Michael Pallay joined Steptoe & Johnson in 2003 as an associate in the Business Department at the firm’s Clarksburg office. He works on a wide range of intellectual property matters involving patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret, and unfair competition law. Mr. Pallay regularly advises clients regarding the protection of their inventions, brand names, works of authorship, and other intellectual property.

Patent Law
Mr. Pallay is registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) to represent inventors in the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and international patent applications. He performs preliminary patent searches and drafts patentability opinions, patent infringement opinions, patent validity opinions, patent licensing agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and patent assignments. He also assists clients involved in patent disputes.

Trademark Law
Mr. Pallay prepares and prosecutes federal and state trademark registration applications. He performs preliminary trademark searches and drafts trademark licensing agreements and trademark assignments. He also assists clients involved in trademark disputes.

Copyright Law
Mr. Pallay prepares copyright registration applications, copyright licensing agreements, and copyright assignments. He also assists clients involved in copyright disputes.

Workplace Safety
Mr. Pallay works on a variety of workplace safety issues, including compliance assistance for Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) regulations and contests/appeals of OSHA citations.

PROFESSIONAL AND CIVIC ASSOCIATIONS

Mr. Pallay is registered by the USPTO as a Patent Attorney.  He is admitted to practice law in the state and federal courts throughout West Virginia.  He serves as Chairman of the Intellectual Property Law Committee of the West Virginia State Bar, and is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association.  He has taught patent law as an Adjunct Lecturer at the West Virginia University College of Law.  He is also a member of the Harrison County Bar Association and the Morgantown Area Chamber of Commerce.  Mr. Pallay is a graduate of the 2007 class of Leadership Harrison, a program of the Harrison County Chamber of Commerce.