Michael N. Rader

Michael Rader is a patent and intellectual property litigator whose experience spans a variety of technologies such as medical devices, sporting goods, coffee brewing equipment and transgenic mice.

Representative Matters

First-chair responsibility for The Jackson Laboratory in patent litigation on transgenic mice. Mike and his team secured a favorable ruling on a novel question of claim construction related to mouse nomenclature in patent claims. Subsequently, in June 2010, the Court granted summary judgment in favor of Jackson that Jackson does not infringe the plaintiff’s patent.
Won a $17M patent infringement settlement from Kraft for our client Keurig, on the eve of trial for infringement of Keurig's patent relating to brewer cartridges.
Mike represents a major Japanese electronics company in patent litigations concerning technologies such as digital imaging, semiconductors, and GPS.
Together with Michael Albert, won Massachusetts’ largest jury verdict of 2007 in a patent infringement case for medical device company Diomed, Inc. in a trial against two infringers of Diomed’s patent on a method for laser vein treatment. Prior to trial, Mike’s deposition of the defendants’ technical expert led to summary judgment that Diomed’s patent was valid. In light of the summary judgment ruling, the trial focused only on infringement and damages.
Representing the defendant in a patent litigation pertaining to sporting goods, secured summary judgment that four of the five patents asserted by the plaintiff were invalid. This summary judgment ruling led to a favorable settlement for the defendant prior to trial.
Negotiated a multi-million dollar settlement of a client’s copyright infringement claim, without having to file a lawsuit, by persuasively presenting the client’s case to the infringing company’s counsel and executives.
Prevailed in a pro bono First Amendment case on behalf of Alfie Kohn, a noted writer and speaker on educational issues who had been prevented from speaking at a conference by the Massachusetts Department of Education. Culminating a five-year legal battle, Mike secured judgment that the State’s actions violated the First Amendment, and obtained a $185,000 attorneys fee award.
Negotiated the terms of a novel and complex patent escrow agreement on behalf of a startup company being acquired by a Fortune 500 company.

Previous Experience

Prior to attending law school, Mike worked at Andersen Consulting (now Accenture) in Boston and the law offices of patent attorney Sanford T. Colb in Rechovot, Israel.

Professional and Civic Activities

Mike's pro bono activity includes handling unemployment cases on behalf of clients referred to him through the Volunteer Lawyers Project of the Boston Bar Association.

Mike also successfully litigated a significant First Amendment case on a pro bono basis as a cooperating attorney with the ACLU.

Mike's memberships include:

American Bar Association

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Boston Patent Law Association

Massachusetts Bar Association

Honors and Awards

Michael has been named a Massachusetts Super Lawyers' "Rising Star" in the field of intellectual property law.

Also Noteworthy

Mike has lived abroad in Israel. At the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, he qualified for a formal “exemption certificate” after completing the most advanced course of Hebrew language study that the University offers.

Mike also has experience in Biblical and Talmudic law and has published a peer-reviewed article comparing the obligation to rescue in Jewish law and American civil law.