Our Lawyers

Mr. Kepler practices in all areas of Intellectual Property and Technology Protection Law, including identification, procurement, transfer, and protection of inventions, brands, and original works of authorship by means of patents, trademarks, trade dress protection, copyrights, and trade secrets.  He is directly involved with patent and trademark prosecution, transactions and litigation in federal and state courts, before Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences, and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board.

His Intellectual Asset Management ("IAM") practice includes activities ranging from development and implementation of IAM strategy to preparation of term sheets and negotiation of agreements.  His litigation practice includes working closely with litigation attorneys during pre-trial preparation and settlement negotiations dealing with patent, trademark, copyright, unfair competition, and trade secret matters.

Mr. Kepler's Intellectual Property and Technology clients include manufacturers and distributors of mechanical, electrical, biological, software, and Internet Based equipment, machinery, products and services; financial services institutions; and internationally known manufacturers of consumer products.


Community Involvement:

Volunteer Lawyers and Accountants for the Arts Regional Arts Commission, Trademark & Copyright Counsel

Bar Admissions:

Missouri, 1986

Massachusetts, 1977

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

U.S. District Court District of Massachusetts, 1984

U.S. Court of Appeals 1st Circuit, 1986

U.S. District Court Eastern District of Missouri, 1987

U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 1986

U.S. Court of Appeals 8th Circuit, 1987

Professional Associations and Memberships:

American Bar Association (Intellectual Property Law Section)

The Missouri Bar, 1990 - 1992
Chair, Patent and Trademark Committee

The Missouri Bar, 1988 - 1990
Vice-Chair, Patent and Trademark Committee

Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Licensing Executives Society, Certified Licensing Professional

Federal Circuit Bar Association

Washington University School of Law (Patent Drafting, Intangible Asset Management and Valuation), 1991 - Present

Webster University College of Arts and Sciences Advisory Board

Washington University Law School
IP Advisory Board

International Trademark Association

Published Works:

"The European Community After 1992 - Will There Be a Cure for Eurosclerosis?", St. Louis Bar Journal (Co-author), 1990

Intellectual Property Series, St. Louis Small Business Monthly, 1988 - 1989

Business Regulations-Patents, Chapter 42 of West's Federal Practice Manual, Washington University School of Law, Co-author with Professor Charles McManis

Classes/Seminars Taught:

"Legal Ramifications of Y2K", The 10th Annual Corporate Contingency Planning Seminar and Exhibition, San Diego, California, 1999

"Intellectual Assets: An Introduction to Patents", St. Louis Small Business Monthly, 2003

"Patents and Antitrust - Legal Issues [3.2]", Center for Emerging Technology's Extended Technology Entrepreneur Education Program, Co-Speaker, St. Louis, Missouri, 2006

"News and New Ideas in Patenting and Licensing", Center For Emerging Technologies - Extended Technology Entrepreneur Education Program, 2007

Presenter: "Right to Use Your Product", World Expo 2007, Las Vegas, Nevada, 2007

"Intellectual Property 1: The Art of the Deal, Not, What a Big Deal Your Art Is", Center for Emerging Technologies-Extended Technology Entrepreneur Education Program, St. Louis, Missouri, 2008

"Freedom to Operate Without Infringing Competitor's Patents. A Checklist for Management", Recharger's World Expo 2008, Las Vegas, Nevada

Education:

Suffolk University Law School, Boston, Massachusetts, 1977
Juris Doctor

Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, 1972
Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering