Michael J. LaBrie

Shareholder, Practice Group Leader, Industry Group Leader

Paralegal: Nancy Marshall
Bio Menu
  • Overview
  • Experience
  • Honors & Involvement
Bio overview

Mike LaBrie has concentrated his practice in all aspects of intellectual property law, including patent, trademark and copyright law and related litigation, throughout his entire legal career. He currently serves as the leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group and Biotech Industry Group and has previously served on McAfee & Taft’s board of directors.

Mike is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has represented and counseled clients in patent matters involving preparing and prosecuting applications; portfolio management, acquisition and divestiture; licensing transactions; freedom to operate studies; infringement analysis; validity studies; opinions; interference proceedings; and litigation and other dispute resolution, all on an international basis. He has filed patent applications in virtually every country in the world.

His trademark practice is international as well and includes searching, clearing and acquiring trademark registrations; portfolio management; opinions; litigation; TTAB proceedings; and other dispute resolution. He is also very experienced in negotiating and drafting various intellectual property agreements including software, technology and joint development agreements.

Mike serves as chief intellectual property counsel for numerous public and private companies. He has also worked with numerous start-up companies by counseling them in intellectual property matters, assisting them with obtaining funding and providing contacts.

Mike is a contributing author and editor of the Oklahoma and Arkansas chapters of U.S. State Trademark and Unfair Competition Law, a comprehensive reference guide published annually by the International Trademark Association. He has presented papers and spoken on various intellectual property topics at continuing legal education seminars.

His achievements have earned him inclusion in Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business, The Best Lawyers in America (advertising law; copyright law; intellectual property litigation; patent law; patent litigation; trade secrets law; trademark law) and Oklahoma Super Lawyers (“Top 50 Oklahoma Lawyers”). He was selected by Best Lawyers as the “Oklahoma City Patent Litigation Lawyer of the Year” for 2017 and 2023, “Oklahoma City Trademark Lawyer of the Year” for 2020 and 2024, “Oklahoma City Patent Lawyer of the Year” for 2013 and 2019, “Oklahoma City Copyright Lawyer of the Year” for 2014 and 2016, and “Oklahoma City Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer of the Year” for 2015.  He has been recognized for his professional and civic contributions as a 2010 recipient of The Journal Record’s Leadership in Law Award.

Active in the state’s legal and business communities, Mike has served on the board of directors and as president of the Intellectual Property Section of the Oklahoma Bar Association; serves as secretary of the board of directors of i2E, Inc., a non-profit for the commercialization of technology; and serves on the board of directors and has served as chairman of the Oklahoma Venture Forum. He is also a member of American Intellectual Property Law Association, International Trademark Association, the Association of University Technology Managers and other intellectual property organizations.

Mike holds a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and worked as an engineer for an oil field services company prior to entering law school.

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Experience, Honors, & Awards

Representative Experience

  • Patent, trademark, software, database and technology licensing transactions.
  • U.S. and foreign trademark clearance, usage, protection and defense.
  • U.S. and foreign patent prosecution
  • Intellectual property conflicts before federal courts and administrative bodies, including the Trademark Trial and Appeal board and the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences.
  • Patent freedom to operate, infringement and design-around studies.
  • Representing buyers and sellers in mergers and acquisitions involving intellectual property.
  • Counseling experience includes many industries: mechanical, chemical, software, computers, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, oil and gas, medical and food industries.

Honors and Awards

  • Listed in the Chambers USA Guide to America’s Leading Lawyers for Business
  • Selected by peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America (advertising law; copyright law; intellectual property litigation; patent law; patent litigation; trade secrets law; trademark law)
  • Named “Oklahoma City Patent Litigation Lawyer of the Year” for 2017 and 2023, “Oklahoma City Trademark Lawyer of the Year” for 2020, “Oklahoma City Patent Lawyer of the Year” for 2013 and 2019, “Oklahoma City Copyright Lawyer of the Year” for 2014 and 2016, and “Oklahoma City Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer of the Year” for 2015, by The Best Lawyers in America
  • Named “Oklahoma City Trademark Lawyer of the Year” for 2020 and 2024, “Oklahoma City Patent Lawyer of the Year” for 2013 and 2019, “Oklahoma City Copyright Lawyer of the Year” for 2014 and 2016, “Oklahoma City Intellectual Property Litigation Lawyer of the Year” for 2015, and “Oklahoma City Patent Litigation Lawyer of the Year” for 2017 by The Best Lawyers in America
  • Listed in Oklahoma Super Lawyers
  • Named to Oklahoma Super Lawyers’ list of “Top 50 Lawyers”
  • Rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell Peer Review Ratings
  • Honored with The Journal Record’s Leadership in Law Award, recognizing legal professionals for their professional and civic contributions to the state (2010)

