1.Jeff A. McDaniel, partner                                                                                          Top

Education

J.D., 1986
Southern Methodist University
Member of the Phi Delta Phi honor society

B.S., Communications, cum laude and with special honors, 1983
University of Texas
Member of the Alpha Epsilon Rho academic honorary society

Memberships

· American Intellectual Property Law Association
· Austin Intellectual Property Law Association

Jeff A. McDaniel specializes in intellectual property litigation and counseling. His primary emphasis is in copyright and trademark law, particularly the litigation of copyright infringement actions. While an undergraduate, Mr. McDaniel pursued extensive studies in both computer sciences and computer engineering. While pursuing his law degree, Mr. McDaniel authored an extensive work on copyright protection of computer software for which he was awarded first prize in the Nathan Burkan Memorial Copyright Competition at SMU sponsored by the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP). A substantial portion of Mr. McDaniel's practice is devoted to the protection, enforcement and licensing of copyrighted works. Mr. McDaniel currently represents ASCAP and its members in copyright infringement cases in Texas. He has worked extensively in anti-piracy enforcement, and as a consequence, has litigated a large number of copyright and trademark infringement actions. The subject matter of those actions has been quite diverse, including computer software, computer databases, musical compositions, photographs, flag and windsock designs, jewelry designs, architectural plans, works of visual and fine art, cartoon characters, and books.
Mr. McDaniel is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western, Northern, and Southern Districts of Texas, and in Texas State Courts. A regular speaker and author in the copyright field, Mr. McDaniel's publications include "Selected Copyright Law Developments," 3 TEX. INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY L. J. 57 (Fall 1994); and "Copyright Law 1991: Two Selected Developments," 2 TEX.
INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY L. J. 44 (Spring 1992). He also authored from 1990 to 1994 a quarterly column entitled "Recent Developments in Copyright Law," which appeared in the Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Journal published by the American Bar Association.

2.Chad Huston, partner                                                                                          Top

Education

J.D., 1982
University of Nebraska College of Law
Member of the Nebraska Law Review, Order of the Coif, and Order of the Barristers
Honors: Received the Nathan Burkan Award sponsored by ASCAP for research and publications in the copyright area

B.S., Industrial Engineering, 1977
Stanford University
Performed graduate work in Information Systems

Memberships

· Austin Intellectual Property Law Association (Past President)
· Licensing Executives Society (LES)
· Intellectual Property Owners (IPO)

Publications

Publications include: “Protecting IP on a Global Basis” Corporate Counsel Institute April 21, 2005; “Survey of IP Monetization Techniques” IP Today, October 2004, Vol 11, No. 10; “IP Monetization - Techniques and Trends” State Bar of Texas, June 25, 2004; "Intellectual Property Best Practices" Corporate Counsel Institute April 10, 2003, "IP Holding Companies" 16th Annual Computer & Information Law Institute, October 2002, "Mixing Law and Business - A Case History" Technology and Computer Law March 2002, "IP Due Diligence - M&A in High Tech Transactions" 23rd Annual Securities Regulation February 2001, "Strategic Patenting" Advanced Patent Law Institute November 2000, "Investing with Technology and Business Failure in Mind" June 2000 in-house corporate presentation and "Strategic Licensing" Security Interests in Intellectual Property Workshop - Law Seminars June 2003.

Chad Huston has an extensive background in patent prosecution, intellectual property transactions and litigation, particularly in software technology. His intellectual property transactions practice includes intellectual property financing, standards setting, patent pools, licensing, alliance agreements, joint ventures and investments. Transactions range from acquisitions and assertive licensing programs for Fortune 500 Companies to start-up formation, financing and operation.
From 1990 to 1995 Chad was the general counsel for software matters at Schlumberger and in particular, for the research Laboratory for Computer Science. From 1995 to 1997 Chad acted in various management positions in technology companies, including CEO of a GPS systems company, returning to private practice in 1997. Chad has chaired and served on the Board of Directors of several technology companies.
Chad is a past president of the Austin Intellectual Property Law Association and a frequent speaker and author, most recently in the areas of IP management and monetization. Chad is also retired from the United States Air Force (Reserve) where he flew many types of fighters, including the A-10, F-4 and F-16.

