenging patents in the U.S. (post AIA),” Lisbon, Portugal (April 2016)
- “Unitary Patent System: Companies – Different Countries, Different Choices?” Lisbon, Portugal (April 2016)
- International Patent Law Workshop, Cleveland, Ohio (Host, October 2014)
- “The Invasive Nature of Civil Discovery in the United States,” International Patent Law Workshop, Cleveland, Ohio (Moderator, October 2014)
- “Overview of Changes in U.S. Patent Laws Resulting from the Leahy-Smith America Invents Act – Practical Consequences for European Companies and Patent Attorneys,” Patent Law Workshop, Dusseldorf, Germany (April 2013)
- “The America Invents Act,” Dusseldorf, Germany (October 2011)
Involvement
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
- Ohio State Bar Association
- Cincinnati Bar Association
- Cincinnati Intellectual Property Law Association
- Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO)
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
- University of Cincinnati College of Law (Adjunct Professor, Intellectual Property Practice 2008-2015)
- St. Gertrude Stewardship Committee (Chair 2013-2015; Member 2012-2016)
- Wyoming Firefighters Association (Secretary, 2001-2009; Volunteer Firefighter, 1992-2005)
- Professionals Advancing Cincinnati Together (Board Member, 2002-2004)
FIRM INVOLVEMENT
- Intellectual Property & Technology, Group Leader
Honors
HONORS
- Ranked as one of Ohio’s “Leaders in Their Field” in Intellectual Property by Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business (2018-2022)
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America©, Patent Law (2011-2023)
- Designated Best Lawyers Patent Law “Lawyer of the Year” in Cincinnati (2016)
- Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers list (2017-2023)
- Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2005; 2010; 2012-2014)
- AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated – Martindale-Hubbell
- Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels
News
- Ohio Super Lawyers Recognizes 69 Ulmer Attorneys in 2023 Lists
- Ulmer Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023 Report
- Ulmer Earns Top Marks in Chambers USA 2022 Report
- Ohio Super Lawyers Recognizes Ulmer Attorneys in 2022 Lists
- Ulmer Elects Four Members to Management Committee
- Ulmer Attorneys Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America© 2022 Report
- Ulmer & Berne Honored in Chambers USA 2021 Edition
- Ohio Super Lawyers Honors Ulmer Attorneys in 2020 Lists
- Best Lawyers® 2020: 60 Ulmer Attorneys Recognized, Two Partners Named “Lawyer of the Year”
- Ulmer & Berne Receives Top Rankings from Chambers USA