MICHAEL D. LAZZARA is a partner of Pietragallo Gordon Alfano Bosick & Raspanti, LLP's Intellectual Property Practice Group.

Mr. Lazzara focuses his practice on all phases of intellectual property law including patents, trademarks, copyrights and trade secrets. He handles such matters as preparing and prosecuting patent, trademark and copyright applications, portfolio development, patentability opinions, patent infringement and validity studies, trademark clearance opinions, and general intellectual property counseling.  He has also handled intellectual property due diligence for corporate transactions and has experience preparing license agreements, nondisclosure agreements, joint development agreements, and other intellectual property related agreements.  Mr. Lazzara’s experience also includes providing intellectual property litigation support and patent claim construction analysis.

Mr. Lazzara has prepared and prosecuted several hundred United States and international patent and trademark applications.  His patent practice covers a wide array of technologies including software, telecommunications, information technology systems, Internet-based services and applications, financial data processing, financial products, robotic devices, fluid systems for heavy machinery, color analysis software, video games, disease management software, and medical devices.

Prior to joining the firm, Mr. Lazzara was a partner for 15 years at a major international law firm.  Before that, he was a graduate of General Electric’s Technical Leadership Program, focusing on quality issues in the manufacturing and sourcing areas of General Electric’s locomotive business.

Mr. Lazzara received his law degree from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law and was a visiting student at Franklin Pierce Law Center where he focused on intellectual property related coursework.   He received his B.S.E.E., magna cum laude, from Gannon University.

Mr. Lazzara is a frequent speaker on various patent, trademark, and copyright topics.  He is also an Advisory Committee Member of the United Way’s “Be A Middle School Mentor” Program and actively mentors middle school students.  He also volunteers his time coaching youth sports such as soccer and basketball.