Neil P. Ferraro
Shareholder
| Mechanical Technologies, Chair
Overview
Neil Ferraro chairs the firm’s Mechanical Technologies Practice. Neil counsels clients in all areas of intellectual property, with particular emphasis on domestic and international patent procurement, clearance to market analyses, acquisitions, diligence, and licensing matters.
Neil represents clients ranging from start-ups to large corporations in wide-ranging technologies including injection molding equipment, access control systems including mechanical and electrical locking systems, medical devices, sports equipment, consumer products, office supplies, imaging systems, electromechanical devices, printers, microfluidic systems, industrial equipment, fabrics, touch fasteners, sensors, optics, utility line equipment, and engines and automotive components.
Neil’s strong technical skills coupled with his deep knowledge of patent law and industry standards allow him to provide sound technical, business, and legal advice to aid clients in obtaining their business objectives.
Neil joined the firm after serving as an intellectual property attorney with the Ford Motor Company. His technical experience includes four years as a mechanical engineer, where he was responsible for new product development from concept to design to manufacturing start-up.
Experience
- Performed audit of client’s intellectual property strategy, supporting client’s win of a Top 10 Law Department Award for In-House Counsel Magazine.
- Negotiated joint development agreements.
- Conducted freedom-to-operate diligence for venture capital firm.
- Performed diligence in support of major acquisitions.
- Cleared a significant product introduction for major consumer product company, navigating through dozens of patents held by competition.
- Analyzed seller’s patent portfolio for major medical device manufacturer’s purchase.
- Counseled venture capital firm on acquisition of university patents and clearance to market for start-up medical device company.
- Analyzed competitor’s patents and counseled client regarding infringement exposure, then negotiated with client’s OEM customer regarding shifting infringement responsibility.
- Obtained important patent protection for client previously having difficulty with prosecution and aided client with enforcing patent against infringer.
Activities
- Boston Intellectual Property Law Association
- President, 2012; Initiatives included: bid to host a US Patent Office Satellite Office in Boston
- Held various Board Positions and Offices between 2004-2011
- SBANE
- Judge for Innovation Awards Competition
- Presenter at various industry organizations, including ASME and MassMEDIC
Recognition
Neil has been repeatedly named to The Best Lawyers in America® and to the Massachusetts Super Lawyers list for his work in the field of intellectual property law. He is also repeatedly recognized in the IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals.
Interests
An inventor himself, Neil holds five US patents resulting from his prior engineering work.