Michael J. Garvin

Michael is a partner in the Vorys Cleveland office and a member of the litigation and intellectual property groups.  His practice focuses on intellectual property and technology litigation, particularly patent litigation, including the prosecution and defense of patent infringement cases in the computer, telecommunications, medical device, electrical and mechanical fields; the prosecution of anti-piracy cases; the prosecution of software performance cases; and the prosecution and defense of copyright, trademark, trade secret and non-competition actions.

Michael has tried more than 30 cases and other contested hearings, and has appeared as counsel in more than 100 patent infringement lawsuits, as well as dozens of trademark infringement, copyright infringement and trade secret lawsuits. 

Career highlights include:

• Obtained a jury verdict of trademark infringement on behalf of a major brewery against the producer of a root beer branded similarly to the client’s iconic marks

• Defeated a motion for preliminary injunction in a patent infringement lawsuit which, if granted, would have shut down the client’s manufacturing facilities
• Obtained a jury verdict of nearly $10 million in a dispute between a foreign high technology equipment manufacturer and a U.S. distributor
• Represented a family-owned company in business for more than 100 years in patent infringement lawsuits against sellers of products competing with the client’s market-leading automotive electronics products
• Defeated a motion for preliminary injunction sought against a major consumer products brand owner that would have forced the client to recall an entire product line sold through several of the world’s largest general and specialty retail outlets
• Successfully defended one of the world’s largest retailers and its supplier in trade dress and copyright litigation alleging millions of dollars in damages
• Prosecution of anti-piracy cases for a major international software developer
• Representing a family-owned pioneering medical products manufacturer in the defense of patent infringement litigation brought by its largest competitor

Michael received his J.D. from the College of William and Mary and his B.S. from Miami University.

Honors & Recognitions

The Best Lawyers in America,  Litigation – Intellectual Property “Lawyer of the Year,” 2019

The Best Lawyers in America, Patent Law "Lawyer of the Year," 2014

The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2014-2025; Patent Law, 2014-2025; Trademark Law, 2014-2025

Chambers and Partners, Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property, 2013-2019

IP Star, Managing Intellectual Property magazine, 2014-2017

Ohio Super Lawyers, Business Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation, 2004, 2007-2020

Martindale-Hubbell AV Peer Review Rated

Professional & Community Activities

American Bar Association, Section of Litigation, Intellectual Property Litigation Committee, Past Co-Chair

Intellectual Property Owners Association, Member, 2017

Teaching/Speaking Engagements

CMBA International Law Section Meeting, 10/4/2012