Duke W. Yee

President and Senior Attorney

Duke W. Yee is the founder of Yee & Associates, P.C. Mr. Yee graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in biology in 1986.  He earned his law degree from the University of Texas in 1989.  He obtained a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, cum laude, in 1993 from the University of Texas at Dallas.  Mr. Yee's experience includes extensive patent prosecution, as well as patent, copyright, trade secret, trade dress, and unfair competition litigation.  In the area of patent prosecution, Mr. Yee helps corporate clients implement their large scale patent preparation and prosecution strategies.  Additionally, he prepares and prosecutes patent applications for clients in a wide range of technology areas, including computer hardware, computer software, semiconductor, network, electronics, artificial intelligence, machine learning, propulsion systems, composite structures and manufacturing, aerospace, and communications technologies.

Mr. Yee also counsels clients in various intellectual property matters, including licensing, infringement opinions, and confidentiality agreements. He also works with clients in developing and refining intellectual property strategies to meet client needs.

Mr. Yee is a past Chairman of the Computer Use and Technology Section of the Dallas Bar Association and a past President for the Dallas-Fort Worth Intellectual Property Law Association.  Mr. Yee is a member of the American Intellectual Property Association.  He has co-authored Keeping it Physical: Convergence on a Physicality Requirement for Patentability of Software-Related Inventions Under the European Patent Convention and United States Law, 15 J. INTELL. PROP. L. 239 (2008); Recent Developments in Patent Law, 2 TEX. INTELL. PROP. L. J. 59; and Selected Biotechnology Cases Interpreting §112 and §101, 2 TEX. INTELL. PROP. L. J. 281.

Mr. Yee is a registered patent attorney and is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

John J. Bruckner

Senior Attorney

John J. Bruckner is a senior attorney at Yee & Associates, P.C.  He graduated from Rutgers University College of Engineering in 1989 with a bachelor’s degree ceramic engineering. Prior to entering law school he worked as a Patent Examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office in the chemical processing arts.  Mr. Bruckner earned his law degree from George Mason University in 1994 patent track. He obtained a master's degree in material engineering in 1997 from the University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee. He has held appointments at Argonne National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Mr. Bruckner practices intellectual property law focusing on preparation and prosecution of patent applications. Mr. Bruckner has extensive experience in a wide range of technology areas including mechanical, chemical and electronic related arts, including inventions in computer hardware and software, telecommunications, optical networking, and semiconductor fabrication.

Mr. Bruckner is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He is also licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, and is a member of the Dallas Bar Association.

Lawrence J. Kelly

senior Attorney

Larry Kelly is a senior attorney, and joined the firm in November 2011. He graduated from the United States Air Force Academy with a Bachelor of Science in Aeronautical Engineering in 1981. Mr. Kelly earned his law degree from SMU Dedman School of Law in 2009, where he was a research fellow for the Law Institute of the Americas. Mr. Kelly practices in all aspects of intellectual property with an emphasis in patent preparation and prosecution. Mr. Kelly's experience includes patent preparation and prosecution, patentability opinions, infringement opinions, patent searching, and client counseling related to patent issues.

Mr. Kelly has practiced in IP matters in fields of art including aircraft components, radio-frequency identification, polymer compositions, catalyst chemistry, pharmaceutical compositions, medical devices, optic and mechanical devices, oilfield tools, stored-value transactions, computer software, and business methods.

Prior to joining the Firm, Mr. Kelly served as a judicial clerk for the Honorable William R. Mullins, NTSB ALJ, as a patent clerk with Winstead PC in Dallas, and under contract supporting opinion letter projects at Conley Rose, P.C. in Plano, TX.

Previous to entering the legal profession, Mr. Kelly was an international airline captain, a flight training and safety instructor and manager for a major airline, and a Federal Aviation Administration Flight Engineer Examiner Designee. He holds Air Transport Pilot ratings for the Boeing B-727,B-737,B-757/767, the Fokker F-100, and the McDonnell Douglas MD-11. Mr. Kelly also served in the U.S. Air Force as a glider instructor, and as flight lead in the Lockheed T-33 Shooting Star and the McDonnell Douglas F-15 Eagle.

Mr. Kelly is a registered patent attorney, licensed to practice law in the State of Texas, and a member of the Dallas Bar Association.

Peter J. Manghera*

Senior Attorney

Peter J. Manghera joined Yee & Associates, P.C. in 2009, after thirteen years of practicing intellectual property law at prominent law firms in Wisconsin. Mr. Manghera graduated with distinction from the University of Wisconsin, College of Engineering, in 1988 with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering. He graduated cum laude from the University Of Wisconsin School Of Law in 1994, where he was an associate editor of the Wisconsin Law Review and was awarded Order of the Coif. Between engineering and law school he served as a lieutenant in the United States Air Force at Hanscom AFB, Massachusetts, where he managed research and development acquisition projects. Mr. Manghera has focused his practice primarily on counseling clients in intellectual property matters. He has assisted clients that develop technology in areas such as semiconductor and micro-mechanical device fabrication, implantable and external medical devices for diagnosis and treatment, and software applications for user friendly information manipulation and display, statistical analysis, and business methods such as banking.

