(CHARLOTTE, N.C.)—Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP announced today that Michael Tobin has joined the Firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) group as a patent attorney in the Charlotte office.
“The dominant influence of intellectual property transactions across the globe has spawned mounting demand for supporting legal services,” said Frank Silber, lead attorney of Parker Poe’s IP group. “As our practice evolves to meet this demand, we’re obviously thrilled to add someone of Michael’s stature and expertise. He brings a great deal of specialized knowledge and insight that will be invaluable to our clients and attorneys.”
Parker Poe’s IP practice provides broad counsel involving the establishment, protection and defense of intellectual property assets such as patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and Internet domain names, as well as the preparation and negotiation of IP licenses, acquisitions and contracts. The Firm also represents buyers, vendors, licensees, licensors and service providers in a wide variety of software and other information technology (IT) matters.
Mr. Tobin’s primary practice is in software and IP licensing, technology transactions and trademark law. He has extensive experience and is a frequent speaker on these topics as well as on topics such as IP issues in mergers and acquisitions, domain name disputes and Internet legal issues.
“Every day, IP plays an increasingly critical role for clients in many fields, even those who do not view themselves as traditional ‘technology’ companies,” Mr. Tobin said. “I believe Parker Poe is ideally suited to meet their needs, with an agile practice model built on delivering high-caliber counsel within a competitive fee structure. That is a big reason I was drawn to working here, and I’m looking forward to helping our clients and growing Parker Poe’s IP practice.”
Admitted to the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Mr. Tobin is also former Chair of the IP Section of the North Carolina Bar Association. He was recognized among Best Lawyers in America in 2012-2013 in Information Technology Law, Technology Law, Patent Law, Copyright Law, and Trademark Law and was named Best Lawyers' 2012 Charlotte Patent Law Lawyer of the Year. In 2011, Mr. Tobin was named one of Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite" in Intellectual Property.
Prior to joining Parker Poe, Mr. Tobin was a partner in the Charlotte office of K&L Gates. He earned a JD from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he was valedictorian, Fletcher Scholar and a member of the Wake Forest Law Review and Order of the Coif. Mr. Tobin holds an MA from Georgetown University and a BS with distinction from the United States Naval Academy.
About Parker Poe
Parker Poe Adams & Bernstein LLP has more than 200 lawyers in five offices located in major markets across North Carolina and South Carolina. The Firm provides legal counsel to large commercial and public organizations on litigation, corporate and regulatory matters. It has been recognized in recent years as one of the fastest growing law firms in the United States and as an award-winning leader in the use of technology to provide better and more efficient service to domestic and international clients.