M. Brad Lawrence, currently Partner and Co-Chair of the Electrical Engineering Practice, has been elected to serve as the firm’s next Managing Partner, effective January 1, 2026. Brad is the first Managing Partner following the long-time leadership of founders Michael Cantor and Philmore H. Colburn II, who had been Co-Managing Partners since 1999. This transition demonstrates Cantor Colburn’s enduring commitment to providing reliable counsel and outstanding client service on a forward-looking basis.

“It’s an honor to be chosen as Managing Partner of Cantor Colburn,” Mr. Lawrence said. “When I joined almost 20 years ago, I knew right away that Cantor Colburn was a great fit, with amazing leadership, exciting clients, and a really remarkable team that emphasized collaboration and trust. Today, I am grateful that I can build on Mike and Phil’s legacy. Our focus remains clear and ambitious: be the team clients trust for exceptional IP counsel and measurable results.”

Cantor Colburn continues its support of K–12 invention education as a sponsor of the 2026 RTX Invention Convention U.S. Nationals, with opportunities for professionals to serve as online judges. Watch this exciting video for a peak at the convention!

Cantor Colburn partner David Bomzer will serve as a presenter for Intellectual Property Law Updates: 2025 in Review, a CLE webinar presented by the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA), reviewing key intellectual property developments from 2025. The session will highlight the most significant changes from the past year and offer practical takeaways to help practitioners make informed, strategic decisions in their IP work. 

Cantor Colburn LLP was named one of the “Top 10 Patent Firms and IP Practices," and recognized as an “Award Winning Law Firm 2026" by The Patent Lawyer Magazine for North America – Northeast.

Cantor Colburn LLP is recognized by World IP Review USA Patent Rankings 2025 as a notable firm. WIPR praised Cantor Colburn for its scale and consistency in patent prosecution, breadth of technical strength and client base, and the firm’s litigation capability.

On January 14, 2026, the Federal Circuit issued a nonprecedential decision in In re Blue Buffalo Enterprises addressing how functional claim language such as “configured to” and “configured for” should be construed. The Court affirmed that, absent clear and unequivocal specification support for a narrower interpretation, such phrases are broadly construed to mean a structure is merely “capable of” performing the recited function. The decision reinforces the importance of providing meaningful specification support when using functional language in product claims and highlights the risk that broadly framed functional limitations may read on prior art. Cantor Colburn's client alert provides an analysis of the situation and what it might mean for you.

Cantor Colburn welcomes patent attorneys LeRoy Ashley III and Jonathan D. Staudt to its Electrical Engineering Practice Group. Their combined technical depth and patent prosecution experience further strengthen the firm’s ability to serve clients developing cutting‑edge technologies.

Cantor Colburn is #5 for patents out of all law firms in the U.S. in 2025. Cantor Colburn was responsible for 3,353 utility patents and 451 design patents granted by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Cantor Colburn has been a top 10 utility and design patent firm for more than a decade.

Cantor Colburn Partners David Kincaid and Jeffrey Waters analyze the USPTO’s memo reinforcing consistency in subject matter eligibility, especially for software and AI inventions, and share practical implications for navigating §101 rejections, in their article "Clarity, Not Change: Understanding the USPTO’s Latest § 101 Guidance" in the Patent Lawyer Magazine 2026 Annual Issue.

The USPTO issued a memo announcing upcoming revisions to the MPEP following the precedential Ex Parte Desjardins decision. These changes incorporate Desjardins’ reasoning into the subject matter eligibility framework under §101 but do not create new examination standards. The updates reaffirm existing guidance and clarify that improvements in AI, machine learning, and software can qualify as patent-eligible technological advancements.

Cantor Colburn has been recognized as a leading firm in the recently published World IP Review (WIPR) Trade Mark Rankings 2025. Cantor Colburn is recognized as a recommended US law firm for non-contentious trademark matters. This recognition reflects our unwavering dedication to excellence in trademark law and in supporting clients with trusted IP guidance in intellectual property matters.

We are proud to announce that Cantor Colburn attorneys are recognized as 2025 IP Stars, a guide from Managing IP that brings together the world’s foremost law firm and corporate intellectual property experts, allowing the wider community to benefit from their insight, experience and perspectives.

Michelle Ciotola and David Kincaid explore the recent settlement in Anthropic, which provides insights into the lawful use of copyrighted works for AI training and the risks associated with misuse in their article, "Anthropic's $1.5B Lesson: Fair Use Has Limits in the Age of AI," in The Trademark Lawyer magazine.

Cantor Colburn has been named a Tier 1 firm in Hartford for Patent Law, Trademark Law, Copyright Law, Litigation - Patent, and Litigation - Intellectual Property Practice in the 2026 edition of Best Law Firms®.

Cantor Colburn LLP is proud to announce that Michael Cantor and Phil Colburn have been recognized with the Career Excellence Award by the Judge Janet Bond Arterton American Inn of Court, the Connecticut Intellectual Property Law Association (CIPLA), and the Connecticut Bar Association (CBA) IP Section. This prestigious award honors individuals who, over the course of their careers, have made significant contributions to the field of intellectual property law. As Co-Managing Partners of Cantor Colburn for 25 years, Michael and Phil transformed a small, highly respected patent practice into one of the largest full-service specialty intellectual property (IP) law firms in the United States. 