3.Kevin Daffer, partner                                                                                          Top

Education

J.D., 1989
Southern Methodist University

M.B.A., with honors, 1983
St. Edwards University

B.S., Electrical Engineering, with distinction, 1979
University of Nebraska

Memberships

· American Intellectual Property Law Association
· Austin Intellectual Property Law Association

Kevin L. Daffer specializes in intellectual property matters with an emphasis in patent prosecution in the electrical arts, particularly integrated circuits, microprocessor-based systems, circuits, robotics and computer software.
While an undergraduate, Mr. Daffer worked as a student co-op engineer with International Business Machines Corporation in Endicott, New York. After his graduation, Mr. Daffer was an integrated circuit design engineer with Motorola in Austin, Texas for six years. .
In his professional career, Mr. Daffer has procured patents worldwide and represents many large, Fortune 500 companies such as Advanced Micro Devices, Asahi Chemical Co., Compaq Computer Corp., Cypress Semiconductor Corp., and IBM Corp.
Mr. Daffer is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and in Texas State Courts.

4.Louise K. Miller, partner                                                                                          Top

Education

J.D., with honors, 1992
University of Texas at Austin
Honors: Selected for membership in the Order of the Coif

B.S., Electrical Engineering, 1984
University of Texas at Austin

Memberships

· American Bar Association
· Licensing Executive Society
· Austin Intellectual Property Law Association

Louise K. Miller practices in the Firm's transaction group, specializing in intellectual property licensing, technology transfers, and e-commerce and Internet related agreements.
During her undergraduate studies, Ms. Miller participated in the co-operative engineering program, working at Rockwell International in Richardson, Texas. After graduation, Ms. Miller gained four years of engineering experience at Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. and the Defense Systems and Electronics Group of Texas Instruments, concentrating on the testing and development of microcontroller and microprocessor semiconductor devices.
After receiving her Juris Doctor, Ms. Miller returned to Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. as an in-house attorney, where she became senior attorney to its processor groups. While at Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., Ms. Miller handled a variety of intellectual property matters, including the management of the processor groups' patent and trademark portfolio, drafting and negotiating intellectual property, software, and technology transactions, and counseling in the areas of advertising and sweepstakes, standards-setting organizations, and other high technology related matters. She is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and in Texas State Courts.

5.Kem E. McClelland (Of Counsel)                                                                                                                                                    Top

Education

J.D., with honors, 1993
University of Texas at Austin

M.A., Literature, highest honors, 1984
University of Alabama
Honors: Served as president of the English Graduate Organization and earned multiple Scholar Awards and Special Teaching Commendations

B.A., Literature and Languages, summa cum laude, 1981
Mobile College
Honors: Served as Valedictorian and President of graduating class

Memberships

· American Bar Association
· Forum for Women Entrepreneurs
· Women in Technology and Travis County Bar Association.

Kem E. McClelland became of counsel in 2001 and practices in the Firm's transactions group, specializing in intellectual property licensing, open source licensing, technology transfers, e-commerce and Internet related agreements.
During law school, she worked in the Technology Law Group at Advanced Micro Devices, Inc., and joined the group as in-house counsel upon graduation. During her tenure at AMD, Ms. McClelland supported various divisions, including communications, networking, embedded microprocessors and the fab. Eventually she became senior attorney to its communications and networking groups.
After AMD, Ms. McClelland went to Rockwell Semiconductor Systems (now Conexant) as Director of Contracts and Technology Portfolio Management. Her duties included managing a geographically dispersed group of contracts specialists and patent attorneys responsible for transactional and technology licensing matters of the corporation, including foreign subsidiaries in Russia, Israel, France and the U.K.
Ms. McClelland returned to Texas as one of the founders of Wayport, Inc., an Austin-based start-up company focused on putting wired and wireless Ethernet access in public locations such as hotels and airports. She served as Wayport's Vice President of Business Development and General Counsel. Ms. McClelland was also a founder in a wireless start-up company, Musenki, focused on the design, development and manufacture of open source-based wireless networking equipment.
Because of her involvement with the open source community as both a lawyer and business person, Ms. McClelland is often asked to speak on the legal and business issues related to open source software licensing, development and use. Recent events at which she has spoken on this topic include the 2002 Computer and Information Law Institute, PLI's Electronic Contracting 2003, and the 2003 Computer and Technology Law Institute. Ms. McClelland has also given presentations on the FCC and other legal issues related to 802.11 wireless LAN technology at the 2001 80211-Planet Forum, the 2002 Linux World Expo, and to various community wireless networking groups such as Austin Wireless Group and NYCWireless.

