Thomas A. Miller

Thomas A. Miller is a seasoned intellectual property attorney. With over 25 years of experience in patent law, Tom focuses his practice on U.S. and international patent prosecution, portfolio management, and legal opinions related to IP protection. He provides counsel to global corporations, startups, and independent inventors, helping them maximize the protection and value of their innovations.

Tom earned his Juris Doctor from the Illinois Institute of Technology and holds a Bachelor of Science in Industrial Engineering from Cornell University.

Admitted to practice in Illinois and Indiana and before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), Tom brings extensive technical and legal knowledge to his clients. His work spans mechanical and electro-mechanical fields, including engines, transmissions, medical devices, aerospace components, HVAC systems, robotics, sporting goods, and automation technology.

In addition to preparing and prosecuting patents, Tom provides legal opinions on patentability, validity, inventorship, and infringement. He also drafts and reviews licensing, indemnification, employment, and non-compete agreements. His strategic advice helps clients manage IP portfolios, develop patent strategies, and explore design-around options when navigating competitive markets.

Tom has deep experience with USPTO procedures, including reissues, re-examinations, examiner interviews, and appeals. Before joining his current firm, he spent 15 years managing his intellectual property law practice in Chicago. Earlier in his career, he worked as an engineer at Rockwell Automation, where he focused on motors, drives, and programmable logic controllers, giving him firsthand industry insight that strengthens his patent work.

Thomas A. Miller is an active member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the Chicago Bar Association (CBA), and the Federation Internationale des Conseils en Propriete Industrielle (FICPI). Tom has been recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Patent Law from 2022 through 2025.

With a strong foundation in both engineering and law, Tom offers clients the technical precision and legal expertise necessary to protect and grow their intellectual property assets.

Law Office Affiliations

• Shareholder, von Briesen & Roper, s.c.
• Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
• Member, Chicago Bar Association (CBA)

Licensed State

• Illinois
• Indiana

Education

• Illinois Institute of Technology
  Juris Doctor (JD)
• Cornell University
  Bachelor of Science (BS)

Awards & Badges