Brooks Kushman

What Brooks Kushman does

Brooks Kushman P.C. is a private, Michigan-based intellectual property and technology law firm founded in 1983 that delivers the full spectrum of IP legal services — patent prosecution and counseling, IP litigation (including ITC Section 337 and Federal Circuit practice), post-grant proceedings before the PTAB, trademark selection and enforcement, trade secrets, copyrights, licensing and FRAND disputes, and ancillary advisory work in cybersecurity, privacy, AI, open source compliance, and IP due diligence. The firm operates as a professional corporation with 60+ attorneys across offices in Michigan (Royal Oak / Southfield headquarters), Nevada (Las Vegas), California (Los Angeles), and Washington D.C., serving Fortune 100 corporations, mid-size businesses, startups, and universities across automotive, AI, manufacturing, medical devices, aerospace, chemicals, biotechnology, and consumer electronics.

The firm differentiates on technical talent — attorneys hold PhDs and engineering backgrounds across mechanical, electrical, software, chemical, and biotech disciplines — and on sustained third-party recognition, including Chambers USA Band 1 in Michigan IP for ten consecutive years, IAM Patent 1000 Gold Standard 2026, Bloomberg Law Leading Law Firms 2026, and WTR Global Leaders 2026. Documented engagement scale includes 11,000+ patent applications filed over five years, 15,000+ trademarks managed, 850+ patent and trademark cases handled, and 180+ PTAB matters counseled.

Commercially, Brooks Kushman runs a sales-led, relationship-driven professional services model: clients are acquired through industry rankings, peer referrals, thought leadership content, and direct relationship building, with quote-based pricing tied to matter complexity and the option for associates to forgo salary in favor of a share of billings. Anchor clients include Ford Motor Company and Ford Global Technologies (represented across prosecution, trademark, and high-stakes litigation including the Versata matter, where a $104M verdict was reduced to $3 nominal damages), alongside Smartrend Manufacturing, Gadra Enterprises, and other enterprise and mid-market accounts. The firm has no external parent or private equity sponsor identified and remains partner-held.

Name

Brooks Kushman

Legal name

Brooks Kushman P.C.

Website

https://brookskushman.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Brooks Kushman is a private, Michigan-founded IP and technology law firm with 60+ attorneys delivering patent prosecution, IP litigation, PTAB practice, and trademark services to Fortune 100 corporations, mid-market firms, and universities across offices in Michigan, Nevada, California, and Washington D.C.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Intellectual Property Law Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411), Offices of Lawyers (541110)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Patent Prosecution & Portfolio Management (BPAHAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Copyright Services & Content Protection (BPAHAMAC)

Keywords

• Intellectual property law
• Patent prosecution
• Trademark services
• IP litigation
• Patent searching

Headquarters

HQ city

Southfield

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Legal Services - Patent Prosecution: Comprehensive domestic and foreign patent preparation and prosecution services for mechanical, electrical, chemical, biotech, and software technologies. Includes patentability opinions, freedom-to-operate analyses, and IP agreement drafting.
2. Intellectual Property Litigation: High-stakes IP litigation including patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright disputes in federal courts, the Federal Circuit, and International Trade Commission.
3. Trademark Services: Trademark selection, clearance, prosecution, enforcement, licensing, and portfolio management services for domestic and international clients.
4. Post-Grant Proceedings: Inter partes review (IPR) proceedings, reexaminations, reissues, and appeals before the PTAB and Federal Circuit.
5. IP Strategic Counseling: Portfolio management and analytics, licensing and agreements, due diligence, open source compliance, and cybersecurity and privacy advisory services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Brooks Kushman is a full-service intellectual property and technology law firm that represents clients in patent prosecution, IP litigation, trademark prosecution and enforcement, post-grant proceedings before the PTAB, ITC Section 337 investigations, trade secret matters, copyright protection, and strategic IP counseling including due diligence, licensing, open source compliance, and cybersecurity/privacy advisory. The firm serves Fortune 100 corporations, mid-size businesses, startups, and universities across industries such as automotive, AI, medical devices, aerospace, and consumer products.