 6.Kurt M. Sauer (Of Counsel)                                                                             Top

Education

J.D., University of Texas at Austin, 1982
M.B.A., Option II, University of Texas at Austin, 2001
B.B.A. with highest honors, University of Texas at Austin, 1980

Memberships

· State Bar of Texas
· Travis County Bar Association
· Texas Trial Lawyers Association

Kurt's practice focuses on commercial litigation and intellectual property litigation. He has served as lead counsel in over 200 lawsuits and has tried cases in state and federal court, bankruptcy court and before administrative agencies. Kurt is a trained mediator and in 2001, completed an MBA program at the University of Texas at Austin.

Kurt's litigation experience includes:
· Overturning a $100,000,000 judgment against a client relating to venture capital issues
· Successfully defending a client accused of wire fraud in a federal RICO lawsuit involving the liquidation of problem loan portfolios by an international bank
· Prosecuting and defending claims involving international, federal and state securities fraud matters
· Prosecution of claims on behalf of wrongfully imprisoned inmates
· Prosecution and defense of patent, trademark, and copyright infringement claims

Kurt has tried cases involving computer systems, patents, employment agreements, banking and lender liability issues, real estate, construction, contracts, fraud and deceptive trade practices, oil and gas, professional licensing and discipline, civil rights, whistleblower claims, open meetings and open records matters, and bankruptcy claims. He has significant experience in parallel proceedings that involve civil litigation and white-collar criminal cases. Kurt's pro bono work includes representing clients in death penalty cases and in eviction proceedings, and he has served as chairperson of the City of Austin Airport Advisory Board and as president of the Adult Services Council.

Kurt has traveled extensively in Europe, Southeast Asia, Mexico and Central America. He was an all-state tennis player in high school and today enjoys tennis, fishing and camping. In 1998 Kurt backpacked approximately 325 miles on the Appalachian Trail, beginning in Massachusetts and hiking across Vermont and New Hampshire and into Maine. During the 1999 Texas legislative session, Kurt wrote for Texas Lawyer, a weekly newspaper that focuses on legal issues and the legal community in Texas.

Kurt is married to Sarah Eckhardt. They have a son, Hank, and a daughter, Nadine.

7.Kirby Cronin (Of Counsel)                                                                                    Top

Education

J.D., with honors, 1995
The University of Texas at Austin

B.B.A., International Business, with honors, 1991
The University of Texas at Austin

Memberships

· State Bar of Texas

Kirby Cronin joined the Firm of counsel in September of 2007 and specializes in intellectual property transactions, litigation, and counseling. His primary experience is in technology transactions and related litigation, although he also has experience in a variety of other commercial litigation, business transactions, and employment matters.

Prior to beginning his legal practice, Mr. Cronin studied international business and marketing as an undergraduate at the University of Texas, where he graduated with honors. He then attended the University of Texas School of Law where he was an articles editor for the Texas Intellectual Property Law Journal and was selected to attend Queen Mary & Westfield College as part of the School of Law’s Semester in London program. He also was a mock trial champion and best advocate and graduated with honors.

After graduating from law school, Mr. Cronin practiced general litigation at the firms of Crain, Caton & James in Houston, Texas and Hohmann & Taube in Austin, Texas. In 2000, Mr. Cronin joined the Austin, Texas office of the legal department at Computer Sciences Corporation, a Fortune 200 company based in El Segundo, California. While at CSC, Mr. Cronin became senior counsel supporting CSC’s Financial Services Group on a wide variety of legal matters. His primary focus was on drafting and negotiating software licenses, joint marketing agreements, reseller agreements, intellectual property acquisition agreements, and other technology related transactions. Mr. Cronin was also responsible for management of simple and complex litigation, support and resolution of employment legal matters, negotiation of commercial real estate transactions, and support, management, and negotiation of a variety of other general business and intellectual property matters. Mr. Cronin is admitted to practice before the United States District Courts for the Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, and in Texas State Courts.

