Michael Kelly is a veteran intellectual property litigator and engineer whose career bridges deep technical mastery with more than three decades of courtroom experience. Having begun his professional life as an aircraft engineer designing fuel-flow regulators for advanced propulsion systems, Michael brings to every matter a rare command of both the science behind innovation and the strategy required to protect and enforce it.
Over the course of his career, Michael has represented clients across industries as diverse as aerospace, automotive, semiconductors, and medical devices. His work has included advancing and protecting the engineering achievements of Harley-Davidson and Rolls-Royce—projects that required both an understanding of sophisticated mechanical systems and the ability to translate that complexity into persuasive legal strategy. From motorcycle design innovations to supersonic propulsion and turbine technology, Michael’s background uniquely enables him to bridge the gap between inventors, engineers, and the courtroom.
He has served as lead or co-lead counsel in jury and bench trials, hearings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and oral arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. His practice spans the procurement, enforcement, and defense of intellectual property rights in the United States and abroad, including matters before foreign patent offices and tribunals throughout Europe and Asia.
A former practice group chair at a national law firm and a founding partner of several IP-focused practice groups, Michael is known for his ability to translate intricate technical issues into clear, compelling narratives. Judges and juries alike benefit from his gift for simplifying complex technologies—whether explaining semiconductor architecture, holography, medical imaging systems, cloud computing, or advanced weapons designs. His strategic thinking and measured objectivity have earned him respect from peers and clients who value his candor, availability, and results-driven approach.
Michael’s technical expertise encompasses a broad range of disciplines, including microprocessors, optics, software architecture, encryption, avionics, hydro-mechanical controls, data caching, semiconductor fabrication, medical devices, supersonic aircraft engine design, and consumer electronics. His litigation experience also extends to business methods, mobile technologies, and large-scale network systems.
Elected Chair of the Arizona State Bar Intellectual Property Section Executive Committee, Michael has been a longstanding leader in the IP bar. He has also presented nationally, including at IP Watchdog’s Patent Litigation Masters Class, and has served as a mentor to younger lawyers and engineers transitioning into the legal profession.
Before entering law, Michael earned a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from the University of Illinois and a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University. He received his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law and is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, the Federal Circuit, and multiple federal district courts.
outside the office
Outside of his practice, Michael is a dedicated grandfather and lifelong musician who once played bass for the Mullenberg County Band across Arizona. He remains passionate about youth outreach and previously served as president of MPOWER Kids, a nonprofit focused on teen suicide prevention.