Attorneys
Gerald L. Smith, a principal, has been engaged in the practice of patent law as an attorney since receipt of his law degree from The University of Maryland in 1964. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science degrees from The Ohio State University having graduated (Tau Beta Pi) from the University in 1957 with both degrees. While attending law school at the University of Maryland and thereafter he was employed by the Patent Legal Department of the Aerospace Division of Martin-Marietta Corporation. Jerry entered private practice for about two years, gaining experience in both civil and criminal trial matters. He then joined the Polaroid Corporation in Cambridge, Massachusetts, remaining as a Senior Patent Attorney for about eight years. The last two years at Polaroid he provided personal representation of the late Dr. E.H. Land, the founder of Polaroid and an internationally recognized inventor.
Mr. Smith returned to private practice in intellectual property law, moving to Columbus during 1976. The present firm of Mueller Smith was formed in 1980. Mr. Smith has been active in local Bar Associations in the Central Ohio region, having been President of the Columbus Intellectual Property Law Association and being a founding organizer of the successful Columbus Computer Law Institute.
Jerry Smith is admitted to the practice of law in Maryland, Massachusetts, and Ohio, and is registered to practice before the Canadian Patent Office and the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Email: jsmith@muellersmith.com
J.K. "Sandy" Mueller, Jr. a principal, has practiced intellectual property law for more than 20 years. He received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering from Case Institute of Technology in 1970 and a Juris Doctor Degree from the College of Law at The Ohio State University in 1973. SCM Corporation employed Mr. Mueller as a Staff Attorney and Patent Attorney from 1974-1979, where he gained broad experience in the chemical patenting arts and in general corporate practice. He joined the law firm of Millard, Cox & Smith in Columbus, Ohio, in 1979, and in 1980 became a founding partner of Mueller Smith.
Mr. Mueller also was an Adjunct Professor of Law at Capital University Law School (1985-1999) where he taught courses in Intellectual Property Law and Patent Law. Mr. Mueller maintains a broad patent practice involving not only the preparation and prosecution of patent applications, but also the licensing of patents and know-how. Mr. Mueller also represents numerous small and medium-size businesses, primarily in trademark and related technology law matters. He also has served as general counsel to several start-up companies, including serving as general counsel post-IPO. Mr. Mueller has participated in Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) hearings as both a facilitator or mediator. He is a past president of the Columbus Intellectual Property Law Association. Mr. Mueller is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Email: smueller@muellersmith.com
John J. Okuley Dr. John J. Okuley first joined the firm as a clerk in 2001. He has a Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics (1991), a Juris Doctor degree (with honors, 2003), and a Bachelor of Science (1984, in Agronomy, with distinction) from the Ohio State University. Dr. Okuley was a college professor for six years, teaching cell biology, plant physiology, genetics, and biotechnology. He also was a postdoctoral researcher at Washington State University and the USDA Forest Service, where his research included work with cell signaling, biochemistry, and transgenics. He is the author of more than a dozen publications and has been listed as an inventor on several patent applications and patents. While at Ohio State's Moritz College of Law, Dr. Okuley was an Associate Editor of the Ohio State Journal on Dispute Resolution and published a paper, "Resolution of Inventorship Disputes: Avoiding Litigation Through Early Evaluation."
With his broad background in academia and industry, John has counseled clients in the drafting and prosecution of patents covering technologies ranging from cancer treatment, medical devices and electrosurgery, motors, modular construction components, luggage and sporting goods, along with assisting small companies in developing their intellectual property portfolios. As part of the firm's litigation practice, Dr. Okuley has litigated several trademark disputes as Trial Counsel, and has participated in a number of successfully mediated settlements, along with helping to build the firm's trademark practice. John is admitted to practice law in Ohio and in the federal courts for the Southern District of Ohio.
Email: jokuley@muellersmith.com