8.Angel Herrera Jr., associate                                                                                                                                                Top

Education

Master in Intellectual Property, 2000
Franklin Pierce Law Center

J.D., 2000
Franklin Pierce Law Center

B.S., Chemical Engineering 1992
Texas A&M University

Memberships

· Austin Intellectual Property Law Association

Angel Herrera Jr specializes in intellectual property matters involving the protection of trade secrets. Additionally he handles the prosecution of both patents and trademarks before the USPTO, with an emphasis in patent prosecution in the chemical arts.
Mr. Herrera worked as a chemical engineer with a number of engineering companies in San Antonio, Texas, including Science Applications International, Inc. (SAIC), where he developed broad experience in process analysis, chemical substitution, pollution prevention, and environmental compliance.
Mr. Herrera is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States District Court for the Southern District of Texas, Texas State Courts, and New York State courts.

9.William Todd Resnik, associate                                                                                                                                                Top

Education

J.D., 2003
The University of Texas School of Law

B.A., Political Science and Mass Communications, magna cum laude, 2000
Texas State University

Memberships

· State Bar of Texas, 2004
· Texas Young Lawyers Association

W. Todd Resnik specializes in intellectual property and insurance litigation. His primary emphasis with the firm involves practice with intellectual property litigation strategies and discovery matters, particularly in regards to computer and Internet software. He has also devoted a portion of his practice with the firm to a broad array of complex intellectual property issues, including negotiating licenses and providing legal counsel in regards to trademark, copyright, Internet/e-commerce, and unfair competition law for clients which include well-known players in the advertising, banking, apparel, computer software, Internet, and real-estate industries.

While an undergraduate, Mr. Resnik was a National Collegiate Communication Arts Award Winner and a member of Kappa Tau Alpha National Honor Society in Journalism and Mass Communication. While attending the University of Texas School of Law, Mr. Resnik was a member of the Texas Review of Entertainment and Sports Law and an advocate in the Carl Wilson Mock Trial Competition.

In his professional career, Mr. Resnik has also concentrated on legal matters involving the design, distribution, and administration of insurance products, including extensive experience in federal and state legislative review.

10.Beverly Angel                                                                                                                                                Top

Education

J.D., 2002
University of Texas School of Law
Member: Texas Review of Law & Politics, University of Texas Legal Research Board, Board of Advocates, and Federalist Society.
Honors: Bracewell-Patterson Award for Best First-Year Memorandum, Wechsler First-Amendment Moot Court Team, State Bar Moot Court Team, Consul Award.

M.A., Liberal Arts (Great Books Curriculum) 1989
St. John’s College
Honors: Named as Alumni Association Honor Graduate, Served as president of Graduate Council.

B.S., Chemistry 1977
Member: Lambda Mu Honorary Mathematical Fraternity, American Chemical Society Student Affiliate
Honors: American Chemical Society Outstanding Student Award

Memberships

· Austin Bar Association
· Texas Young Lawyers Association
· National Native American Bar Association

Beverly Jacobs Angel joined Daffer McDaniel in 2005 and practices primarily in the area of complex litigation involving protection of intellectual property rights. Prior to joining the Firm, she obtained first-chair trial experience and appellate experience as an associate in a two-attorney civil law firm. Thereafter, she assisted with the arbitration of managed- care contract disputes. While a law student, Ms. Angel clerked at Hilgers & Watkins, P.C. and interned for Justice Alberto Gonzales at the Texas Supreme Court. She is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas and in Texas State Courts.

11.Mollie Lettang                                                                                                       Top

Education

B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1995
Iowa State University

Mollie Lettang specializes in chemical and manufacturing processes, particularly in the semiconductor industry. For example, her patent work has included the design and fabrication of MOSFETs, bi-polar transistors, and memory circuits, including MRAM configurations. In addition, her work has included the design and metrology of equipment used within the semiconductor fabrication industry. She serves as a Registered Patent Agent for the firm.

While completing her degree, she worked for 3M Company in an engineering student co-operative program. She worked in a variety of arenas including software programming, medical product manufacturing, and surgical product development.
After receiving her degree, Ms. Lettang worked as an Advanced Process Engineer for 3M Company and Imation Corporation at their Photolithographic Printing Plate manufacturing facility in eastern West Virginia. Prior to joining the Firm, she worked for Square D Company at their Circuit Breaker manufacturing facility in Columbia, Missouri as a Plating and Environmental Engineer. Her experience has given her exposure to industrial environmental compliance and several chemical manufacturing processes, including metal etching, photolithography and electroplating.

