Mark W. McDougall

As Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property practice group, Mark knows how to secure valuable rights that protect his clients’ investment and competitive advantage in the market. He also helps his clients monetize and enforce their intellectual property rights and regularly defends clients against the risks associated with their competitor’s intellectual property. 

A substantial portion of Mark’s practice is devoted to litigation matters on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants. He has experience in both state and federal court, including all facets of district court litigation and appeals to the Federal Circuit. Mark has been lead counsel in multiple patent cases securing favorable outcomes for his clients. He also regularly handles inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Mark’s experience helps him find creative business solutions to his clients' intellectual property related issues. He leans on his litigation experience when asked to provide counsel on patent clearance and due diligence matters, including patent portfolio analyses, validity and infringement opinions. Mark also utilizes his engineering experience to help businesses develop new products, strengthen their intellectual property positions for product lines and build the overall value of their portfolio.

Mark also enjoys providing counsel and strategy to clients on the procurement of intellectual property rights. He prepares and prosecutes patent applications on a diverse range of innovations in areas such as industrial and consumer products, electrical devices, building materials, medical devices and equipment, automotive and computer-related technologies. He works with clients to manage their worldwide patent portfolios and has experience with complex prosecution matters such as reexamination proceedings.

Since 2021, Mark has been recognized for his work in Intellectual Property in Ohio by Chambers USA, most recently (2024) in Ohio: Band 3. Chambers USA researchers noted, "Mark McDougall co-chairs the team's IP practice and represents companies from a range of industries in both contentious and non-contentious patent matters." Clients interviewed by Chambers USA commented, "Mark is very responsive and practical. He's extremely knowledgeable, super personable, and has a great client manner. Mark is an excellent business partner with our team. [Mark] gets immersed in the facts and provides detailed guidance. Mark is a smart patent lawyer."

Mark received his law degree, cum laude, from Case Western Reserve University with honors in his concentration of law and technology.

Mark’s professional background working as a mechanical engineer for General Motors Corporation and as a business consultant at Accenture Ltd. helps shape his understanding of his clients’ business needs and ultimately contributes to finding unique solutions to support their goals. Mark joined Calfee in 2006, was elected Partner in 2015, and began serving as Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property practice group in 2020, and Co-Chair in 2021.

Honors & Recognitions

• Chambers USA, Intellectual Property, Band 3, Ohio (2021-2024)
• Benchmark Litigation, "Future Star" – Ohio: Intellectual Property Litigation (2023-2025)
• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Patent Law (2025)
• Ohio Super Lawyers, Ohio Rising Stars (2014-2016)

Education

J.D., cum laude, Case Western Reserve University School of Law, 2006

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, cum laude, The Ohio State University, 1999

Experience

• Serving as global Intellectual Property Lead Counsel for an Asia-based manufacturer, representing the client in district court litigation matters and prosecuting patent applications. The patent work for this client includes patent infringement matters filed in district courts in two states and the Federal Circuit as well as in six inter partes reviews before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. These actions are being heard in a variety of forums in four countries.