Burris Law, PLLC

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Burris Law, PLLC is a full-service intellectual property law firm located in Detroit, Michigan.

Burris Law, PLLC is a full-service intellectual property law firm located in Detroit, Michigan, in the same building as the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). We service a wide range of industries and function as fully integrated team members with each and every client. Our founder, Kelly Burris, has over 28 years of engineering and legal experience. She has a gift for taking care of our clients and becoming fully integrated with their teams.

10/23/2026

Yesterday, Kelly Burris headed upstairs to represent our client Reload Pickleball before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Reload CEO Nick Bićanić flew in from California to finalize strategy with Kelly ahead of the hearing.

Fortunately, getting to the hearing itself only required a quick trip upstairs from Burris Law's office, which is strategically located in the same building as the Midwest Regional USPTO office!

Reload combined curiosity, engineering, and an entrepreneurial mindset to develop an innovative, replaceable paddle surface that allows players to replace their grit as it wears out, rather than replacing and disposing the entire paddle.

Its Stick It and Rip It® brand paddle has gained traction in the fast-growing pickleball market, and that commercial success was an important part of yesterday's argument. Kelly argued Reload's success in the marketplace helps demonstrate that the invention is not as obvious as the USPTO contends.

This is patent law in action at Burris Law: Know the technology, understand the business, and be ready to defend the innovation alongside the client.

And while Kelly will always prefer flying, sometimes the only flight you need to catch is the elevator upstairs!

10/21/2026

We continue to highlight our Burris Law attorneys in our "Flight Crew" series.

Meet Bejeir Brooks, an IP attorney who has built his career around one simple question: “What if?”

"What if" he took his engineering education one step further? He earned a master’s degree in materials science. "What if" he maximized his law school scholarship opportunities? He earned four law degrees. "What if" he wanted to understand patent prosecution from the other side of the desk? He became a USPTO patent examiner.

Those experiences shape the wide-ranging perspective Bejeir brings to Burris Law clients. His curiosity and big-picture thinking guide how he approaches innovation and how he helps businesses protect what comes next.

Read Bejeir’s story:
https://burrisiplaw.com/flight-crew-bejeir-brooks/

10/07/2026

“Almost everything around us involves polymers in some way. I wanted to study something that was connected to everyday life, and polymers offered that connection.”

For Chao Peng, Ph.D., his fascination with the science behind everyday materials became the building block for his career. It took him from an undergraduate degree in polymer materials and engineering in Beijing to graduate research in the U.S., a research scientist role at a startup, and now to his patent practice at Burris Law.

We continue our "Meet the Flight Crew: Faces of Burris Law" feature with Chao, who brings deep experience in polymers, chemistry, and materials science to helping protect technologies across a wide range of industries.

And when he’s not talking science or patents, you might find him exploring Michigan with his wife and their new dog, Bagel. 🐾

Meet Chao >> burrisiplaw.com/flight-crew-chao-peng/

09/30/2026

Long before AI, machine learning, robotics, and autonomous systems became everyday buzzwords, Stephenie Serman was already working on the front lines of what was coming next.

From developing autonomous vehicle technology to earning a master’s degree in robotics engineering and now helping protect emerging technologies at Burris Law, Stephenie has built a career around understanding innovation as it evolves.

As we continue our "Meet the Flight Crew: Faces of Burris Law" series, meet Stephenie and learn how engineering, robotics, AI, and a passion for protecting innovation have shaped her journey.

https://burrisiplaw.com/flight-crew-stephenie/

09/23/2026

We continue our “Meet the Flight Crew: Faces of Burris Law" series with "Science, Strategy, and a Strong Serve" featuring IP attorney Julia Zamler.

Julie has never been one to stop at the level she has already reached.

A love of science led her to biopharmaceutical research, where she realized she wanted a career with room to keep growing. That path took her to law school, then from patent legal assistant to paralegal, and ultimately to an IP attorney at Burris Law, where she represents clients in trademark prosecution and patent preparation and prosecution.

And there’s another constant in Julie’s life: tennis. She has played since age seven and still competes today in leagues and tournaments.

At each stop — in the lab, in law, and on the tennis court — Julie follows the same instinct: learn, adapt, grow, and keep moving forward.

