Michelle M. Kemp
- Firmwide Co-Chair, Patent Litigation Practice
- Madison
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With more than 25 years of experience, Michelle is a seasoned litigator, firm leader, and serves as a trusted client advisor.
Michelle Kemp represents clients in complex commercial litigation, primarily related to intellectual property (IP). She manages high-stakes patent infringement cases, as well as licensing and other technology agreement disputes, involving a wide range of technologies, such as microprocessors, medical devices, antibody libraries, genetically engineered plants, and mechanical devices. She represents both startups and established international companies in patent infringement, licensing disputes, trademark, trade dress, and unfair competition litigation and arbitration. She also handles high-value arbitrations related to IP and other commercial agreements in a variety of industries, including energy, construction, and healthcare.
Michelle advises clients regarding patent licenses and technology transfer issues as parts of larger agreements. Michelle is also trusted to represent university technology transfer offices in their most significant IP disputes.
Michelle maintains a significant and wide-ranging pro bono practice, including prisoner civil rights, voting rights, and asylum and immigration.
A leader in the firm, Michelle is co-chair of the Patent Litigation practice. She previously served as the Madison office's managing partner and a member of the firm's executive committee.
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., cum laude, Order of the Coif, Forum and Articles Editor, Wisconsin Law Review, 1997
- University of Wisconsin, B.S., magna cum laude, 1994
Bar and Court Admissions
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Wisconsin
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U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- State Court of Wisconsin
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Wisconsin
Professional Recognition
Named Best Lawyers' "Lawyer of the Year" for Patent Litigation, 2015, 2023 and 2025; "Lawyer of the Year" for Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2018 and 2023
Ranked by Chambers USA as “America's Leading Lawyer" for Intellectual Property: Litigation, 2018-2019, 2023-2024
Listed in Intellectual Asset Management Patent 1000, 2017-2024
Listed in The Best Lawyers in America: Commercial Litigation; Litigation - Intellectual Property; Litigation - Patent, 2013-2025
Listed in Wisconsin Super Lawyers, (Rising Star - Intellectual Property Litigation), 2006-2007
Received the "Women in the Law" award from the Wisconsin Law Journal, 2012
Impact
Professional Leadership
- Fellow of the American Bar Association
- American Law Institute (ALI)
- Member of the Seventh Circuit Pattern Civil Jury Instructions Committee (Patents)
- Seventh Circuit Bar Association
- Federal Circuit Bar Association
- Wisconsin Bar Association
- American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association