WILLIAM J. SAPONE has engaged in all aspects of intellectual property law since 1985, with an emphasis on patent preparation, prosecution and litigation. Mr. Sapone has skill in the biotechnical, chemical, computer and mechanical arts, specifically, advanced composites, automated manufacturing systems, business methods and operations, catalysis, dental and medical devices, fuel cells and power generation equipment, aircraft structures, controls and engine components, metallurgy, nutraceuticals and pharmaceuticals.

Mr. Sapone has developed a fairly extensive trademark practice; including securing trademark rights for clients both in the U.S. and internationally, and has experience in prosecuting trademark opposition, cancellation and litigation proceedings.

Education: Mr. Sapone graduated from the University of Lowell, Lowell Massachusetts in 1977 with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering. He attended Pace University School of Law, White Plains, New York, graduating in 1984.

Legal Experience: Mr. Sapone has been engaged as a partner in intellectual property practice since 1990. He has over 20 years of experience in the bio-technical, chemical, computer and mechanical arts. He has experience in both jury and non-jury trials, on patent, trademark, copyright and unfair competition issues, and related antitrust issues, and has argued appeals before the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Mr. Sapone has negotiated technology licenses, prepared validity and infringement opinions, directed reexamination proceedings, conducted due diligence reviews and counseled on trademark, trade secret, copyright, false advertising and unfair competition issues.

Mr Sapone has experience in managing complex litigation. As a former project manager in the chemical industry, Mr. Sapone has adapted project management techniques to actively manage and control the course of litigation. This is of particular value in patent litigation where cases commonly average three years duration and incur costs of in the millions. Cost effective litigation management is an essential part of litigation strategy, particularly for the small to mid-sized company.

Mr. Sapone served as a business counselor and intellectual property advisor for a startup biotechnology company, software training and development company, an advanced composite manufacturer, a dental instrument company and a nutritional supplement company, among others.

Mr. Sapone began his practice as a patent attorney for United Technologies Corporation, and then became an associate at Darby & Darby, P.C. responsible for counseling on all phases of intellectual property law including preparing patentability opinions, preparing new patent applications, prosecuting U.S. and Foreign origin applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, preparing validity and infringement opinions, advising clients on litigation strategy related to intellectual property, supporting litigation in the Patent, Trademark and Copyright areas, including discovery and motion practice.

Mr. Sapone was a partner at McAulay, Fisher, Nissen Goldberg & Kiel, where he expanded his litigation and patent prosecution practice, trial and appellate experience, and also significantly expanded his international practice, developing a world-wide network of competent associates for providing reciprocal services in Europe and Asia. Mr. Sapone successfully obtained a preliminary injunction in a software copyright dispute, was managing counsel on a successful complex trade secret jury trial, and assisted lead counsel in various patent, antitrust, trademark, and unfair competition litigations.

Mr. Sapone continued his intellectual property practice at the firm of Nims Howes Collison Hansen & Lackert prior to his association with Coleman Sudol Sapone.

Mr. Sapone is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States District Courts for the District of Connecticut, the Southern District of New York and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and in the States of New York and Connecticut.

Technical Experience: Mr. Sapone was a project manager/maintenance manager for Dynamit Nobel, managing the plant maintenance department with a staff of 40, responsible for all site maintenance, department budget and staffing, including union labor negotiations and grievance resolution proceedings. Mr. Sapone supervised the project engineering staff, and managed several major plant renovations, with full cost and schedule responsibility, using critical path management techniques. Mr. Sapone prepared capital cost estimates and appropriation requests, solicited competitive bids and awarded contracts for equipment, materials and services.

Mr. Sapone worked as a project engineer for Stauffer Chemical Co, in the Plastics Division, Delaware City, Delaware, and was assigned projects in the emulsion and suspension polyvinyl chloride units. Mr. Sapone also worked in the Industrial Chemicals Division, Mobile, Alabama as a process engineer, assigned various projects in the sulfuric acid production unit, as well as projects relating to the chlorine, carbon disulfide and carbon tetrachloride production units.

Bar Association and Professional Membership: Connecticut Intellectual Property Law Association, Chairman, membership committee, New York Intellectual Property Law Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, Federal Circuit Bar Association, International Trademark Association, AIPPI, and the American Chemical Society.