Anton Hopen is an 1991 honors graduate of the University of South Florida in Interdisciplinary Science and a 1995 graduate of the University of Florida College of Law where he received the Presidential Recognition Award for Outstanding Achievement.  Mr. Hopen is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, all U.S. District Courts in Florida, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, and the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.    He is Board Certified in Intellectual Property Law by the Florida Bar.  Mr. Hopen has been recognized as an expert in intellectual property law by the Wall Street Journal which frequently publishes his opinion on complex intellectual property matters.   Mr. Hopen regularly lectures at the University of Florida College of Law on patent misuse, estoppel and antitrust law relating to intellectual property. He has also appeared in the Business Journal, Law Review, Money Magazine and Biotechnology Law Report.  Mr. Hopen is "AV" rated by Martindale-Hubble and is founder of Innovation Express teaching young students about Intellectual Property Law.  He is married with four children.  He is an avid sailor and holds a commercial U.S. Coast Guard Master's License. 

Memberships

• Founding Director, Innovation Express Invention Contest for Children
• National Association of College and University Attorneys
• Association of University Technology Managers

Teaching Experience

At H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Research Center

• Processes and Legal requirements for Obtaining at U.S. Patent - March 21, 2005.

National Neurovision Research Institute - First International Symposium on Translational Clinical Research for Inherited and Orphan Retinal Diseases

• Licensing Compounds and Handling of Intellectual Property - Mechanics of Starting Clinic Trials (PowerPoint Presentation - Documenting the Invention) - Nov. 5, 2004

• Development of Intellectual Property of Candidate Drugs from the Laboratory to a Clinic Trial and through Commercialization (PowerPoint Presentation) - Nov. 6, 2004
   

For the Florida Bar:

• Lecturer – "Trademark Law – Corporate Practice" - Miami - Nov. 14, 2002
  Lecturer – "Trademark Law – Corporate Practice" - Tampa - Nov. 15, 2002

• Lecturer – "Trademark Law – Corporate Practice" - Tampa - January 28, 2004
  Lecturer – "Trademark Law – Corporate Practice" - Miami - January 29, 2004

At the University of Florida College of Law, Gainesville, Florida:

• Lecturer – “Trademark Rights to Fictitious Characters in Media.” - 2001

• Lecturer – “Inequitable Conduct in Patent Cases – Fraud and Estoppel.” - 2001

At the University of South Florida, Tampa, Florida:

• Lecturer - "Digital Music Technology and the Law" - April, 2010 (PowerPoint Presentation)

• Lecturer - "Patent Litigation" - 2009

• Lecturer - "Software Patents" - 2008

• Lecturer - "Patent Protection of Art Technology" - 2004

• Lecturer – "Quantifiable Valuation of Patents – a Study in Patent Mortality Rates" - 2003

• Lecturer – "An Introduction to Software Patents" - 2001

At Keller University, Tampa, Florida:

• Lecturer – "Trademarks and Valuation" - 2003

For the National Contract Management Association & the U.S. Department of Defense:

• Lecturer – "Establishing Equitable Provisions for Intellectual Property in Military Government Contracts." - 2003

For the Pinellas County Business Development Center

• Lecturer: Intellectual Property Law Seminar - October 2003.

For the Central Florida Speakers Association, Lakeland Meeting 2000:

• Lecturer – "Intellectual Property Rights for Professional Speakers" - 2000

Publications

• Contributing Author: Biotechnology Law Report n 1998-1999

• Quoted: Intellectual Property - Breaking Windows, Money Magazine, March, 2003.

• Quoted: Judge's Decision Against Microsoft May Threaten Windows Trademark, Wall Street Journal, March 19, 2003.

• Quoted: Its Costly But Crucial to Protect Your Ideas. Wall Street Journal, December 19, 2000.

• Tampa Bay Intellectual Property Report, Editor 2001-present
   

Ronald E. Smith is a 1969 graduate of the University of Tennessee, holding a B.S. degree in Industrial Engineering, and a 1973 graduate of the University of Florida College of Law.  Mr. Smith is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Middle and Southern Districts of the U.S. District Court, the Fifth and Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Supreme Court.

Mr. Smith has written and prosecuted more than 700 U.S. patents, most of them in the mechanical, electrical and electronic arts.  He is Board Certified in Intellectual Property Law by the Florida Bar.

Robert Varkonyi is a graduate of Stetson University College of Law where he concentrated his coursework on Patent Law, Trademark and Unfair Competition, International Intellectual Property, Copyright Law, Antitrust Law and Directed Research with emphasis on Antitrust and Patent Law.

Mr. Varkonyi graduated from the Pennsylvania State University with a degree in Biology focused on Genetics and Development.  He previously served as a science technician for Fox Chase Cancer Center, Department of Medical Oncology in Philadelphia, PA.  Mr. Varkonyi focuses his practice in biotechnology and the mechanical arts.

Michele Lawson received her Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron School of Law.   She has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology from Otterbein College.  Ms. Lawson received a Master of Science in Biotechnology as well as a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida.  While receiving her MS in Biotechnology, she worked as a graduate lab assistant in a pathology laboratory doing research on HIV and influenza. 

Ms. Lawson is a member of both the Ohio and Florida bars and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.  She concentrates her practice in the areas of biotechnology and mechanical arts.

Jeremy is a member of the Florida Bar and is registered before the United States Patent & Trademark Office. He is a graduate, with honors, of the Florida State University College of Law. While in law school, Jeremy took extensive course work in patents, trademarks, and copyrights, and was an associate editor on the FSU Law Review.  He received his degree in Mechanical Engineering from Washington State University where he also interned at Boeing, CH2M HILL, and Fluor.

Thomas Toner is a graduate of the University of Denver College of Law and a 1996 graduate of the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's of Science degree in Biology.   Mr. Toner specializes in life science technologies and has experience in trademark proceedings before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.  His current focus includes cancer-related therapy patents and electronic business method patents.  Mr. Toner is a member of the Florida Bar and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Mr. McGaw is a former patent examiner with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.  He is a graduate of the University of Colorado and has a Masters of Science in Microbiology from Colorado State University.  Prior to his appointment at the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Mr. McGaw worked for Coors Brewing Company handling international trademark issues in foreign markets.

Mr. McGaw's practice includes an emphasis on biotechnology patent prosecution and sophisticated financial systems.

Courtney Dunn is an associate with Smith & Hopen. She is a 2007 honors graduate of Stetson University College of Law. Her coursework included Patent Law, Copyright Law, International Intellectual Property Law, Cyber Law, and Antitrust Law. During her last year in law school, Ms. Dunn was an intern with Smith & Hopen. Ms. Dunn is also a 2002 graduate of the University of Florida with a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Computer Engineering.

Ms. Dunn is a member of the Florida Bar and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office.

Molly Sauter is a 1986 graduate of the University of South Florida in Electrical Engineering and a 1992 graduate of the University of South Florida, holding a Masters Degree in Business Administration. Ms. Sauter is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Ms. Sauter has written and prosecuted patent applications with a primary concentration in engineering sciences, including complex communications technologies, electrical power distribution, environmental purification, and information systems.