Overview
Malisheia is Counsel in McDonald Hopkins’ Intellectual Property Department. With over 16 years of experience spanning in-house counsel and private practice, Malisheia has built a global reputation for helping companies navigate complex intellectual property challenges, particularly those emerging at the intersection of innovation and evolving legal landscapes.
Her practice focuses on patent and trademark strategy, trade secret protection, technology transactions, and global portfolio management, with experience spanning a wide range of industries including e-commerce, industrial and consumer products, automotive, oil and gas, and energy management. She routinely advises clients on distinguishing between trade secret and patent protection, especially for innovations involving artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML).
She also advises clients on the protection of intellectual property through government contracts, including the rights of contractors and the US government regarding research and development of new technologies, products and processes. While serving as in-house counsel, Malisheia led teams dedicated to cybersecurity and digitization, as well as diversity and inclusion. She is dedicated to creating and guiding collaborative, cohesive and innovative teams. Prior to law school, Malisheia earned her degree in chemical engineering and worked as a polymer research engineer at a Fortune 50 tire company, as well as a leading manufacturer of specialty fibers and nonwoven materials made from cellulose.
She approaches her client relationships as a true partner, working as an extension of internal teams to deliver strategic, tailored solutions that align with clients’ business goals and cultures.
Malisheia holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Akron and a Bachelor in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Honors & Recognition
Kaleidoscope Magazine’s Forty-Forty Club
Women in STEAM Leadership Academy, Akron Urban League
Credentials
Education
The University of Akron
Georgia Institute of Technology
Admissions – Court
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
- U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Admissions – State
- Ohio
Professional & Civic
Professional Activities
Treasurer, Kathleen O’Malley IP American Inn of Court
Past President, Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association (CIPLA)
Secretary, Northeast Ohio Professionals Chapter of the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE)
Intellectual Property Advisory Council, University of Akron School of Law
Past President, Project Learn of Summit County
News & Insights
Events
Speaking Engagements
Intellectual Property Symposium 2025, AI and Legal Ethics
Intellectual Property Symposium 2023, Cybersecurity and the Law
Winter Institute, University of Akron School of Law (2022 & 2023)
Northeast Ohio Association of Corporate Counsel, Proactive Risk Management and Cybersecurity (2022)