Jim was named "Lawyer of the Year" in Dayton and "Midwest Lawyer of the Year Honoree" for Patent Law by Best Lawyers^®(2016 and 2021). He has more than 30 years of experience in patent procurement, enforcement, and licensing, including five years as a patent examiner with the US Patent & Trademark Office. Jim's practice also includes emphasis on validity investigations, patent infringement reviews, and developing design-around strategies. He also helps clients evaluate target IP portfolios and assess risk associated with acquiring new businesses or product lines. Jim's technical experience continues to evolve to meet the needs of clients in a variety of industries including telecommunications, automation, software development, manufacturing, recreational and industrial vehicle design and operation, medical and industrial research and development, and environmental technologies, just to name a few.

He worked as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office for five years, handling applications related to the utilization and detection of radiant energy. He was certified as a masters-level examiner in 1995. Jim also worked with the chief administrative patent judge of the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences in preparation of the casebook, "A Course in Evidence for Patent Examiners." Jim continues to interact with the patent office through his ongoing work on the planning committee for the Advanced Patent Law Institute, which is held annually on the campus of the U.S. Patent Office.