On October 15, 2025, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit issued a precedential decision concerning the assignment of patent rights in Causam Enterprises, Inc. v. International Trade Commission, No. 23-1769 (Fed. Cir. Oct. 15, 2025). In an appeal from the United States International Trade Commission’s investigation into Causam’s request to exclude certain internet-connected “smart” thermostats from importation and sale, the Federal Circuit concluded that the assignment in question, which recited continuation patent applications but not continuation-in-part patent applications, did not include the latter. This case serves as a reminder of the importance of securing clear and comprehensive assignments for all patent rights, particularly when subject matter is added to a patent application.

Cantor Colburn LLP is pleased to announce the addition of accomplished intellectual property professionals and chemists Michael H. Brodowski, Ph.D., and Ruslan M. Arbit, Ph.D.. Dr. Brodowski is a patent attorney and trusted advisor to companies, investors, and academic and research institutions on patent and other intellectual property related matters.  Dr. Arbit is a patent agent with two decades of experience as a development chemist in the life sciences field. Their combined expertise strengthens Cantor Colburn’s chemical practice, with Dr. Brodowski contributing deep experience in patents, due diligence, transactional work, and post-grant proceedings, and Dr. Arbit bringing specialized patent knowledge rooted in two decades of hands-on chemistry. 

Intellectual Property Law Owners' Association’s (IPO) Law Journal published AI Patenting Handbook Version 3, a valuable resource for patent professionals working at the intersection of law and emerging technologies. The white paper is authored by the IPO’s Artificial Intelligence, Data, & New Emerging Technologies Committee, offers practical guidance on patenting AI-related inventions. David Kincaid,  who co-chairs Cantor Colburn’s Artificial Intelligence Practice, co-authored the white paper. 

Cantor Colburn is proud to announce the selection our attorneys Michael Cantor, Phil Colburn, Steve Coyle, David Fox, and Todd Garabedian, Ph.D. to the 2025 Super Lawyers list, and Ali Caless is a Super Lawyers Rising Stars. This exclusive honor highlights the top 5% of attorneys in Connecticut, with only 2.5% selected as Rising Stars.

Super Lawyers is a research-driven, peer-influenced rating service that identifies outstanding lawyers across more than 70 practice areas. Selections are made through a patented multiphase process involving statewide surveys, independent research, and peer evaluations, resulting in a credible and diverse listing of exceptional legal professionals.

Cantor Colburn Partner David Kincaid is a contributing author for the Intellectual Property Owner’s Association's recently published “101 Eligibility Rejection Response Strategies,” a white paper for responding to subject matter eligibility rejections.

Cantor Colburn is proud to announce that the following attorneys are recognized as 2026 Best Lawyers: Christopher C. Boehm, David Bomzer, Michael A. Cantor, Michelle P. Ciotola, Philmore H. Colburn II, Steven M. Coyle, David Fox, Nicholas A. Geiger, David Kincaid, Charles F. O'Brien, Roberta L. Pelletier, Leah M. Reimer, Ph.D., David E. Rodrigues, Ph.D., Bryan D. Zerhusen, Ph.D., Susan M. Zerull. 

Partner and Artificial Intelligence Practice Group Co-Chair David Kincaid has been selected for inclusion in IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists 2025.

Partner and Electrical Engineering Practice Group Co-Chair David Fox has been selected for inclusion in IAM Strategy 1000: The World’s Leading IP Strategists 2025.

IAM is an annual research project that identifies top practitioners who are taking IP portfolio management to the next level. These individuals are leading the way in developing and implementing strategies that maximize the value of IP portfolios. 

On August 4, 2025, the Deputy Commissioner for Patents issued a memorandum titled “Reminders on evaluating subject matter eligibility of claims under 35 U.S.C. 101,” reinforcing existing guidance on assessing subject matter eligibility, particularly for software and artificial intelligence (AI)-related claims. It does not create new rules but emphasizes the consistent application of current USPTO procedures.

Cantor Colburn is proud to announce that it has earned Band 1 Recognition in Intellectual Property in Connecticut in the 2025 Chambers USA Guide. This recognition reflects our deep expertise across the full spectrum of IP services, the trust our clients place in us, and the strength of our team’s legal insight, technical knowledge, and commitment to achieving results.

Cantor Colburn is proud to sponsor The Cove Center for Grieving Children's Cove Kids' Classic Golf Tournament on June 13, 2025 in Middlefield, Connecticut. Trademark & Copyright Practice Chair Michelle Ciotola is board member of The Cove

Todd Garabedian, Ph.D., Nick Herrel, Ph.D., Anne Maxwell, Ph.D., Joe Romagnano, Ph.D., and Bryan Zerhusen, Ph.D., will attend The BIO International Convention 2025, June 16-19, 2025, in Boston.  Cantor Colburn has strong Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences Practice Groups, skilled in working with biotechnology professionals to protect and commercialize their intellectual property. 

Cantor Colburn's Daniel F. Drexler and Yong Tang, Ph.D., review the new fee structure for large information disclosure statement filings instituted by the USPTO in the May/June 2025 Patent Lawyer Magazine.

Effective May 13, 2025, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) will accelerate Issue Dates for patents and new patents will issue approximately two weeks following the Issue Notification. Over the past two years, the USPTO has undertaken initiatives to modernize processing of U.S. patents and patent applications, including publishing electronic grants and Certificates of Correction (eGrants and eCofCs), establishment of Patent Center, and elimination of redundancies in the patent procurement process. All these efforts have reduced the time between grant notification and the issue date.