Professionals

Practice Areas

Technologies

Honors

  • Best Lawyers, 2016-2024
  • American Bar Foundation, Fellow 
  • Martindale-Hubbell AV Rated
  • WIPR Leaders, Patents & Trademarks
  • IP Stars, Managing IP, Connecticut, USA, 2013-2023
  • Who's Who of Trademark Lawyers, 2013-2019
  • Who's Who Legal: Patents, 2018-2020
  • Connecticut Bar Foundation - James W. Cooper Life Fellow
  • Founding Fellow, Academy of Distinguished Engineers and Hall of Fame, University of Connecticut
  • "Super Lawyers," Intellectual Property, Connecticut, 2007- 2009, 2017-2022

Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 1984
  • U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, 1984
  • State of Connecticut, 1983
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 1983

Education

University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., 1983

University of Connecticut, B.S., Chemical Engineering/Materials Engineering, with honors, 1980

Teaching Positions

  • University of Connecticut School of Law, Adjunct Professor in Patent Law and Procedure
Photo of Michael A. Cantor

Michael A. Cantor

Co-Managing Partner
Hartford
860.286.2929, ext. 1101
Email

Michael Cantor is Co-Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn LLP, one of the largest and most productive full-service intellectual property (IP) law firms in the country. Michael has overseen the exponential growth of Cantor Colburn from small patent law firm to the full-service IP powerhouse that the Firm is today. Clients include multinational corporations, Fortune 100 companies, mid-size companies, high tech start-ups, universities, and government research institutes based in the U.S. and worldwide. Michael has represented companies in a broad range of industries, including manufacturing, pharmaceutical, medical device, energy, consumer products, entertainment, and many more.

Michael is frequently invited to speak on IP, innovation, the law, and economic development. He is active in associations such as the International Trademark Association (INTA), the American Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), and the Association Internationale pour la Protection de la Propriété Intellectuelle (AIPPI). 

Michael is also active in supporting economic development and innovation. He is the Chair of the Board of Directors of Connecticut Innovations, the quasi-public agency charged with growing Connecticut’s economy by making strategic capital and other investments that encourage the development of high-tech industries within the state. He is the Chair of the Board of Directors of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History and a member of the Board of Directors for the Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford.

Michael is an active alumnus of University of Connecticut School of Law, where he taught patent paw as an Adjunct Professor for twenty-five years.  He is a member of the Advisory Boards of the University of Connecticut School of Law and School of Engineering.

Experience Highlights

Co-Managing Partner, Cantor Colburn LLP, 1983-present

Publications

News

Events

Professional Affiliations

American Bar Association

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Intellectual Property Owners Association

International Trademark Association

  • Leadership Development Committee, 2023-2025
  • Law Firm Committee, 2022-2023
  • Management Subcommittee, 2022-2023
  • Associates Subcommittee, 2020-2021
  • Law Firm Committee, 2020-2021
  • Design Emerging Issues Subcommittee, 2018-2019
  • Designs Committee, 2018-2019
  • Designs Committee, 2016-2017
  • Designs Communications Subcommittee, 2016-2017
  • Emerging Issues Committee, 2014-2015
  • Limits on Trademark Rights Subcommittee, 2014-2015
  • Internet Committee, 2012-2013
  • Online Use Subcommittee, 2012-2013

Connecticut Bar Association

  • James W. Cooper Fellows

Connecticut IP Inn of Court, Charter Member, Membership Committee Co-Chair

Connecticut Patent Law Association

Tau Beta Pi

Community/Civic Involvement

Chair, Connecticut Innovations

Advisory Board, Legal Innovators

Board of Trustees, Connecticut Historical Society

Board Member, Jewish Federation of Greater Hartford

Board Member, University of Connecticut School of Engineering Advisory Board

Former Board Member, Greater Hartford Arts Council

Former Board Member, Connecticut Development Authority

Former Board Member, University of Connecticut Institute of Material Sciences Advisory Board

Former Board Member, University of Connecticut Foundation

Former Board Member, Connecticut Technology Council