John L. Reulbach III

John has experience in a variety of mechanical fields, including storage systems, lighting fixtures, medical devices, building materials, construction equipment and manufacturing processes. He focuses on patent procurement, counseling and litigation matters.

John has experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications in a wide variety of technical areas. He also counsels and assists clients in managing their patent portfolios, including preparation of patentability, infringement, freedom to operate and validity studies.

In addition, John has been involved in a variety of patent litigation matters, including district court cases and inter partes review proceedings and has provided counseling in connection with intellectual property matters related to mergers and acquisitions.

John earned his J.D., summa cum laude, from Cleveland State University College of Law in 2017. He was the salutatorian and was a member of the Moot Court Team. John also received CALI Excellence for the Future Awards for Patent Law & Practice, Torts, and Secured Transactions.

While attending law school, John gained experience in the patent field while working as a law clerk for a local Cleveland law firm. 

John had the opportunity to participate in the American Bar Association’s National Appellate Advocacy Committee (NAAC) Competition (2016-2017) in Washington, D.C. where he won a Regional Best Advocate Award for top scores in oral advocacy.

John joined Calfee in 2017. 

Honors & Recognitions

• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch, Litigation – Patent (2022-2025), Intellectual Property Law (2023-2025), Litigation - Intellectual Property, and Patent Law (2024-2025)
• Ohio Super Lawyers, Ohio Rising Stars, Intellectual Property (2025)

Education

J.D., summa cum laude, Cleveland State University College of Law, 2017

B.S., magna cum laude, Mechanical Engineering, University of Cincinnati, 2014

Experience

• Calfee is representing a subsidiary of a publicly traded, Fortune 50 company since 2018, helping to develop the client’s domestic and foreign patent portfolio. We handle the preparation and prosecution of hundreds of the client’s domestic and foreign patent assets covering complex and fast-changing technologies. We have been entrusted to provide patent portfolio development, strategy, and management services for the client as they continue to build their portfolio in a new technology space.
• Calfee is handling IP matters for a publicly traded, Fortune 1000, global manufacturer, including drafting and prosecuting dozens of patent applications directed to technology of strategic importance to the client. Calfee also represents the company in significant IP litigation matters when they occur. Calfee routinely manages and assists with matters related to patent prosecution and IP strategy, management and strategy of patent and trademark portfolios, and advice on IP strategy and litigation. Calfee also is handling "take-down" disputes related to infringers of the client's patents on the Amazon.com website.
• Calfee is serving as primary IP counsel for a publicly traded, Fortune 500, global manufacturing client and its operating companies with responsibility for the client's worldwide IP portfolio, including 1,000+ patent matters and 2,000+ trademark matters. With regard to clearance, Calfee provides right-to-use and non-infringement analyses and opinions. With regard to procurement, we provide patentability and registrability analyses and opinions. We also prepare, file, and prosecute patent and trademark applications. Calfee assists in all IP litigation the operating companies are involved in.

Professional & Community

• Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association, Member