Biography

Michael J. Hickey serves as a Practice Group Leader for the Intellectual Property practice group. With more than two decades' experience, Michael focuses his practice on intellectual property litigation and prosecution, representing inventors and companies in diverse areas of technology including computers and telecommunications, medical devices, DNA and genomics research, chemical applications, and exercise equipment. His clients are individual inventors, startup companies, and significant market players including one of the largest bicycle component manufacturers in the world. His successes include winning summary judgment of patent non-infringement for a family-owned company where the opponent, a Fortune 100 company, sought more than $80 million in damages from his client.

Michael's practice covers patent, trademark, and copyright prosecution as well as significant commercial litigation and appellate work. He clerked for the Hon. Theodore McMillian of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, and he has served as a professor of patent law for the Ongoing Examiner Education Program at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Michael presently serves on the Firm's Appellate Committee, and he previously served as a former Chair of the Firm's Recruiting Committee. He was selected for inclusion in Missouri & Kansas Rising Stars® 2010-2012 and Missouri & Kansas Super Lawyers® 2013-2023. Michael was also named by Best Lawyers® for 2019-2024. Additionally, St. Louis Business Journal listed him among their "40 Under 40" in 2011.

Practice Areas

Education

  • Harvard University School of Law (J.D., cum laude, 1999)
  • Harvard University (M.P.P., 1999)
  • Saint Louis University (B.S., summa cum laude, 1994)
    • Chemistry

Legal Background

  • Professor of patent law, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office - Ongoing Examiner Education Program (July 2007-2011)
  • Law clerk, Hon. Theodore McMillian, U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit (1999-2000)
  • Paralegal, Neighborhood Legal Services, Buffalo, NY (1994-1995)

Professional Affiliations

  • American Bar Association
  • Illinois State Bar Association
  • Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis
  • Volunteer Lawyers Project (VLP)

Admissions

  • Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • U.S. Supreme Court
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh, Eighth, and Federal Circuits
  • U.S. District Courts, Eastern District of Missouri and Northern and Southern Districts of Illinois
  • Missouri and Illinois Bars

Charitable & Civic Activities

  • Secretary and Officer, St. Louis Zoo Association (2021-present)
  • Co-Chair, A Zoo Ado, St. Louis Zoo Association (2020)
  • Co-Chair, Logistics Committee, Zoofari and A Zoo Ado, St. Louis Zoo (2009-present)
  • President, Trailnet (2018-2019)
  • Vice President, Harvard Club of St. Louis (2008-2012)

Honors & Awards

  • Patent Buddy® 2011-2013 Top Patent Prosecutor

Firm Committees

  • Member, Appellate Committee
  • Former Chair, Recruiting Committee