Legal Solutions for You,
Your Family & Your Business
Find a Lawyer >
Intellectual Property lawyers serving Berrien County, MI >
Enrico Schaefer
Back to Search Results
Enrico Schaefer
Traverse Legal, PLC
810 Cottageview Drive
Suite G-20
Traverse City, MI 49684
Phone: (231) 932-0411 | Fax: (231) 932-0636
http://www.traverselegal.com
Leveraging Technology to Serve Clients Worldwide
Legal Topic
Intellectual Property
Preferred New Clients
Any new clients that need our services.
Sub-Categories
Intellectual Property
- Copyrights
- International Intellectual Property
- Technology Licensing
- Trade Dress
- Trademarks
- Trade Secrets
- Biotech & Medical
- Business Process
- Electronics & Computer
- Internet Patents
- Mechanical
- Patent Design
- Plants
- Technology & Engineering
- Film
- Literary Arts
- Publishing
- Television
- Media Arts
Legal Topic
Business Law
Preferred New Clients
Any new clients that need our services.
Sub-Categories
Admiralty & Maritime Law
- Marine Cargo
- Business Successions
- Buying & Selling
- Closely Held Businesses
- Corporations
- Directors' & Officers' Liability
- Franchising
- Joint Ventures
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs)
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Divestitures
- Nonprofits & Tax-Exempt Corporations
- Partnerships
- Professional Corporations
- Public Offerings
- Shareholders' Rights
- Breach of Contract
- Contract Disputes
- Contract Drafting & Review
- Employment Contracts
- Franchises
- International Transactions
- Non-Compete Contracts
- Secured Transactions
- Uniform Commercial Code
- Warranties
- Computer Crimes
- Computer Law
- Digital Signatures
- Domain Names
- Electronic Commerce
- Identity Theft
- Spam
Bar Admissions
MI,
Bar Number: P43506
Specialty Certifications
Intellectual Property Section - State Bar of Michigan and Technology Law Section.
Other Court Admissions
U.S. District of Michigan - Western; U.S. District of Michigan - Eastern; U.S. District of Wisconsin - Eastern; U.S. Court of Appeals 1st District; U.S. Court of Appeals 6th District; Michigan Supreme Court; U.S. District of California - Central (Pro Hac Vice); State of California - Los Angeles County (Pro Hac Vice); and U.S. District of Florida - Southern (Pro Hac Vice - pending).
Association Memberships
Georgia Trial Lawyers Association Bar Association (Traverse City, Michigan); State Bar of Michigan; Detroit Bar Association; American Trial Lawyers Association; Michigan Trial Lawyers Association; IP Lawyers Group; Domainers Group; ConnecTech - Grand Traverse Bay Chapter; and International Trademark Association.
Continuing Education
2008/2009 Professor, Solo Practice University; 2008/2009 Domainfest Conference; Center for Competitive Management Speaking Engagement; and several State Bar Section Seminars throughout the year.
Papers and Publications
Recent Court Trends in Enforcement of Non-Compete Agreements, 08/18/2009.
How to Know Whether Content Aggregators' Use of Third Party Content is Fair Use Under Copyright Law, 02/09/09.
Anti-Cyber Squatting Consumer Protection Act Update, 11/09/05.
Resources for Internet Lawyers on Issues of Cyber-Law
Copyright Infringement, Defamation and First Amendment Lawyers
Infringement Lawyers: Protecting Your Trademarks Online
Patent Infringement and Litigation Attorneys: Resources for Attorneys Review of Patent Rights
Cybersquatting and Domain Name Disputes: Resources for Attorneys Practicing Domain Name Law
Internet Attorney Update: Understanding Traditional Contracts Rights in the Internet Space
Non-Compete, Trade Secret and Confidentiality Issues: Protecting Your Property Compete Contracts
Example Cases
I have handled complex litigation across a variety of practice areas including intellectual property, mass tort, contracts, non-competes and other areas of law. I have secured one of the largest Federal Court verdicts in a trademark infringement case in Boston, Massachusetts. I have acted as class counsel in class-action litigation involving funds of over one billion dollars. I am currently involved in one of the largest cybersquatting cases litigated under the ACPA.
Education
Degree:
J.D.
School:
Michigan State University College of Law
City:
East Lansing
State:
MI
Year:
1990
Honors:
Summa Cum Laude (Rank 1/96).
Focus and Accomplishments:
Contracts, Civil Procedure, Constitutional Law, Corporations, Evidence, Estates and Trusts and Research Writing and Advocacy.
Degree:
B.A.
School:
Albion College
City:
Albion
State:
MI
Year:
1986
Focus and Accomplishments:
Political Science.
Number of Attorneys
7
State Licensed In
Michigan, California, Maryland, Washington, Virginia, and Ohio
Firm Focus and History
This law firm focuses on global protection of business interests, mass tort litigation and class actions. Specializing in internet law, intellectual property issues, domain disputes, trade secrets, non-compete issues, commercial disputes, licensing and complex litigation, technology company representation and general counsel services. We use technology to connect to clients located throughout the world. Fifty percent of our clients are from outside the USA. We represent some of the biggest technology companies in the world.
