Mr. Sims has over forty years’ experience as a patent attorney. He advises clients on how to utilize intellectual property to improve profits. His work includes preparing and prosecuting chemical patent applications, preparing opinions on patent validity and freedom to practice, preparing and interpreting intellectual property agreements, developing and implementing business based intellectual property strategies, handling the intellectual property aspects of forming and taking apart business ventures, training business and technical clients and patent attorneys on intellectual property matters and handling the intellectual property aspects of the sale and acquisition of businesses.
Industry Experience
From 1981 to February 2009, Mr. Sims was a member of the intellectual Property Group of The Dow Chemical Company where he provided counseling on intellectual property to a variety of Dow businesses, concentrating on
business use of intellectual property to enhance the profits of the businesses.
During his venture at Dow, he served as the patent counsel for business units and joint ventures of Dow and served as an intellectual capital manager for Dow businesses. At Dow, Mr. Sims provided the above-described services.
Private Practice Experience
Since 2009 Mr. Sims has been in private practice providing large, medium and start up clients with the same quality of services as provided to Dow. The services provided are business focused designed to enhance business value.
Mr. Sims has helped many clients to develop intellectual property strategies consistent with their business strategies and to develop intellectual property portfolios which significantly enhance their value. Mr. Sims continues to provide high quality patent drafting and prosecution services consistent with the
developed intellectual property strategies. A number of these clients have been acquired or licensed their technology based on the quality of the underlying technology and the intellectual property portfolios developed. Mr. Sims has prepared freedom to operate, plant clearance and portfolio review opinions. Mr.
Sims has assisted clients with a variety of intellectual property based agreements including; non-disclosure agreements, consulting agreements, joint development agreements, licensing agreements, technology transfer
agreements and merger and acquisition agreements.
Honors/Distinctions
- 2022 Excellence in Intellectual Property Award awarded by the State Bar
of Michigan - Six Sigma Green Belt
- Competent Toastmaster’s Award, Toastmasters International
- DBusiness Top Lawyers, 2013
- Leading Lawyer 100, Lawyer Monthly Magazine
- Professional of the year 2012 in Patent Law, Strathmore’s Who’s Who
Professional Activities
- State Bar of Michigan Intellectual Property Section, Council Member
- State Bar of Michigan Intellectual Property Section, Council Chairperson,
2000-2001 - Original Equipment Supplier Association Intellectual Property Committee
- State Bar of Michigan, Fellow
- State Bar of Michigan Patent Pro-Bono Program, Steering Committee
- Provided Services under the State Bar of Michigan Patent Pro-Bono Program