Meet Julie, and be prepared to return her serve >>
https://burrisiplaw.com/flight-crew-julie-zamler/

09/18/2026

Burris Law is pleased to welcome IP attorney Luke Hibbeler to our office - and for Luke, it’s a homecoming.

A St. Louis native, Luke represents clients in patent prosecution across chemical, materials science, and mechanical technologies. With a background in chemical engineering and chemistry, Luke enjoys getting into the details to understand not only how an invention works, but what makes it valuable.

Fun facts about Luke:

Luke brings a competitive streak to the Burris Law flight crew. While earning his chemical engineering degree at Kansas State University, Luke competed in Division 1 Track and Field and was named an All-Academic Big 12 Scholar Athlete.

He later used his final year of NCAA eligibility setting a school record in the 400 meter hurdles while attending the Saint Louis University School of Law.

Welcome aboard, Luke >> https://burrisiplaw.com/team/luke-hibbeler/

09/16/2026

Meet George Patsarikas as we continue our “Meet the Flight Crew: The Faces of Burris Law” series - inspired by our fly-to-client service approach and the people who shape our firm.

George is a first-generation college graduate with a background in electrical engineering. He has always been drawn to STEM, problem-solving, and learning something new. Patent law gave him a career where that curiosity never has to stop.

“I enjoy learning, staying curious, building relationships with my clients, and showing up to help inventors navigate the next steps in protecting and advancing their innovations through the patent process.”

That combination of curiosity and client connection recently earned George recognition in Best Lawyers "Ones to Watch" for Intellectual Property Law. George focuses his IP practice on patent preparation and prosecution.

Outside the office, George is a husband, father to two boys (one newborn), soccer player, avid fisherman, and loyal supporter of sports.

Read more >> https://burrisiplaw.com/flight-crew-george/

09/09/2026

We are excited to introduce "Meet the Flight Crew: The Faces of Burris Law," a new series inspired by our distinctive fly-to-client service approach. The series highlights the people who shape our firm and deliver the in-person relationships that define Burris Law.

Evan Sotiriou has built his 25-plus-year career on relationships — with colleagues, clients, inventors, engineers, and peers. As he puts it: “I am a people person.”

Born in Singapore and raised in St. Louis since high school, Evan now leads Burris Law’s St. Louis office. His practice focuses on IP counseling and procurement, particularly patent preparation and prosecution, across electrical, software, electromechanical, and mechanical inventions.

“Everyone has a story to tell,” Evan says. “I enjoy listening to them, understanding the technology, strategizing on how to protect their innovation, building a relationship with them, and then partnering with them to continue to grow their business.”

Evan is a proud graduate of Washington University in St. Louis and Washington University in St. Louis School of Law. Outside the office, he is a husband, father of four, avid golfer, and bowler with a high score of 297.

Meet Evan and enjoy "Building Client Connections and Chasing the Perfect Bowling Game" >> https://burrisiplaw.com/flight-crew-evan/

08/26/2026

Women's Equality Day reminds us that progress is achieved through determination, courage, and the willingness to create new opportunities for future generations.

As a women-owned law firm, Burris Law recognizes that meaningful progress is built through leadership, inclusion, and opportunity.

For Women’s Equality Day, enjoy this fitting quote by Sally Ride:

"If we want scientists and engineers in the future, we should be cultivating the girls as much as the boys."

Dr. Sally Ride was the first American woman in space and a physicist. After her NASA career, she co-founded Sally Ride Science to encourage young students, especially girls, to pursue education and careers in STEM.

Today, we celebrate all our inspirational leaders, entrepreneurs, professionals, and advocates who paved the way to give us a world where everyone has the opportunity to succeed.

08/21/2026

Congratulations to our Burris Law attorneys Kelly Burris and George Patsarikas for being selected among the 2027 Best Lawyers honorees!

Kelly is included among the 2027 Best Lawyers in America in Patent Law. George is named among the Best Lawyers: "Ones to Watch" in Intellectual Property Law.

Since its founding in 1983, has earned a reputation as one of the nation's most respected lawyer ranking guides, with attorneys recognized through a rigorous peer-review process.

Congratulations to Kelly and George on this well-deserved honor!

Address

300 River Place Drive, Suite 1775
Detroit, MI
48207

Telephone

+13133935400

Website

http://www.burrisiplaw.com/

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