I established Traverse Legal in January of 2005. Traverse Legal was founded to provide generalized representation on internet and technology issues. We are one of the most high-tech law firms in the world, providing transparency and customer service to our global client base at levels which most firms can't contemplate, let alone duplicate. Why choose a local lawyer when you can choose the best lawyer for the job? Our clients feel closer to us from around the world than the lawyers they use down the block.
Previous Employment Summary
Partner at Smith & Johnson Attorneys, P.C. in Traverse City, Michigan from January, 2000 to December, 2004, focusing in the areas of business and internet law, first-amendment and defamation, commercial transactions, non-compete contracts, trade secret theft and commercial matters.
President and General Counsel of All-One Internet Solutions in Boulder, Colorado. SpeakWeType Technologies, LLC.
We understand the business side of legal issues and focus on Return on Income (ROI).
Activities and Awards
Recipient of the Harry Z. Marx and Ruth M. Marx Foundation Clerkship, 1989; American Jurisprudence Prize Book Award (4), 1987-88; All School Oral Advocacy Competition Award, 1987-88; American Jurisprudence Prize Book Award (2), 1988-89; The Helen G. Buchanan Memorial Award, 1988-89; The Arthur F. Lederle Award, 1988-89; State Bar Negligence Section Award, 1988-89; Managing Editor, Detroit College of Law Review, 1989; The DeWitt C. Holbrook Award, 1989-90; and 2008 Finalist for Blogging in ConnecTech Award for Web Excellence.
What is your opinion regarding clients educating themselves on legal issues?
We believe that an educated client is a lawyer's greatest asset. We take great pains to make sure that our clients understand the legal issues they are facing and the legal principle which apply. We are completely a digital law office, which uses an Extranet system to make the client's file available on line 24/7. Clients have full access to our case management system so they can see exactly what is happening in their case and why. There is simply no way for a client to make an educated decision about a key issue in a case that they do not understand the strategy and potential outcomes involved.
Are you willing to review documents prepared by clients?
We regularly review client prepared documents in order to upgrade them or provide insight. Document drafting primarily is about risk reduction. We allow clients to pick a budget for drafting projects which will provide a positive return on investment.
Are you willing to coach clients who want to represent themselves?
On occasion, we will help clients understand legal issues, strategic decisions and self-help metrics so they can handle matters for themselves.
Why did you decide to be a lawyer?
My father was a lawyer and my older brother was in law school when I decided to also become an attorney. For me, the law is about defining and leading client expectation. We also understand that many law firms have simply drifted into hourly billing models, which provide little client value and incentives for lawyers to simply "go through the motions." We often say that we are "changing the way law is practiced" because of innovative billing models, use of technology and client service commitments.
What work experience and education helps you be a better lawyer?
I have worked in a variety of different law firms handling cases across the country. Our law firm understands that we are in a service business. We appreciate that the legal issues faced by clients are often very serious.
Why did you decide on your primary area of practice?
I was present in general counsel of an internet start-up company located in Boulder, Colorado from 1994 to 1997. I have been heavily involved in the intellectual property law since 1993. My knowledge of intellectual property and the internet space provides a solid base for representation of technology companies or brick-and-mortar companies with online issues.
What do you like best about your career?
For me, creating new business models for law which deliver more to the client for less really gets me excited. Lawyers perform best when they are operating as the "coach and quarterback" of a legal matter. Delegating to teams of other lawyers and staff in order to gain efficiency and provide return on investment.
Tell us about your law firm:
We have seven lawyers located across the country covering all the areas of law which we practice. Our belief is to put teams of lawyers and staff together which are best suited to deliver results to the client. We also use virtual lawyers and staff on an as-needed basis in order to round out these teams, providing the necessary experience required by each legal matter. We represent clients in over 25 different countries in numerous industries using this approach.
What are your strengths and style?
My style of openness and transparency is my strength. Clients can see everything that we are doing on their case and understand the both the strategy and outcomes which are being pursued on their behalf. We believe in defining the result and crafting a strategy with a reasonable opportunity of achieving that result. We tell clients up front what we are trying to achieve on their behalf and how we are going to get there.
Personal Interests:
Spending time with my wife and three boys, kite boarding, traveling, reading and researching about internet technology.
Office Manager/Assistant
Cathy A. Maddasion.
Fax
(231) 932-0636
Office Hours
Monday through Friday
8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (EST)
Emergency After Hours
Yes
Additional Offices
Encino, CA
16830 Ventura Boulevard
Suite 358
Encino, CA 91436-1707
(818) 783-2932
Fixed-Price Services and Fees
We regularly handle matters on a fixed-fee defined on a deliverable basis. Essentially, we tell clients what they are going to get and what it is going to cost up front. We often provide clients with various billing options which meet their goals and expectation. We have some of the most flexible fee options in the business.
Hourly Rates
$200 to $575.
Free Initial Consultation?
Initial conversation to review and discuss the matter at hand is free.
Typical Retainer
No, but for certain litigation cases, we will require a retainer.
Nolo's Licensing Check
Attorneys have passed a licensing check. Nolo has confirmed that every member attorney has a valid license and is in good standing with the applicable bar associations upon joining the directory.
Directory lawyers are required to notify Nolo immediately if they become the subject of any disciplinary action by any bar association.
