Billy C. Raulerson

Every client’s invention and new technology is important to Billy. He works closely with clients to identify the specific outcomes they seek, and he is driven to attain successful resolutions. Billy’s current practice is primarily in the electrical/mechanical space, and he has a strong background in software technology.

Billy has worked with many Fortune 100 and Fortune 500 companies and has extensive experience managing large, global patent portfolios. He regularly represents multi-national, multi-division corporations with diverse, global patent portfolios and supervises client teams consisting of multiple dedicated IP attorneys, paralegals and support staff. He provides significant value supplementing clients’ IP departments, working side-by-side with busy in-house legal and technical staff and corporate leaders.

A significant portion of Billy’s time is dedicated to helping clients explore the often-competing benefits obtained through patent protection and trade secret protection. He is involved with innovation harvesting, meeting with inventors to understand the potential for protecting their inventions.

A registered patent attorney since 2002, Billy has significant experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications relating to computer software and the electrical, mechanical, and chemical arts, as well as trademark applications spanning a wide range of goods and services. He has a remarkable success rate in appealing adverse examiner decisions to the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Billy provides opinions on patentability, clearance/freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, and invalidity. He has been involved in several patent disputes, including complex multi-patent, multi-venue litigation.

Billy works closely with his corporate, estate planning, and other colleagues and applies his extensive knowledge of intellectual property law to advise his clients across an evolving range of topics, such as non-fungible tokens (NFTs); non-practicing entities (NPEs); and data privacy.

Chambers USA 2022 ranked Billy as a Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property in Band 4 – Ohio; he is the only Columbus-based attorney in the state recognized by Chambers USA for Intellectual Property Law. Chambers researchers noted, "Billy Raulerson offers counsel to clients on a range of patent disputes, regularly assisting with the preparation and prosecution of large portfolios." Clients interviewed by Chambers USA stated, " Billy has a very pragmatic and no-nonsense approach to things and is consistent in his conversations. He knows our business inside out and does an excellent job at pairing us with the right expert."

Billy has authored several articles on intellectual property legal topics, and he has delivered numerous presentations to various companies and organizations.

A member of the Ohio, D.C., and Columbus Bar Associations, Billy is also associated with the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) and the International Trademark Association (INTA).

Billy was employed with Sughrue Mion, PLLC prior to joining Calfee in 2005. He became a Partner in 2011 and currently serves on the firm’s Practice Planning & Growth Committee (formerly known as the Executive Committee). Billy began serving as Vice Chair of the Intellectual Property practice group in 2020 and was appointed Co-Chair of the IP group in 2023.

Honors & Recognitions

• Chambers USA 2022, Intellectual Property, Band 4, Ohio

Education

J.D., cum laude, University of Dayton School of Law, 2001

BSCS and BSCIS, summa cum laude, University of South Florida, 1998

Experience

• Work closely with in-house counsel of a global, publicly traded Fortune 500 corporation operating more than 70 facilities across the Americas, Asia and Europe. Manage a growing portfolio of over 2,500 matters including patents, trade secrets, agreements and studies/opinions and advise on IP strategy.
• Represent a multinational, publicly traded energy corporation with operations in the Americas, Middle East, Asia, Europe and Russia. Manage a significant portion of their global patent portfolio. Provide strategic recommendations on advancing the patent portfolio throughout the world.
• IP counsel for global innovator of measurement and control solutions. Work closely with technical leaders to develop and implement protection strategies for company’s ongoing innovations with both terrestrial and extraterrestrial applications.
• Assisted innovative sensor technology company in securing patents on proprietary sensing technology focused on cured-in-place-pipe (CIPP) lining applications. Worked closely with company leaders to leverage the patents during the sale of the company.

Professional & Community

• American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), Member
• Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association (CIPLA), Member
• Ohio State Bar Association, Member
• D.C. Bar Association, Member
• Columbus Bar Association, Member

• 2021 Virtual Patent Pro Bono Day Program, Volunteer Patent Counsel – Provided patent counsel to Ohio inventors in pro bono program hosted by the Cleveland Corporate IP Counsel and Ohio Invents

Presentations

• "What in the (COVID) World Are Apple and Google Up To? Data Privacy in Times of Public Crisis," Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Webinar (July 8, 2020)
• "How to Do a Patent Search," Inventors Network, Columbus State Community College, Westerville, Ohio (March 7, 2017)
• "Trade Secrets and the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016," Calfee, Halter & Griswold LLP, Columbus, Ohio (October 13, 2016)