Daniel Smola

Daniel J. Smola

Partner

200 Public Square
Suite 2800
Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Primary Practices

As a partner in the Intellectual Property Group in Hahn Loeser’s Cleveland office, Daniel J. Smola frequently finds solutions for clients in U.S. and international patent preparation and the prosecution of utility and design applications. He has patent drafting experience in a variety of industries, including: plumbing, extrusion, injection molding, radiation crosslinking of polymers, tire, marine, commercial flooring, medical device, professional tool, musical instrument accessories and household products, among others. Dan has participated in various Patent Office Quality Initiative programs including the Patent Examiner Technical Training Program (PETTP) and the Site Experience Education Program (SEE).  As part of these programs, Dan has had the rare opportunity to conduct multiple Q&A sessions with groups of Patent Examiners to hear their feedback on working with Applicants and their respective patent attorneys.  Having this unique perspective allows Dan to develop and implement various prosecution strategies based on his intimate knowledge of the patent examination process and the Patent Examiners themselves.

Dan also counsels clients with respect to branding policies with a focus on the selection, filing and enforcement of trademarks.  Dan has drafted and prosecuted numerous trademark applications, both in the U.S. and internationally, and is experienced with the prosecution of trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings.  He has transactional experience in the preparation of nondisclosure, license, transfer, purchase, co-existence, and settlement agreements for patents, trademarks and domain names and conducts IP due diligence for mergers and acquisitions.  Dan also has extensive experience in conducting patentability, freedom-to-operate and trademark clearance searches and preparing related opinions.  Dan provides counseling to corporate general counsel, corporate management and foreign associates to oversee the management of clients’ intellectual property portfolios including the development and the implementation of various IP strategies.

Dan is actively involved in the intellectual property community and has attended several patent and trademark programs, including the AIPLA Patent Prosecution Boot Camp with Associates (2015), the International Trademark Association (INTA) Annual Meeting (2015-18) and the INTA Trademark Administrator and Practitioners (TMAP) Meeting (2016).

Professional History

  • Partner, Hahn Loeser & Parks LLP, 2015-present; Member, Recruiting Committee, 2014-present; Associate, 2013-15
  • Associate, D. Peter Hochberg Co., L.P.A., 2006-13
  • IP Project Attorney, Calfee, Halter and Griswold LLP, 2005-06
  • Law Clerk, Bridgestone/Firestone Inc., 2002-04
  • Mechanical Engineer, Logicon FDC, 2001
  • Production Supervisor Co-op, General Motors Metal Fabricating Division, 2000
  • Mechanical/Manufacturing Engineer Co-op, TRW Value Division, 1998-99

Credentials

Education
  • University of Akron School of Law, J.D., 2004
    • Honors & Activities: Giles S. Rich Moot Court Team; Board of Trustees Scholarship; AIPLA Student Member; Intellectual Property and Technology Law Association
  • University of Dayton, B.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2000
Community Involvement

Strongsville Economic Development Council

 

St. Ignatius High School Entrepreneur Academy

 

St. Ignatius High School Engineering Club

 

SEA Change (Social Enterprise Accelerator)

Bar Admissions

State of Ohio, 2005

 

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 2007

 

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio

Memberships & Affiliations

American Intellectual Property Law Association, Member

 

International Trademark Association (INTA), Member

 

Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association, Member