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Contact: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus, Inc. 248.260.8466 or barbara@eafocus.com

DETROIT–-Oct. 1, 2015–Kelly Burris, managing partner of the Detroit office of Brinks Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., will serve as a conference speaker at the Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium on Oct. 23 in Detroit. The second annual event, with academic co-sponsors the University of Michigan, Michigan State University and Wayne State University, brings together business innovators, academics, students and community and government leaders to inspire and ignite the creation of scalable, for-profit business solutions to urban challenges.

Burris, along with Dr. Christal Sheppard, director of the Detroit U.S. Patent and Trademark office, will present, “Finding innovative tech for urban-focused businesses” and will highlight ways urban entrepreneurs can gain access to licensable intellectual property to fuel their business.

“Detroit is exploding with business opportunities now. I look forward to discussing how intellectual property can be used by entrepreneurs and others seeking for-profit business solutions to uniquely urban issues,” Burris said.

At Brinks, Burris is also chair of the firm’s Green Technology Practice Group. She focuses her practice on the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications in the mechanical, materials science, industrial designs, and electrical arts. She is also active with appeal proceedings in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Burris also prepares clearance/freedom-to-practice opinions, drafts and negotiates licensing agreements and joint development agreements. In addition, she is involved in due diligence with mergers and acquisitions, transactional matters, management and administration of corporate intellectual property portfolios and policies, and strategic competitive intelligence.

A complete agenda and ticket information for the Urban Entrepreneurship Symposium is available at www.urbanei.org.

Brinks Gilson & Lione
The attorneys, scientific advisors and patent agents at Brinks Gilson & Lione focus their practice in the field of intellectual property, making Brinks one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S. Clients around the world rely on Brinks to help them protect and enforce their intellectual property rights. Brinks attorneys provide counseling in all aspects of patent, trademark, unfair competition, trade secret and copyright law. More information is available at www.brinksgilson.com.

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