Overview

Michael Hawkins helps industry-leading companies fend off patent-assertion entities, protects the intellectual property of innovators developing market-changing technologies, and strategizes with emerging companies on building and protecting their U.S. and international patent portfolios.

Michael excels in handling post-grant proceedings at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, pre-suit investigations, U.S. and foreign patent portfolio strategy and management, patentability analysis, clearance and due diligence investigations, and intellectual property licensing and other agreements. Exceptionally skilled in handling inter partes reviews, he confidently steers his clients through PTAB proceedings and has represented patent owners and petitioners in hundreds of such proceedings.

He has served as lead counsel in IPR proceedings for some of the world’s leading smartphone manufacturers in various post-grant proceedings. For more than 20 years, Michael has helped a variety of medical device companies to achieve their intellectual property goals and secure strong patent protection.

Michael is motivated by his love of learning about cutting-edge technologies, innovative companies, and groundbreaking ideas. His clients rely on his strategic, cost-effective solutions to achieve their business, litigation, and settlement goals. Not only does Michael represents a number of Fortune 100 companies, but his work also focuses on strategic counseling for emerging and early-stage companies, helping them to build robust patent portfolios and develop comprehensive IP strategies. He conducts freedom-to-operate studies, secures patent protection for their innovations in the U.S. and abroad, establishes offensive and defensive asset protection strategies, and sets the stage for venture capital funding, commercialization, and long-term growth.  

In addition to his victories in the PTAB, Michael was recognized in "The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners" by IAM Patent 1000, where he was singled out nationally as a leading attorney for post-grant proceedings (2020-2023). He has also been recognized as a "Rising Star in Minnesota" by Super Lawyers (2016-2018) and as an "Up & Coming" lawyer by Minnesota Lawyer (2013).

Michael also serves as a volunteer attorney for the Children’s Law Center of Minnesota, providing pro bono representation and a voice for foster kids who are navigating the family court system. He also provides pro bono inventor assistance for low-income inventors referred through LegalCORPS and California Lawyers for the Arts.