12.Jennifer Fisher                                                                                                                                                Top

Education

M.S., Biomedical Engineering, 2001
University of Texas at Austin

B.S., Electrical Engineering, 1999
University of Alabama

Jennifer Fisher serves as a Technical Advisor for the firm.
While completing her undergraduate degree, she participated in the University of Alabama's co-op program and worked as a Distribution Engineer for the Alabama Power Company.
During her graduate career, she was awarded a research assistantship in the Biomedical Engineering Laser Laboratory, and she participated in the Multi-University Research Initiative (MURI). Mrs. Fisher's research work concentrated in the area of biosensors, namely insect infrared detection systems.

 

 13.Aaron J. Pickell                                                                                                                                                  Top

Education

J.D., 2005
The University of Texas School of Law

B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2000
The University of Texas at Austin

Memberships

·State Bar of Texas, 2005
·Austin Bar Association
·Texas Young Lawyers Association

Aaron Pickell specializes in intellectual property matters involving patent litigation and the prosecution of patents before the USPTO. Mr. Pickell has also concentrated on the prosecution of trademarks, enforcement of copyrights, and complex litigation involving insurance related software and the protection of intellectual property rights.

Prior to enrolling in law school, Mr. Pickell worked as a mechanical engineer in Dallas, Texas, where he designed electro-mechanical and mechanical systems for high speed cash sorting equipment used in central banks and automated baggage handling equipment used in airports. While pursuing his undergraduate studies, Mr. Pickell worked at The University of Texas Applied Research Laboratories where he earned an Applied Research Laboratories Co-op Scholarship for his academic performance and work with the Sonar Systems Group.

Mr. Pickell is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, and Texas State Courts.

 

14.Paula Krause Lear, Associate                                                                                                                                                  Top

Education

J.D., cum laude, 1996
University of Houston Law Center
Honors: 1st Place in 1995 Hippard Mock Trial Competition
Honors Award for 1995 Judicial Internship Program
Award for Best Appellate Brief in Legal Writing
Award for Best Advocate, 1996 Trial Advocacy Bench Trial

B.A., English, 1989
University of Texas at Austin

Memberships

State Bar of Texas
Austin Bar Association
Austin Young Lawyers Association
Austin Intellectual Property Law Association
Austin Litigation Section

Paula Krause Lear joined the firm in 2006 and practices with the firm’s litigation group, focusing on commercial and intellectual property litigation as well as complex litigation regarding insurance-related software products. Mrs. Lear specializes in large-scale electronic discovery.

While attending the University of Houston Law Center, Mrs. Lear clerked for U.S. Magistrate Judge Mary Milloy in the Southern District of Texas in 1995, receiving an Honors Award for her performance, and for Justice Nathan Hecht at the Texas Supreme Court in 1996. She also clerked for the law firm of Hughes, Watters and Askanase L.L.P. in Houston, where she assisted the commercial litigation section with matters involving the Truth in Lending Act, the Texas Debt Collection Act, proposed tax regulations, voice identification experts and technology, and sovereign immunity of Indian tribes.

After receiving her Juris Doctor, Mrs. Lear worked as a contract attorney for six years with the law firm of George and Donaldson, L.L.P. in Austin. She gained invaluable experience conducting legal research and discovery, drafting motions and jury charges, and coordinating with expert and fact witnesses. She worked on a variety of intellectual property and other matters, including trademark infringement, theft of trade secrets, collegiate trademarks, patent infringement, defamation, securities fraud, complex commercial litigation, products liability, deceptive trade practices, the unauthorized practice of law, environmental law, and open records matters on both the state and federal level. Her pro bono work involved representing clients in divorce proceedings.

In 2003, Mrs. Lear joined the in-house legal department of Temple-Inland Inc., a Fortune 500 company based in Austin, Texas, where she worked in the litigation group. Her primary focus was on assisting all of Temple-Inland’s regions across the United States in responding to claims and litigation involving contract disputes, products liability, and premises liability, with a heavy emphasis on enforcing contractual indemnity clauses and additional insured provisions in insurance contracts.

Mrs. Lear is admitted to practice before the United States District Court for the Western District of Texas and in Texas State Courts.