Joel S. Sonnenberg

Partner

200 Public Square
Suite 2800
Cleveland, Ohio 44114

Primary Practices

Joel S. Sonnenberg has built an intellectual property law practice on the principles of understanding how client innovations work and how clients operate in their respective industries. Joel leverages his own hands-on experience and engineering background as a unique compliment to his law practice.

Joel’s experience strikes an intriguing balance between law and technical fields. Prior to joining Hahn Loeser, Joel was a project engineer and a project manager for one of Engineering News-Record’s Top 400 Contractors and one of Modern Healthcare Magazine’s Top Healthcare Contractors. During this time, Joel gained experience working with designers, engineers, and contractors on the smallest details of complex building components and materials, including mechanical, electrical, civil, and structural systems. He is familiar with green design practices as he has been LEED® AP credentialed since 2008. Prior to managing projects, Joel acquired hands-on experience working as a skilled laborer, carpenter, and mechanic. He brings this broad-based skill set to his law practice, providing clients with approachable and uniquely qualified legal counsel.

As a registered patent attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Joel provides sophisticated guidance on a wide range of technologies and intellectual property issues, domestically and abroad. Joel counsels clients at all stages of innovation and development for patenting, with complimentary trademark, trade secret, copyright, non-infringement, and enforcement strategies. Joel works closely with clients on technology transfer, joint development, licensing, and agreements of all kinds, and finds deep satisfaction in truly understanding his clients’ technologies and objectives. Joel has been honored several times as an Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Star for Intellectual Property and several times as Best Lawyers in America as “Ones to Watch” for patent law.

Accolades

Credentials

Education

Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, cum laude, J.D., 2013
- Honors & Activities: Business Law Concentration; The Global Business Law Review (GBLR), Executive Symposium Editor, 2012-13, Associate, 2011-12
University of Toledo, B.S., Civil Engineering, Minor in Business Administration, 2002

Community Involvement

Ohio Farm Bureau, Medina County Active Member

2017 Medina County Local Government Leadership Academy

Awards & Distinctions

Ones to Watch, Best Lawyers^®, Patent Law, 2021-24

LEED® AP, Green Building Certification Institute, 2008-present

Rising Star, Ohio Super Lawyers^®, 2018, 22-23

Bar Admissions

State of Ohio, 2013

U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2016

U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Ohio, 2016

Registered Patent Agent/Attorney, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 2012-present

Memberships & Affiliations

Ohio State Bar Association (OSBA), Member

American Bar Association (ABA), Member

Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association (CIPLA), Member

American Agricultural Law Association (AALA), 2017 Planning Committee, Member; 2022 Planning Committee, Co-Chair, Private Practitioner Track