Paul Nykaza concentrates on patent procurement and portfolio management, primarily in the mechanical and electromechanical arts. His practice also encompasses diverse counseling experience, opinion work, transactional work and litigation support regarding all aspects of intellectual property law including domestic and international patents, trademarks and unfair competition, trade secrets and copyrights. Mr. Nykaza is involved in all phases of the preparation and prosecution of patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Mr. Nykaza has also argued before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. His practice encompasses a wide variety of technical fields including medical systems and devices such as infusion pumps, drug reconstitution devices, medical solution containers, and micro elecromechanical systems (MEMS), window and door hardware, automotive technology, packaging technology, pool systems, valve technology, gantry cranes and control systems, nuclear battery technology, submersible pumps, lubrication systems and commercial oven technology.
In his prosecution practice, Mr. Nykaza specializes in developing creative prosecution strategies for achieving clients’ business goals. These strategies include conducting inventor sessions to extract the full range of the inventors’ inventions, creatively claiming the inventions, maintaining continued prosecution for important inventions, and devising strategies to limit clients’ costs in developing and managing their patent portfolios.
Mr. Nykaza has also litigated several patent cases involving window hardware patents and conducting numerous infringement and validity investigations. Mr. Nykaza has also been involved in all aspects of trademark law where he has prosecuted numerous trademark applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has been involved in trademark litigation and mediation.
Mr. Nykaza earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering, graduating with honors from the Illinois Institute of Technology. He also earned a Juris Doctor degree from Loyola University Chicago. Mr. Nykaza is admitted to the bar of Illinois and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Before law school, Mr. Nykaza worked as a mechanical engineer at ComEd’s Braidwood Nuclear Generating Station where he provided technical support for the turbine-generator, pressurized air systems and chemical injection systems. He also worked as an engineer at Ford Motor Company’s Chicago Assembly Plant.
Mr. Nykaza practices in the Chicago office of Banner & Witcoff, Ltd.
