Nicholas counsels technology clients on intellectual property strategy and has particular experience navigating the eligibility of software inventions for patent protection as well as managing patent and trademark assets to achieve business goals.
Nicholas is an experienced technology attorney focusing his practice on strategic management of intellectual property assets, for clients ranging from startups to multinational corporations. He helps build and manage patent portfolios in a wide range of technology areas, with a particular focus on software, network traffic management, operating systems and virtualization, network security, cloud storage solutions, artificial intelligence, financial and blockchain technology, image processing and optical systems, and electromechanical systems across the automotive, medical, and consumer products industries.
He has significant experience in post-issuance practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Throughout his career, he has counseled both petitioners and patent owners in numerous inter partes review procedures. Nicholas also provides counsel regarding computer technology in patent infringement cases litigated throughout the U.S. As part of his post-issuance work, Nicholas often assists clients with patent license agreements, as well as infringement and invalidity opinions.
In addition to his patent practice, Nicholas provides trademark and copyright counseling, particularly in the computer software industry. He helps clients manage trademark portfolios and assists with trademark infringement actions. Nicholas is also a certified legal specialist with experience conducting open source software due diligence analysis.
His diverse experience includes roles as in-house counsel for the imaging electronics group of a large technology company and as on-site counsel for a small, research-based startup focused on sensor technology. Nicholas is often asked to help clients protect and defend their technology investments. As part of this work, he regularly collaborates with patent counsel and inventors to develop and implement intellectual property strategies.
Representative matters may include engagements before joining Troutman Pepper.