Overview
Mark A. Kassel, a partner and intellectual property lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP, provides counsel on a broad spectrum of patent, trademark, copyright and licensing matters. Mark’s patent practice emphasizes biotechnical and chemical arts, including nanotechnology, pharmaceutical and diagnostic products. He has wide-ranging experience in both organic and inorganic chemical areas involving adhesives, polymers, pharmaceuticals, and alloys. Mark has extensive experience in drafting agreements, including license agreements, joint venture agreements, consulting agreements and distribution agreements. He also prepares patent validity and non-infringement opinions as well as conducts patent portfolio analysis.
Mark provides counseling on all aspects of domestic and international trademark practice, including trademark registration and trademark enforcement. He represents the worldwide trademark interests of numerous clients. In addition, he acts as primary copyright counsel for several businesses ranging from book publishers to software manufacturers.
Mark represents a broad range of clients, with special focus in advising and counseling start-up companies in all aspects of intellectual property protection as well as legal issues associated with biotechnology asset valuation and management, venture capital and licensing.
Thought Leadership
Mark has published a broad range of legal and scientific articles, many relating to pharmaceuticals, food and drug law, and the interactions of intellectual property issues with the Internet. He has been a frequent speaker on intellectual property matters at various functions throughout the United States.
Recognition
Mark was named to BTI Consulting Group’s coveted Client Service All Star Team in 2017. This honor is bestowed upon individual attorneys who deliver outstanding client service according to corporate counsel interviewed at large organizations with $1 billion or more in revenue. Mark has been selected by his peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America© in the fields of Biotechnology and Life Sciences (2008, 2010 - 2023), Technology Law (2009, 2010 - 2023) and Patent Law (2011 - 2023). He was named the Best Lawyers® Patent Law "Lawyer of the Year" in Madison (2015, 2017, 2019 and 2022). Mark was named the 2016 Client Choice for his work with IP patents. The Legal 500 recognized Mark as a Leading Lawyer in patent prosecution (2010 – 2016) and as a Leading Lawyer in trademarks (2012). He was also selected for inclusion in the 2005 and 2010 Wisconsin Super Lawyers® lists and in the 2012 – 2022 editions of Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in the practice areas of Intellectual Property. Additionally, he has been peer review rated as AV Preeminent®, the highest performance rating in Martindale-Hubbell® Peer Review Ratings™.
Mark was named a Food and Drug Law Institute Scholar by the Food and Drug Law Institute. He received more than two dozen honors and awards during law school, including being named a Duesenburg Endowed Scholar.
Mark has also been named a WIPR Leader by World IP Review for his IP practice.
Firm Leadership
Mark is former chair of the firm’s Chemical, Biotechnology & Pharmaceutical Practice and head of the Madison office Intellectual Property Department. Mark is also a member of the firm’s Mechanical & Electromechanical Technologies and Trademark, Copyright & Advertising Practices, as well as the Health Care, Life Sciences and Food & Beverage Industry Teams.
Professional Memberships
Mark is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association, the Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association, the National Association of Patent Practitioners, the Licensing Executives Society, the American Chemical Society, the Society for Microbiology, and the American Association for the Advancement of Science.
Education
Mark is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin – Madison (B.S., chemistry, 1987; M.S., bacteriology, 1995); the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee (M.S., organic chemistry, 1989); and Valparaiso Law School (J.D., summa cum laude, 1993), where he was valedictorian of his class.
Admissions
Mark is admitted to practice in Wisconsin, and before the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern and Western Districts of Wisconsin, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.