Product overview

Brooks Kushman is a premier intellectual property and technology law firm offering comprehensive IP legal services organized across three main practice categories: Procurement (copyrights, patent prosecution, portfolio management, trademarks), Legal Defense & Enforcement (litigation, post-grant proceedings, ITC proceedings, anti-counterfeiting, licensing disputes), and Legal Consulting (compliance, cybersecurity/AI, due diligence, IT consulting, licensing, open source compliance, patent searching, technical design consulting, trade secrets). The firm serves clients across diverse industries including automotive, AI and data-driven technologies, aerospace, medical devices, consumer products, life sciences, and more, with offices in Michigan, Nevada, and California.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Patent Prosecution & Counseling
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Trademark Services
• Post-Grant Proceedings
• Copyright Services
• Trade Secret Protection
• Portfolio Management & Analytics
• International Trade Commission (ITC) Practice
• Online Enforcement & Anti-Counterfeiting
• Contingent Litigation
• FRAND & Other Licensing Disputes
• Intellectual Property Due Diligence
• Licensing & Agreements
• Patent Searching
• Cybersecurity, Privacy & Artificial Intelligence
• Open Source Compliance
• Technical Design Consulting
• Compliance & E-Discovery
• Legal IT Consulting

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 11,000 patent applications filed over the last 5 years
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Intellectual Property Owner Association (IPO)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 January 2025Brooks Kushman shareholder Bryan Hart serves as Vice Chair of IPO's DEI Committee. The firm collaborates with IPO on educational materials, resource groups, and programs promoting diversity in the IP profession.
• Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 October 2024Brooks Kushman participates in LCLD programs including the Fellow and Pathfinder programs designed to develop the next generation of legal profession leaders through virtual and in-person training, peer-group projects, and networking opportunities with LCLD leadership.
• Diversity Lab (Mansfield Rule)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 2 October 2024Brooks Kushman has been an Early Adopter of the Midsize Mansfield Certification Plus program since its launch in 2020, committing to transparency, accountability, and knowledge sharing to achieve diversity certification.
• Detroit Cristo Rey High SchoolminorOthersBrooks Kushman partners with Detroit Cristo Rey High School through the school's unique work-study program where students work one day each week at the firm, helping finance their education while gaining real-world experience.
• GleanersminorOthersBrooks Kushman engages with Gleaners as part of community outreach efforts, having helped package tens of thousands of pounds of food.
• Forgotten HarvestminorOthersBrooks Kushman partners with Forgotten Harvest as part of food security community outreach initiatives.
• Habitat for HumanityminorOthersBrooks Kushman engages with Habitat for Humanity having built houses for families in need as part of community service efforts.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Fish & Richardson: One of the largest IP-focused law firms in the United States with deep patent prosecution, litigation, and post-grant proceedings practices. Closely comparable to Brooks Kushman in service mix and Fortune 100 client base, though at substantially greater scale.
• Finnegan: Premier IP boutique firm specializing in patent prosecution, litigation, and PTAB proceedings, serving technology and life sciences clients. Mirrors Brooks Kushman's full-service IP approach with a similarly elite brand profile.
• Knobbe Martens: Major IP-focused law firm with strong patent prosecution and litigation practices across biotech, software, and consumer electronics. Directly comparable in technical depth, attorney credentials, and Fortune 500 client roster.
• Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox: Washington D.C.-based IP boutique known for elite patent prosecution and PTAB practices. Comparable to Brooks Kushman as a similarly sized, technically-focused IP firm with strong post-grant proceedings expertise.
• Wolf Greenfield: Boston-based IP boutique with patent prosecution, litigation, and trademark practices serving technology clients. Overlapping practice mix and similar mid-size IP boutique positioning to Brooks Kushman.
• McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff (MBHB): Chicago-based IP boutique with strong patent prosecution and litigation practices focused on technology and biotech sectors. Closely comparable in size, technical depth, and IP-only focus.
• Harness Dickey & Pierce: Mid-size IP firm with substantial automotive industry presence, headquartered in Troy, Michigan. Strong geographic and industry overlap with Brooks Kushman, particularly in automotive patent prosecution and litigation.
• Oblon McClelland Maier & Neustadt: Virginia-based IP boutique with significant patent prosecution and PTAB practices. Comparable in size, full-service IP positioning, and technical specialization to Brooks Kushman.

Broad incumbents

• Cooley LLP: Major Am Law firm with a substantial IP litigation and prosecution practice serving technology and life sciences clients. Competes with Brooks Kushman for Fortune 500 IP mandates but as part of a much broader corporate practice.
• Foley & Lardner: Am Law firm with notable IP and patent litigation practices serving automotive, healthcare, and technology clients. Overlaps with Brooks Kushman in automotive IP work but offers a broader full-service platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/brookskushman
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCQ19p7jz-AP87B_EjN4Sh6A
• Facebookfacebook.com/brookskushman
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/brooks-kushman-p-c-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Brooks Kushman