David D. Leege

Counsel
Leege David
David Leege counsels clients on protecting their intellectual property (IP) using the full range of IP tools, with particular emphasis on patent prosecution, patent litigation, and post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). With an advanced degree in engineering and prior experience as a materials and mechanical engineer, David understands his clients’ technology, products, and services. He leverages that technical understanding to obtain worldwide protection for his clients and to help them navigate their competitors’ patent rights. David has advised on patents relating to a broad spectrum of technology including mechanical engineering and materials science.

Some of the diverse technologies that David has experience with include boats and other maritime technologies, robotics, semiconductor and electrical components, ink jet and laser printing, aerospace components, information management systems, and consumer products.

David’s practice also includes Vessel Hull Design registration before the U.S. Copyright Office and many aspects of trademark law, including trademark portfolio management, as well as filing and prosecuting U.S. trademarks.

Prior to his legal career, David was a nuclear engineer for the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Naval Reactors. He began working with Naval Reactors while serving in the U.S. Navy. David was a lead engineer in the core materials group and was responsible for core cladding materials and performance. He was also a lead engineer for expended core and radioactive materials examination, which, beyond ensuring execution of materials tests, included responsibility for ensuring compliance with regulatory standards for radioactive materials transportation, criticality safety, special nuclear material accountability, and radiological controls.

Experience

Government Experience

  • Nuclear engineer, Office of Naval Reactors, Department of Energy
  • Lieutenant, U.S. Navy

Representative Clients

  • Master-Craft Boat Company
  • Georgia-Pacific
  • S.C. Johnson & Son
  • Canon

Insights

Credentials
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Education

  • J.D. cum laude Catholic University of America, Columbus School of Law 2012
  • M.S. Engineering Science (Mechanical Engineering) Naval Postgraduate School 2006
  • B.S. Materials Engineering with distinction Iowa State University 2003

Bar Admissions

  • District of Columbia
  • New York
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York

Recognition
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  • The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, 2023 – 2024