Catherine S. Collins

Catherine S. Collins is a partner and registered intellectual property lawyer at Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Ondersma LLP who helps clients obtain, protect, and manage intellectual property rights. She concentrates on domestic and international patent and trademark procurement, clearance reviews, intellectual property due diligence, and litigation support. She works with startups, individual inventors, and global corporations across industries involving medical devices, automotive products, consumer goods, control systems, firefighting equipment, semiconductors, manufacturing systems, testing equipment, and clean technology.

Catherine earned her J.D. from Southern Methodist University and her B.S. in Civil Engineering from George Washington University. She also completed electrical engineering studies at the University of Texas at Arlington. Her technical education supports her work with mechanical, electrical, electromechanical, and electronic inventions, allowing her to understand complex technologies and communicate effectively with inventors, engineers, examiners, and business leaders.

Catherine previously served as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Before entering legal practice, she gained engineering and construction experience in the nuclear power field. She worked as an engineer, supervisor, and project engineer on matters involving piping stress analysis, seismic qualification, and other power plant systems. Her combined government, engineering, and legal experience gives her a practical view of patent examination and technology development.

Catherine prepares and prosecutes U.S. and foreign patent and trademark applications, performs patentability and clearance evaluations, and supports intellectual property disputes. She also conducts due diligence reviews for mergers and acquisitions and has worked on transactions involving medical device companies and products valued from millions to billions of dollars. She helps clients identify risks, evaluate intellectual property portfolios, and protect assets during significant business transactions.

Catherine S. Collins is admitted to Michigan state and federal courts, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She belongs to the American Bar Association, Federal Bar Association, State Bar of Michigan, and Grand Rapids Bar Association. She has also served in leadership within the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan and brings technical knowledge, careful analysis, and broad intellectual property experience to each matter.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Gardner, Linn, Burkhart & Ondersma LLP
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Federal Bar Association
• Member, State Bar of Michigan
• Member, Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society

Licensed State

• Michigan

Education

• Southern Methodist University
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• George Washington University
  BS in Civil Engineering
• University of Texas
  Electrical Engineering Studies

Awards & Badges