Brad Van Pelt is a partner at Banner Witcoff, where he focuses his practice on prosecution, counseling, and litigation in all areas of intellectual property. He leverages his experience as a former patent examiner to develop innovative strategies to help clients build strong patent portfolios domestically and internationally.  Brad has wide-ranging experience in prosecution, counseling, and litigation, and years of patent drafting experience in the mechanical, software, and business method arts. He frequently prepares freedom-to-practice opinions, and has secured favorable litigation and IPR rulings for a number of clients. He also has experience in procuring design patents, and has prepared and prosecuted applications ranging from sporting equipment and medical devices to security software and audio monitoring as well as consumer products.  Brad has spoken at numerous conferences on a variety of topics, including creative strategies in advancing patent applications in light of the America Invents Act, post-issuance review, and best practices in procuring design patents.