John S. Cipolla

John's focus is primarily on complex litigation matters that include patents. John has extensive experience in litigation and dispute resolution in all areas of intellectual property. He also provides clients with counseling and strategy concerning the procurement of patents and trademarks. In addition, John has provided numerous opinions in patent and trademark matters. 

John has successfully handled a diverse range of federal and state litigation claims on behalf of both plaintiffs and defendants in the areas of patents, copyrights, trade secrets, product configuration and trademarks. His experience includes managing cases that involve international and multi-national litigation. He has participated and led teams at trial and Markman hearings in federal courts, and he has argued successfully before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The past few years, John has led teams in disputes involving both multiple lawsuits and multiple Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board.

Since 2007, John has been recognized as a Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property by Chambers USA, most recently ranked in Band 1 in Ohio (2023). Chambers USA researchers reported, "John receives notable acclaim for his broad contentious and non-contentious practice and is particularly noted for his work in patent litigation." Clients interviewed by Chambers USA stated, "John is a great lawyer. He's a wonderful litigator and a consummate professional. John is a really good litigator who picks the right fights. He's also a personable lawyer and a very good speaker. He takes difficult subjects and makes them easier to understand. He's hard-working and has good judgment."

John was previously a featured speaker at a Cincinnati Intellectual Property Law Association meeting where he gave a presentation titled “The State of Patent Law and Possible Upcoming Changes.”

John began working in intellectual property as a Patent and Trademark Coordinator at Bailey Controls in 1985. He began his career as an attorney with Jones Day from 1989-1993. John has served on Calfee's Management Committee since 2010, and Practice Planning & Growth Committee since 2006. He was elected Vice Chair of the firm in 2021. John served as Chair of the Intellectual Property practice group for more than 10 years.

Honors & Recognitions

• Chambers USA , Intellectual Property, Band 1, Ohio (2007-2023)
• Best Lawyers "Lawyer of the Year" in Patent Law in Cleveland (2024)
• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Litigation - Intellectual Property and Patent Law (2012-2024)
• "IP Star," Managing Intellectual Property Magazine

Education

J.D., cum laude, Cleveland State University College of Law, 1989

B.S. in Electronic Technology, cum laude, Bowling Green State University, 1985

Professional & Community

• Cleveland State University College of Law's IP Advisory Council, Chair
• American Bar Association, Member
• Cleveland Intellectual Property Law Association (CIPLA), Member
• National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Greater Cleveland, President, Board of Directors 

Client Feedback

• "John is a great lawyer." – Chambers USA client, as reported in the Chambers USA 2023 Guide
• "He's a wonderful litigator and a consummate professional. John is a really good litigator who picks the right fights. He's also a personable lawyer and very good speaker." – Chambers USA clients, as reported in the Chambers USA 2022 Guide
• "John receives notable acclaim for his broad contentious and non-contentious practice while being particularly 'well respected for his work in patent litigation.' Clients hold him in high regard, stating 'Our interaction with him has been amazing, and his overall performance is very good.'" – Chambers USA researchers, as reported in the Chambers USA 2020 Guide
• "John Cipolla at Calfee, Halter & Griswold is an excellent patent litigator. We have worked with John for a number of years and really trust him. The Calfee team provides sound legal advice and has the ability to handle tough cases with high exposure." – Calfee client, as reported by U.S. News – Best Lawyers^® in the 2020 “Best Law Firms” rankings report
• "John Cipolla is thorough, knowledgeable, and brings good ideas to the table." – Calfee client, as reported in the Chambers USA 2019 Guide
• “John Cipolla is held in ‘very high regard’ by fellow practitioners, who note his extensive experience representing clients in IP litigation, appellate work, and before the PTAB. His practice includes advising on product configuration, trade secrets, and wider patent and trademark matters.” – Chambers USA researchers, as reported in a Chambers USA Guide