Jeffrey G. Degenfelder

Jeff Degenfelder is a registered patent attorney and a member of the State Bar of Texas.  He is a former Marine Corps helicopter pilot with extensive flight experience.  His primary practice areas are intellectual property law and complex litigation. Mr. Degenfelder received his undergraduate education in history and mechanical engineering from Texas Tech University and the United States Naval Academy.  He graduated from St. Mary’s University School of Law in 1996.

His legal practice is concentrated on intellectual property law, with emphasis on patent matters, trademark practice and intellectual property litigation.  He has worked with clients in a variety of technology disciplines including electro-mechanical devices, manufacturing and food processing, aviation and transportation devices, medical devices, sporting goods, and petroleum drilling devices and applications.  In connection with such representation, Mr. Degenfelder has prepared and prosecuted domestic and foreign patent applications, and has rendered opinions on patentability, validity, right-to-use and infringement of intellectual property.  In addition, he has assisted foreign counsel in successfully prosecuting opposition proceedings before the European Patent office.

In addition to patent work, Mr. Degenfelder has had substantial experience in virtually all phases of trademark practice including the preparation of opinions on the availability and registrability of marks and the filing and prosecution of applications for registration at the state and federal level, as well as internationally.  Mr. Degenfelder is experienced in handling a variety of trademark disputes, including opposition and cancellation proceedings before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and civil actions arising from trademark infringement, dilution, unfair competition, and piracy of Internet domains.  He also provides counsel on a broad range of intellectual property issues including patent and trademark licensing and confidentiality agreements.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Degenfelder served on active duty for ten years as an officer and helicopter pilot in the United States Marine Corps.  He was an instructor pilot and functional check pilot in the Sikorsky CH-53E.  In addition to his flying experience, he held a wide variety of squadron-level managerial and administrative billets in operations, maintenance, and flight safety.  He served on the General Staff for Marine Forces Somalia during Operation Restore Hope.  He holds a commercial instrument rating in fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters with extensive flight experience in the Bell TH-57(206) and the Sikorsky CH-53E.

Mr. Degenfelder is licensed to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Texas.  He is also a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association.  He coauthored Performance Specifications – Stress Fracture in the Government Contractor Defense? for the Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University 12th Annual Aviation/Insurance Symposium.