Mr. Manghera has extensive experience in the preparation of legal opinions and agreements related to intellectual property, including licensing agreements, and in assisting clients in determining intellectual property acquisition, enforcement, and defense strategies. Mr. Manghera is licensed to practice law in the State of Wisconsin. He is also registered to practice with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

*Not licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Peter B. Manzo

Senior Attorney

Peter B. Manzo is a senior patent attorney at Yee & Associates, P.C. Dr. Manzo graduated from Thomas A. Edison State College with a bachelor's degree in natural sciences. He earned his law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law and his doctor of chiropractic degree, summa cum laude, from Palmer College of Chiropractic. Dr. Manzo is a member of the Texas Bar Association, the National Order of Barristers, and the International Chiropractic Honor Society. His publications include: On The Media: Online Moot Court (National Public Radio broadcast, Dec. 20, 2002); Benjamin G. Davis et al, The First International Competition for Online Dispute Resolution: Is This Big, Different and New, 19 J. INT’L ARB. 379, 384 (2002); and LEON R. COELHO DC, DIVERSIFIED CHIROPRACTIC ADJUSTING TECHNIQUE, (Peter B. Manzo DC ed., Parker College of Chiropractic 2d ed. 1986).

Besides being a two-time gold medal recipient of the International Online Negotiation Competition, Dr. Manzo served as an adjunct online dispute resolution coach at Texas Wesleyan University School of Law for two terms. In addition, Dr. Manzo participated in the American Bar Association/Law School Division Client Counseling and Negotiation Competitions while in law school.

Dr. Manzo also served as Director of the Public Clinic and Chairman of the Technique Department at Parker College of Chiropractic. Moreover, the International Chiropractors Association’s Counsel on Chiropractic Sciences certifies Dr. Manzo in spinal trauma.

Dr. Manzo is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office and is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas. His primary practice area is patent law with a focus on patent application preparation and prosecution.

Christopher P. O'Hagan

Senior Attorney

Christopher P. O’Hagan is a senior attorney at Yee & Associates, P.C. Mr. O’Hagan graduated from Washington & Lee University in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science in Physics.  He received his law degree from the George Mason University School of Law in 1998, graduating from the Corporate and Securities Law specialty track.

Mr. O’Hagan practices all aspects of intellectual property law with an emphasis on patent and trademark prosecution, invalidity and infringement opinions, and IP transactions. Working with clients ranging from start-ups to Fortune 100 companies, his experience covers a broad spectrum of technologies including computer hardware and software, electronics, mechanical devices, lasers, semiconductors, wireless communications, robotics, medical devices, and propulsion systems.

Mr. O’Hagan’s entertainment practice covers literary option and purchase agreements, motion picture development including producer and finder contracts, production and distribution agreements, and film finance.

Mr. O’Hagan also serves as general corporate counsel to technology and entertainment companies assisting them with entity formation, operating agreements, technology development and service agreements, general business contracts, and strategic IP planning including trade secret protection and IP portfolio management.

Mr. O’Hagan is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Virginia State Bar and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Michael A. Rahman

Senior Attorney

Michael A. Rahman is a Senior Attorney at Yee & Associates.  Mr. Rahman received a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1988 and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 1991.  He received a law degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1996.

Mr. Rahman’s legal experience includes patent prosecution, patent litigation support, inter partes review (IPR), IP due diligence, and trademark prosecution.  His legal experience also includes drafting sales and purchase agreements, technology services agreements, wireless equipment deployment agreements, mobile phone service agreements, electronic medical record (EMR) development agreements, memorandum of understanding (MOU), corporate finance agreements, securities purchase agreements, warrant purchase agreements, convertible notes, and private placement memorandum.  Mr. Rahman is experienced in a wide range of technology areas including analog and digital circuits, wireless communications, 5G technology, semiconductors, computer software, power electronics and controls, medical devices, and business methods.

Mr. Rahman is a member of the state bar of Texas, the state bar of North Carolina, and is registered to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

Kelly Sullivan

Senior Attorney

Kelly Sullivan joined the firm as an associate in August 2011, and is now a Senior Attorney. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering in 2005. Prior to entering law school, she worked as a real-time defect analysis engineer for Micron Technology, and earned a Masters of Engineering from North Carolina State University. She earned her law degree, cum laude, from SMU Dedman School of Law in 2011. Ms. Sullivan has experience in prosecuting patent applications related to oilfield drilling and completion, food processing and packaging, and telecommunications.

