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Robert C. Okonowski

Senior Counsel

Robert C. Okonowski

Senior Counsel

Robert Okonowski is a senior counsel and intellectual property attorney advising clients ranging from emerging technology companies and startups to multinational corporations on the acquisition, protection, and enforcement of their intellectual property rights. He is a member of the firm’s Electronics Practice and the Innovative Technology and Manufacturing Sectors and serves as co-chair of the Advanced Materials and Additive Manufacturing sub-sector.

Robert’s practice spans the full intellectual property lifecycle, including patent prosecution, strategic portfolio development, IP due diligence, licensing, third-party risk assessment, and pre-litigation support. He provides business-focused legal counsel at the intersection of advanced technologies and applied industries, with a practice that spans wireless communication systems (with particular emphasis on standard essential patents and 5G/6G technologies), cloud and edge computing, artificial intelligence, software architecture, extended reality, and electromechanical solutions across a wide array of industries. He regularly advises clients across sectors where these technologies drive innovation –including gaming and interactive media, identity authentication platforms, and industrial manufacturing and heavy machinery – helping them build and manage IP portfolios that support their business objectives.  Robert also has extensive experience managing patent portfolios in the automotive sector, including technologies relating to autonomous driving systems, fleet management platforms, telematics, vehicle connectivity (including V2X), and sensor data processing. Throughout his work, Robert engages closely with engineering, product, and legal teams to protect innovations across technology areas and verticals.

In addition to patent portfolio development and management work, Robert plays a strategic role in evaluating and positioning IP assets for licensing, investment, and commercial alignment. He regularly supports IP due diligence for complex transactions and advises on IP terms and conditions in commercial agreements, including master service agreements, supply contracts, and joint development arrangements. He also guides clients through standard-setting, interoperability, and third-party risk considerations in infrastructure-heavy and regulated environments.  His cross-disciplinary approach helps clients capture long-term value from their innovation and navigate evolving legal, technical, and competitive pressures.

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December 17, 2024 Manufacturing Industry Advisor

Navigating the Road Ahead: How AI and Vehicle Automation are Transforming the Transportation Industry

Artificial Intelligence is expected to impact almost every modern industry, with no exception for the automotive and transportation industries.
August 21, 2024 Events

SAA Coffee Break: Combating Internal and External IP Leakage

Intellectual Property (IP) leakage poses a significant threat to maintaining competitive advantages in the marketplace. This presentation will identify the main sources of IP leakage and offer effective strategies that stakeholders can implement to safeguard their IP and enhance their competitive edge.
October 18, 2023 Honors and Awards

Foley Receives LIFT Insight Pathfinder Award for Impact as a Service Provider

Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow (LIFT), the U.S. Department of Defense manufacturing innovation institute, named Foley & Lardner LLP as the recipient of its 2022 Pathfinder Award.
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September 20, 2023 Blogs

Foley Automotive Forum Brings Together Industry Leaders at North American International Auto Show

As the City of Detroit welcomed the North American International Auto Show last week, Foley & Lardner LLP hosted industry leaders at its annual Automotive Forum for a discussion of the critical areas spanning business and legal issues facing the automotive industry.
13 September 2023 Events

Foley Automotive Forum at the North American International Auto Show in Detroit

Hosted alongside the 2023 North American International Auto Show, please join us for a half-day Automotive Forum on Wednesday, September 13, at the Detroit Athletic Club.
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April 17, 2023 Innovative Technology Insights

Challenges to IP Protections in Fast-Paced Cloud Environments

SaaS and cloud computing companies utilizing agile software development methods such as Scrum should ensure that their IP strategy is correspondingly flexible.