Michel is a partner at VLP. Michel is a registered patent attorney and advises innovative VC-backed startups, Silicon Valley research labs, and premium mid and large-cap high-technology companies on a variety of complex IP-related matters, including strategic planning, patent portfolio development and management, data privacy, due diligence assessments, legal opinions, vendor agreements, enforcement and mitigation, and licensing.

Michel has technical expertise with a variety of software and hardware technologies including front and back-end software systems; machine learning; enterprise system architecture; application performance monitoring; product configuration; telecommunications; advanced robotics; embedded systems; autonomous vision systems; autonomous driving systems; user and enterprise storage systems; consumer electronics; thin-films; semiconductors; semiconductor manufacturing; solar; smart glazings; medical devices; automotive technology; aerospace; and reprography.

Prior to his legal career, Michel worked in IBM’s Systems and Technology Group where he oversaw the development and deployment of mission-critical software and managed the phase-out of legacy systems. He also oversaw the development and maintenance of mask and wafer layout production systems.

While earning his law degree, Michel served as Senior Editor of IDEA (The IP Law Review), Chair of the Student Intellectual Property Law Association, and Student Liaison to the Board of Trustees. Michel also worked for an international patent boutique where he prosecuted patent applications designated for the European and U.S. patent offices and externed at a top U.S. research institution where he negotiated and drafted technology license agreements.

After law school, Michel was an associate at a large Virginia-based IP boutique and was later a partner at a Bay Area IP boutique.

Education

  • JD, University of New Hampshire School of Law (formerly Franklin Pierce Law Center), 2009
  • BSME and Minor in Russian, Brigham Young University, 2001

Community Involvement

  • FIRST, Judge, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2020
  • FIRST, FLL Coach, 2014, 2015, 2017
    • The Post-AIA Evolution of 35 U.S.C. ยง 102, AIPLA ECLC Summit, 2019
    • IP strategies to protect UI/interfaces, Openwest, 2014