Experience

Post-Grant Proceeding

  • Nokia Solutions and Networks OY, et al. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IPR2017-00592
  • Nokia Solutions and Networks OY, et al. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IPR2017-00593
  • Nokia Solutions and Networks OY, et al. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IPR2017-00590
  • Nokia Solutions and Networks OY, et al. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IPR2017-00591
  • Nokia Solutions and Networks OY, et al. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IPR2017-00673
  • Nokia Solutions and Networks OY, et al. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IPR2017-00698
  • Nokia Solutions and Networks OY, et al. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IPR2017-00671
  • Nokia Solutions and Networks OY, et al. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IPR2017-00658
  • Nokia Solutions and Networks OY, et al. v. Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., IPR2017-00675
  • Google Inc., et al. v. Makor Issues & Rights Ltd., IPR2017-00815
  • Google Inc., et al. v. Makor Issues & Rights Ltd., IPR2017-00816
  • Google Inc., et al. v. Makor Issues & Rights Ltd., IPR2017-00817
  • Google Inc., et al. v. Makor Issues & Rights Ltd., IPR2017-00818
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01729
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01725
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01719
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01716
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01735
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01727
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01734
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01731
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01730
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01726
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01718
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01714
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01723
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01717
  • ResMed Corp., et al. v. Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd., IPR2016-01724
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-01658
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-01659
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00632
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00634
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00635
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00501
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00504
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00340
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00272
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00215
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00218
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00061
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00062
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00064
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00065
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00057
  • Fisher & Paykel Healthcare Ltd. v. ResMed Ltd., IPR2017-00059
  • Google Inc. v. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC, IPR2017-00559
  • Google Inc. v. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC, IPR2017-00537
  • Google Inc. v. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC, IPR2017-00536
  • Google Inc. v. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC, IPR2017-00535
  • Google Inc. v. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC, IPR2017-00534
  • Google Inc. v. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC, IPR2017-00533
  • Google Inc. v. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC, IPR2017-00532
  • Google Inc. v. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC, IPR2017-00530
  • Google Inc. v. Mobile Telecommunications Technologies, LLC, IPR2017-00529
  • Arctic Cat Inc. v. Polaris Industries Inc., IPR2017-00455
  • Arctic Cat Inc. v. Polaris Industries Inc., IPR2017-00433
  • Arctic Cat Inc. v. Polaris Industries Inc., IPR2017-00199
  • Google Inc. v. Makor Issues, IPR2016-01537
  • Google Inc. v. Makor Issues, IPR2016-01536
  • Google Inc. v. Makor Issues, IPR2016-01535
  • Google Inc. v. Klaustech, IAG., CBM2016-00096
  • Microsoft Corporation v. Corel Software, LLC, IPR2016-0130
  • Microsoft Corporation v. Corel Software, LLC, IPR2016-01086
  • Microsoft Corporation v. Corel Software, LLC, IPR2016-01085
  • Microsoft Corporation v. Corel Software, LLC, IPR2016-01084
  • Microsoft Corporation v. Corel Software, LLC, IPR2016-01083
  • Google Inc. v. Porto Technology Co. Ltd., IPR2016-00045
  • Google Inc. v. Porto Technology Co. Ltd., IPR2016-00022
  • Arctic Cat Inc. v. Polaris Industries Inc., IPR2015-01789
  • Arctic Cat Inc. v. Polaris Industries Inc., IPR2015-01788
  • Arctic Cat Inc. v. Polaris Industries Inc., IPR2015-01783
  • Arctic Cat Inc. v. Polaris Industries Inc., IPR2015-01781
  • Google Inc. et al. v. American Navigational Systems, Inc., IPR2015-00851
  • Google Inc. et al. v. American Navigational Systems, Inc., IPR2015-00849
  • Arctic Cat Inc. v. Polaris Industries Inc., IPR Case No. IPR2014-01427
  • Arctic Cat Inc. v. Polaris Industries Inc., IPR Case No. IPR2014-01428
  • Google Inc. v. Visual Real Estate, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR2014-01338
  • Google Inc. v. Visual Real Estate, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR2014-01339
  • Google Inc. v. Visual Real Estate, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR2014-01340
  • Google Inc. v. Visual Real Estate, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR2014-01341
  • Google Inc. v. MicroGrafx LLC, IPR Case No. IPR2014-00532
  • Google Inc. v. MicroGrafx LLC, IPR Case No. IPR2014-00533
  • Google Inc. v. MicroGrafx LLC, IPR Case No. IPR2014-00534
  • NuVasive, Inc. v. Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR-201300208
  • NuVasive, Inc. v. Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR-201300206
  • NuVasive, Inc. v. Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR-201300395
  • NuVasive, Inc. v. Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR-201300396
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR-201300504
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR-201300506
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR-201300487
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR-201300507
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR-2013-00508
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00034
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00035
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00071
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00073
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00074
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00075
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00076
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00081
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00087
  • Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. v. Wasica Finance GMBH et. al., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00295
  • Continental Automotive Systems, Inc. v. Wasica Finance GMBH et. al., IPR Case No. IPR2014-01454
  • Schrader Int’l, Inc. et. al. v. Wasica Finance GMBH et. al., IPR Case No. IPR 2014-00476
  • Schrader Int’l, Inc. et. al. v. Wasica Finance GMBH et. al., IPR Case No. IPR2015-00272
Reexamination Proceedings
  • Google Inc. v. Intertainer, Inc., Control No. 95/000,313
  • Google Inc. v. Streetspace, Inc., Control No. 95/001,763
  • Requester v. Klaustech, Inc., Control No. 90/011,303
  • Requester v. Suffolk Technologies LLC, Control No. 90/012,714
  • Requester v. Suffolk Technologies LLC, Control No. 90/012,427
  • NuVasive, Inc. v. Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Control No. 95/000,451
  • NuVasive, Inc. v. Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Control No. 95/000,449
  • NuVasive, Inc. v. Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Control No. 95/000,448
  • NuVasive, Inc. v. Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Control No. 95/000,446
  • NuVasive, Inc. v. Warsaw Orthopedic, Inc., Control No. 95/002,346
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., Control No. 95/001,247
  • Medtronic, Inc. v. NuVasive, Inc., Control No. 95/001,202
  • Nest Labs, Inc. v. Honeywell Int’l, Inc., Control No. 95/002,040
  • Nest Labs, Inc. v. Honeywell Int’l, Inc., Control No. 95/002,041
  • USTC LLC v. Horian, Control No. 95/000,134
  • Kwiktwist Int’l, Inc. v. Handle It LLC, Control No. 90/007,077 (power of attorney after close of prosecution)

Pro bono activities

  • Volunteer Attorney for Children’s Law Center of Minnesota
  • LegalCORPS (pro bono inventor assistance)
  • California Lawyers for the Arts (pro bono inventor assistance)