Rachel Smith

Shareholder & Patent Prosecution Attorney, Brooks Kushman P.C.

Shareholder & Patent Prosecution Attorney| Brooks Kushman P.C.

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What I Do

I prepare and file patent applications while advising clients on strategies for managing their intellectual property in a way that makes sense for their business. This means I work with large companies to help advise on all their inventions (which for some companies could be thousands of patents for different inventions).
Why Engineering?

I wanted to blend my interest in science, math and technology with my desire to have a fulfilling career while helping people and society. I don’t think at the time when I chose to go into engineering I knew exactly what that looked like, but am very happy with how it turned out!
School Days

I received my B.S.E.E in Electrical Engineering from Ohio Northern University then I received my Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University.
My Day At Work

My daily work includes consulting inventors to discuss their ideas, examining scientific documents related to their inventions, and drafting and applying for patents.
Best Part

I like that I get so see so many different technologies. One of my favorite inventors invents medical devices that help saves lives.
Proud Moments

Receiving a compliment from a client or inventor is always the best. But I’m very proud of becoming an equity shareholder at my firm.
Challenges

Jumping from on technology to another can sometimes be difficult but it keeps your mind sharp! In the earlier days of my career, I had to really learn how to become a technical writer, something engineers do not receive a lot of training to do.
My Family

I enjoy following my kids around to all their sporting events and extracurriculars!
Dreams and Goals

In the near future, I would like to do more outreach both with my community and professionally to improve my public speaking.
Inspiration

My mother was a professional in the 70’s and 80’s where most women were not. She continues to amaze me!
Want to be an Engineer?

There are so many paths you can take with a degree in engineering, explore as many as you can! I definitely did not appreciate how many doors are open for engineers!
Hobbies

I have enjoyed running most of my life and continue to do so today. I also enjoy traveling, Michigan in the summer, and novice wood working.

I am a registered patent attorney with multiple years of experience working with clients to help protect their inventions (known as their intellectual property) specifically within the electrical arts. I counsel clients both within the United States and Internationally on how to best protect their ideas. I also counsel clients on their software license agreements and helps them to understand complex software licenses and copyright matters, many times performing audits on their complex systems to advise on software license obligations and provide compliance solutions. Prior to attending law school, I gained electronics hardware and software experience while working as an intern at an avionics safety company in Ohio.