Two distinguished attorneys join McDonald Hopkins' Intellectual Property Department

McDonald Hopkins LLC is proud to announce the addition of two distinguished attorneys to its Intellectual Property Department. Sean Mellino and Jamie Pingor bring decades of experience and diverse legal knowledge in intellectual property law to the firm. Their integration into McDonald Hopkins underscores the firm’s commitment to attracting top legal talent, cementing its status as a destination firm for accomplished attorneys and discerning clients alike.

David Cupar, Chair of the Intellectual Property Department at McDonald Hopkins, said Mellino and Pingor enhance the team’s ability to provide comprehensive solutions to their clients’ intellectual property needs.

“Our IP Department prides itself on offering tailored and strategic solutions that align with each client's unique business goals. We prioritize proactive communication, creative problem-solving, and a results-driven approach, distinguishing us from other firms in our ability to deliver exceptional value to our clients. Sean and Jamie embody that mindset and we're excited about the contributions they will make to our team,” Cupar noted.

Mellino joined the firm as a Member and is known as a skilled patent and trademark attorney. His practice focuses on managing clients’ worldwide patent and international trademark portfolios. This includes providing guidance on patent and trademark clearance, enforcement and prosecution; monitoring and enforcing domain names; and preparing U.S. design and utility patent applications, trademark applications, and corresponding respective foreign applications.

“I was compelled to come to McDonald Hopkins because of the strong IP team with Cleveland-based roots,” said Mellino. “I truly enjoy helping my clients, whether large, medium, or small, with projects and seeing their projects and ideas achieve success.”

Pingor joined as Counsel and is an experienced intellectual property attorney who counsels clients ranging from startups to mid-size organizations to Fortune 50 corporations on domestic and international patent preparation, prosecution, procurement, and litigation. His practice also focuses on intellectual property risk management, trademark analysis, clearance procurement, cancellations, oppositions, litigation and dispute resolution, and domain/URL and copyright matters.

Pingor said he truly loves intellectual property law because of the clients he gets to work with. He is excited about the innovative minds leading McDonald Hopkins’ IP Department.

“I’m looking forward to working with Dave Cupar and the team to grow and expand. The overall reputation and vision of the firm and this team is very appealing. I have years of experience working with a variety of clients from Fortune 50 to University Tech Transfer to garage inventors. I hope to leverage my experiences and assist in the overall quality and growth of this group and continue to help clients who are passionate about protecting their ideas and seeing those products through to market,” he said.

Pingor also assists clients with intellectual property portfolio development, patent and trademark clearance and infringement analysis, validity and enforcement issues, enforcement and defense, freedom-to-operate analysis, patentability analysis, innovation ideation, and licensing matters. His patent procurement knowledge is complemented by considerable experience negotiating agreements that involve intellectual property.