Ms. Sullivan is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. She is also licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Jeffrey G. Crook

Associate Attorney

Jeffrey G. Crook is an associate attorney at Yee & Associates, P.C.  Mr. Crook earned a Bachelor’s of Aerospace engineering in 1990 and a Master of Business Administration in 1992 from Auburn University.  He received his law degree from Texas Wesleyan University School of Law in 2005.

Mr. Crook practices intellectual property law focusing on the preparation and prosecution of utility and design patent applications in a wide range of technology areas.  His experience includes aeronautical parts and systems, medical equipment, exercise equipment, software, cabinet hardware, irrigation management, interactive projection systems, and underground topographic mapping.  Mr. Crook further assists his clients with preparation and prosecution of copyright and trademark applications as well as patentability and patent validity investigations, right-to-use studies, and infringement analysis opinions.  

Prior to law school, Mr. Crook worked as an Information Technology project management consultant with Pricewaterhouse Coopers and Cap Gemini Ernst & Young primarily in the telecommunications industry focusing on project office implementations, development of methods and procedures, and mentoring project managers on project management techniques and software.

Mr. Crook is a past member of the Texas Wesleyan University School of Law Alumni Board of Directors and currently is a member of the Board of Directors of a local animal rescue organization.  Mr. Crook is a registered patent attorney and is licensed to practice law in the state of Texas.

Richard Xu

Associate Attorney

Richard Xu is an associate attorney at Yee & Associates, P.C.  Richard earned a Bachelor’s of Biophysics in 2015 from University of Toronto and a Master of Biotechnology in 2016 from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. He received his law degree from SMU Deadman School of Law in 2020.

Richard practices intellectual property law focusing on the preparation and prosecution of utility patent applications in a wide range of technology areas.  His experience includes manufacturing, chemical compositions, medical device, business methods, and software.  

Richard is a registered to practice before USPTO (limited recognition) and is licensed to practice law in the state of Texas.

Wayne P. Bailey

Of Counsel

Wayne P. Bailey is Of Counsel at Yee & Associates, P.C. Mr. Bailey graduated from the University of Texas with a bachelor's degree in electrical engineering, with honors, in 1977. He earned his law degree from the University of Denver in 1990. Mr. Bailey began practicing law as an in-house intellectual property law attorney for IBM Corporation in 1990, continuing until 1993. From there, he worked as in-house IP counsel for NCR Corporation from 1993-1995, Symbios Logic Inc from 1995-1998, LSI Logic Corporation from 1998-1999, and Storage Technology Corporation from 1999-2002. Mr. Bailey is primarily involved in the preparation and prosecution of patent applications. Mr. Bailey has concentrated his work primarily in the computer, communication, and electronic related arts, including inventions in computer hardware and software, telecommunications, data storage systems, integrated circuits and semiconductor fabrication. In his past employment as in-house counsel, Mr. Bailey was responsible for all aspects of intellectual property law, including patents, copyrights, trademarks, trade secrets, invention mining and licensing. He also established a new in-house intellectual property law department and associated procedures for a start-up company.

Mr. Bailey is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and is licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado and Texas. He also is admitted to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. In addition, Mr. Bailey is a member of the American Intellectual Property Law Association.

Daniel N. Fishman*

Of Counsel

Dan  Fishman is Of Counsel at Yee & Associates, P.C. 

Mr. Fishman graduated from the University of Michigan with a bachelor's degree in computer and communication sciences in 1977.  He earned his law degree from the University of Denver in 1990.  Mr. Fishman has extensive industry experience as a software engineer and a software development director in addition to 22 years in private practice as an intellectual property law attorney.  Mr. Fishman joins the firm after seven years as an administrative patent judge at the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

Mr. Fishman is licensed to practice law in the State of Colorado.   He is admitted to the United States Court for the District of Colorado, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the 10th Circuit, and the United States Supreme Court. 

* Not licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.

Thomas K. Ziegler*

Of Counsel

Thomas K. Ziegler is Of Counsel to the firm of Yee & Associates, P.C. He graduated from the University of Missouri with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. Prior to entering law school, he was an engineer at a National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) facility involved in research and production of components for the Nation's nuclear weapons programs. Mr. Ziegler earned his law degree from the University of Missouri and has over 30 years of experience practicing all phases of intellectual property law. Prior to becoming Of Counsel to Yee & Associates, P.C., Mr. Ziegler held positions as in-house corporate counsel, and as a partner in a national law firm. His experience includes patent litigation, patent prosecution, patent licensing and IP transactional work, infringement and validity opinions, patent ownership disputes, trademark prosecution and litigation, trade secret and employee non-compete agreements and litigation, and copyright registration and litigation.

Mr. Ziegler currently focuses his practice on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications for clients in a wide range of technology areas, including computer hardware and software, electronics, complex mechanical assemblies, aerospace, composite materials and communications technologies.

Mr. Ziegler is a registered patent attorney and is licensed to practice in the State of Michigan. He is a member of the Michigan Bar and the American Intellectual Property Association.

*Not licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.