CONTACT: Barbara Fornasiero, EAFocus Communications; barbara@eafocus.com; 248.260.8466;

Ann Arbor, Mich.—Aug. 2, 2018 —Gerlinde (Linda) Nattler, a shareholder in the Ann Arbor office of Brinks Gilson & Lione, one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the U.S., has been included in the legal trade publication Michigan Lawyers Weekly Women in the Law class of 2018. Women in the Law recognizes women attorneys who have a commitment to excellence in the law, are inspiring and accomplished leaders in the profession, serve as a mentor to other women and contribute time and effort to volunteerism and pro-bono activities.

At Brinks, Nattler focuses her intellectual property law practice on patent prosecution, opinion work, and IP portfolio management, with a particular emphasis on the areas of mechanics, electronics, hydraulics and computerized processes.  She is chair of Brinks’ Germany task force and co-chair of the green tech practice group, and is an active member of various other practice groups.

Nattler joined Brinks in 2010 as an associate attorney after working for a global automotive supplier in both Germany and the U.S. A native of Dorsten, Germany, she holds dual citizenship in the U.S. and Germany. While employed in Europe, Nattler was admitted to practice before the European Patent Office and today is one of very few U.S. attorneys qualified before both the European Patent Office and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  

Nattler frequently speaks to audiences interested in patent protection from a global perspective; her presentation topics include Understanding Patent Applications and Methods for Best approaches in Europe and the U.S.; Diving into the (Patent) Pool & Specification and Claim Drafting to Avoid Indefiniteness; Drafting Patent Applications that Comply with European Disclosure Requirements; The European Unitary Patent and Unified Patent Court; and Patent-Agent-Client Privilege Before the USPTO and in the Courts. She is a contributing author to the 2017 Centennial edition of the Brinks Gilson & Lione IP primer, The Basic Principles of Intellectual Property Law.

In addition to serving many of the firm’s German clients, Nattler is engaged in German cultural and business activities, including the German American Chamber of Commerce – Michigan chapter.

While working full-time, Nattler attended Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Auburn Hills, Michigan, on weekends and evenings on a full-tuition honors scholarship, graduating magna cum laude within three years. Despite English being her second language, she was Managing Associate Editor and Senior Associate Editor of Cooley’s Law Review and in 2009 received the John D. Voelker Award for making the most significant contribution to the publication. She holds a University Diploma in Physics, from Universität Bayreuth.

Brinks Gilson & Lione

Celebrating more than 100 years of intellectual property law, Brinks Gilson & Lione is one of the largest intellectual property law firms in the US, and helps clients around the world to protect and enforce their intellectual property rights.  Our more than 130 lawyers, patent agents and scientific advisors assist clients in all aspects of patent, trademark, unfair competition, trade secret, and copyright law.  Brinks attorneys provide informed counsel with respect to innovations in a range of complex and valuable technologies, including pharmaceuticals, chemicals, bioengineering, industrial manufacturing, electronics and software, and medical devices.  More information is at www.brinksgilson.com.

###