Kimberly A. Pinter

Kim has counseled companies and individuals ranging from Fortune 100 companies to start-ups in a variety of intellectual property matters, such as drafting, filing and prosecuting patent applications, evaluating and optimizing IP portfolios, preparing and reviewing Opinions and litigation matters. Kim focuses on strategic analysis and clearance work to guide product launches and entry into new technology spaces. Kim also counsels companies and individuals through growth opportunities, licensing matters and joint development arrangements by drafting and reviewing various contracts and agreements with a strategic and detail oriented approach.

Kim takes a comprehensive approach to client counseling and IP strategy, frequently visiting and spending time with her clients to understand not only the businesses’ technology and goals, but to appreciate the nuances of the business that can help shape and grow its IP portfolio. Kim works closely with in-house counsel and values responsiveness and attentiveness to foster an effective and strategic partnership.

Kim is a member of the Ohio State and Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Associations. She also is a member of Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association (CIPLA).

Kim received her J.D. with honors from Case Western Reserve University School of Law in 2008. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree, cum laude, in biology from Baldwin-Wallace College in 2005.

Kim was an associate at Fay Sharpe LLP for four years before joining Calfee in 2011. She was appointed Vice Chair of Calfee's Intellectual Property practice group in 2023.

Honors & Recognitions

• Ohio Super Lawyers, Ohio Rising Stars, Intellectual Property (2022-2023)
• YWCA of Greater Cleveland, Woman of Professional Excellence Award (2018) 
• Forty Under 40 Honoree, Crain's Cleveland Business (2022)

Education

J.D., with honors, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, CALI Award for Patent and Trademark Litigation, 2008

B.S., cum laude, Baldwin-Wallace College, 2005

Experience

• Working directly with the General Counsel of a subsidiary of a publicly traded, Fortune 100 manufacturer to provide counsel on critical IP-related issues and strategic advice on how to protect and leverage these rights to maximize their value and competitive advantage. Specifically, Calfee counsels the client on issues pertaining to global freedom-to-practice concerns, licensing negotiations, and strategic business arrangements.
• Representing a public, Fortune 1000 company and global manufacturer in its U.S. patent prosecution and global IP strategy, working with its in-house IP counsel. Calfee oversees the drafting of patent applications directed to highly complex systems and counsels the client on critical IP-related issues such as freedom-to-practice, trade secret strategies, and innovation harvesting.
• Serving a multi-billion-dollar, multinational, publicly traded, Fortune 500 manufacturer for more than a decade, working with a team of in-house patent/IP counsel to handle the implementation of the client’s global IP protection objectives for all company divisions, including interfacing with Research & Development and business leaders concentrated in the United States and Europe. Specifically, Calfee oversees the drafting and prosecution of hundreds of patent applications throughout the world on behalf of the client and counsels the client on critical IP-related issues such as freedom-to-practice, trade secret strategies, and innovation harvesting.
• Serving as chief outside IP counsel for a multi-billion dollar, publicly traded, Fortune 1000, multinational holding company with multiple operating companies based in the U.S. and abroad. Calfee is responsible for all patent matters and assists many of the operating companies with the prosecution of patent applications, both in the U.S. and internationally. Calfee manages the U.S. trademark and patent work directly and supervises a network of foreign associates when action is required in foreign jurisdictions. Calfee also offers primary counsel on the impact of corporate reorganization efforts on the ownership and management of the IP of the operating companies. Calfee IP lawyers supervise most of the intellectual property due diligence related to the mergers and acquisition activity of the client. Calfee represents the company in several trade secret matters and other IP litigation matters.
• Drafting patent applications for a world-renowned health system with more than 2,000 issued patents and generating multi-billions of dollars in revenue. The client's patents involve new and emerging technologies, which include new virus detection platforms and novel stent technologies.

Professional & Community

• Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association (CIPLA), Member
• Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member
• Ohio State Bar Association, Member

• Cleveland Zoological Society, Board of Directors and Vice Chair of Governance Committee (2020 – present)