Lippes Mathias is pleased to announce the addition of Tod M. Melgar as a partner in its intellectual property practice team, who joins from Phillips Nizer, a well-respected litigation firm where he served on the executive committee and as chair of the patent practice group. With over 20 years of experience litigating intellectual property cases, Mr. Melgar brings a wealth of expertise and a distinguished record in patent, trade secret, copyright, and trademark disputes. In growing Lippes’ New York City office and intellectual property team, Mr. Melgar also rejoins his former colleague, Tony V. Pezzano, with whom he litigated intellectual property disputes for over ten years at the venerable IP firm Morgan & Finnegan. 

“Intellectual property has been a key storyline in our growth over the last 18 months," Kevin J. Cross, Lippes Mathias’ managing partner and chairman, said. “As the IP space becomes an increasingly important frontier for our business partners and clients, Tod’s addition provides our team with even more IP bench strength, particularly in litigation. I’m very excited to welcome Tod to the team.” 

Mr. Melgar has successfully tried intellectual property cases in the federal district courts throughout the United States, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). He has litigated disputes in a diverse range of industries, including computer hardware and software systems, consumer products and luxury goods, printing, automotive, copiers, parking systems, medical devices, cellular and digital transmission systems, semiconductors, and lasers. 

Another primary focus has been his practice in intellectual property rights procurement, where he leverages his litigation experience to strengthen the protection of his clients’ technology and intellectual property assets through patents, trademarks, and copyrights. Mr. Melgar also counsels clients on intellectual property risk assessment and avoidance of competitor rights or claims, including advising on design around alternatives. 

Mr. Melgar graduated from Brooklyn Law School with a J.D., the University of Miami with an M.S. in biomedical engineering, and the University at Buffalo with a B.S. in mechanical/aerospace engineering. He is an active member of several professional associations, including the American Intellectual Property Law Association (Litigation, Japan, Europe committees), the International Trademark Association (INTA), and the New York Intellectual Property Law Association. He has been recognized as a New York Super Lawyer® from 2022 to 2024. 

About Lippes Mathias LLP 

Lippes Mathias is a full-service law firm with nearly 200 attorneys serving clients regionally, nationally, and internationally. With offices in Buffalo, Clarence, Albany, Long Island, New York, Rochester, Saratoga Springs, and Syracuse, N.Y.; Greater Toronto Area; Chicago, Ill.; Jacksonville, Fla.; Cleveland, Ohio; San Antonio, Texas; Oklahoma City, Okla. and Washington, D.C., the firm represents publicly and privately-owned companies, private equity and venture capital firms, real estate developers, financial institutions, municipalities, governmental entities, and individuals.