Professional Organizations and Memberships

  • Oklahoma Bar Association (Member and Former President, Intellectual Property Law Section)
  • Oklahoma County Bar Association
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • International Trademark Association
  • National Society of Professional Engineers
  • Oklahoma Society of Professional Engineers
  • The Association of University Technology Managers

Civic Involvement and Leadership

  • i2E, Inc (Secretary, Board of Directors)
  • Oklahoma Venture Forum (Member; Former Chairman)
  • Christmas in April of Cleveland County, Inc. (Former President; Founding Member, Board of Directors)
  • Norman Planning Commission (Former Chairman and Commissioner)
  • University of Central Oklahoma Entrepreneurship Program (Advisory Board)

ATPs display in this column

At The Podium

The Importance of Intellectual Property Patents

Oklahoma Venture Forum Power Lunch
Oklahoma City, OK | December 14, 2022

Trade Secrets: Strategies for identifying, protecting and enforcing intellectual property

2016 Corporate Counsel Seminar
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | December 8, 2016

Commercializing University Technologies: A Corporate Experience

Oklahoma BioScience Association Workshop Series
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | November 17, 2011

How to Prepare for Life After the Patent Reform Act of 2011 and Other Recent Developments in Patent Law

Oklahoma BioScience Association's Workshop Series: How to do it!
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma | May 19, 2011
Attorney Articles

Articles

Beware of ‘free’ copyright licenses

McAfee & Taft tIPsheet |

Don’t be duped by the trademark solicitation

McAfee & Taft tIPsheet |
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Admissions

  • Oklahoma, 1994
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
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Education

  • J.D., magna cum laude, Oklahoma City University, 1994
    • Merit Scholar; Staff Editor, Oklahoma City University Law Review; Moot Court Board; Faculty Honor Roll; Phi Delta Phi
  • B.S. (Mechanical Engineering), University of Oklahoma, 1991
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In The News

Photo of McAfee & Taft exterior signage with the Best Lawyers logo overlaying the image
Graphic featuring a blue background blended with Leadership Square exterior photo and the Super Lawyers 2022 logo
Best Lawyers' 2022 ‘Lawyers of the Year’
Best Lawyers names 128 McAfee & Taft lawyers to 2023 lists

McAfee & Taft honored as top-ranked firm, 38 attorneys singled out for individual honors by Chambers USA 2022

McAfee & Taft names new practice leaders for 2022

Oklahoma Super Lawyers honors 87 McAfee & Taft attorneys in 2021 edition

Best Lawyers names 128 McAfee & Taft lawyers to 2022 lists

McAfee & Taft honored as top-ranked firm by Chambers USA 2021, 33 attorneys singled out for individual honors

McAfee & Taft re-elects managing director, board of directors to new terms

Oklahoma Super Lawyers honors 93 McAfee & Taft attorneys in 2020 edition

Chambers USA 2020 honors McAfee & Taft as top-ranked firm, 32 attorneys singled out for individual honors

Oklahoma Super Lawyers honors 101 McAfee & Taft attorneys in 2019 edition

Chambers USA 2019 honors McAfee & Taft as top‑ranked firm

Charles Machine Works to be acquired by Toro for $700 million

Oklahoma Super Lawyers honors 113 McAfee & Taft attorneys in 2018 edition

Best Lawyers honors 25 McAfee & Taft attorneys as ‘Lawyers of the Year’ for 2019

The Best Lawyers in America names 107 McAfee & Taft attorneys to 2019 edition

Chambers USA 2018 honors McAfee & Taft as top-ranked firm, 35 attorneys singled out for individual honors

Beware of scams involving trademark renewal solicitations

The Oklahoman |

The Best Lawyers in America names 102 McAfee & Taft attorneys to 2018 edition

Chambers USA 2017 honors McAfee & Taft as top-ranked firm, 39 McAfee & Taft attorneys as leading lawyers for business

Best Lawyers names 21 McAfee & Taft attorneys 2017 ‘Lawyers of the Year’ in 22 practice areas

Chambers USA 2016 honors McAfee & Taft as top-ranked firm, 41 firm attorneys as leading lawyers

Big bucks in biotech: Chinese firm’s $206M purchase of Cytovance shows opportunity in industry

The Journal Record |

Best Lawyers names 17 McAfee & Taft attorneys as 2016 ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in 18 categories

McAfee & Taft shareholders elect three new members to 2015 board of directors

Patent attorneys Mike LaBrie and Matt Gibson interviewed on likely impact of proposed Patent Reform Act of 2011

The Journal Record |

McAfee & Taft attorneys among 2010 Leadership in Law honorees

State making strides

The Journal Record |

Michael LaBrie Honored as ‘Achiever Under 40’