Lawyer Bio : C. Robert Rhodes

C. Robert Rhodes

Greensboro

In almost 40 years of practicing patent law, Bob Rhodes has gained vast experience representing clients in the field of intellectual property law.  His sage wisdom and judgment help guide clients to make business decisions that are influenced by their intellectual property assets.
 
Since 1966, Mr. Rhodes has been instrumental in the acquisition and registration of many hundreds of patents and trademarks.  In addition, he has served clients and assisted general and corporate counsel by offering opinions concerning the validity and infringement of patents, serving as an expert witness at trial, negotiating complex licenses, handling numerous pieces of litigation, and counseling hundreds of clients as to how to best position themselves to protect their interests in the marketplace.  He also serves as a mediator of disputes.
 
Prior to practicing as a patent attorney, he was employed in the defense and aerospace industry for AT&T in North Carolina and Boeing Airplane Company at Cape Canaveral, Florida, where he developed a working knowledge of the industrial and commercial priorities of both smaller and larger corporations. He also served as a patent examiner in the United States Patent Office. Mr. Rhodes was named a 2010 North Carolina Super Lawyer and one of the Best Lawyers in America.
 
Representative Areas of Experience
 
  • A leader in the use of design patents to protect furniture styles;
  • Extensive experience in fiber and yarn production as well as fabric construction;
  • Patents on high performance yarns and fabrics for protective clothing and microelectronic substrates;
  • Intellectual property issues involving medical image screening, molded polymer products, decorative glass panels for windows and doors, drawer slides and hardware for cabinets, industrial and aviation batteries and a wide range of consumer products.

Additional Biography Info

Click on the headings below to view details

Close

Professional Activities

Bar Associations: American Bar Association; American Intellectual Property Law Association; North Carolina Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section, Chair, 1993-1994, Council, 1989-present; Greensboro Bar Association, Secretary, 1982, Executive Committee, 1975; Carolina Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Association; International Trademark Association. Certified Mediator in the State of North Carolina. Member, Civil Justice Reform Act Advisory Group, U.S. District Court, Middle District of North Carolina.

Admitted to the bar 1967, Virginia; 1968, North Carolina. Admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Federal District Courts of North Carolina, the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals, U.S. Supreme Court, and registered to practice before U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Civic Activities

Greensboro Jaycees, Greensboro Kiwanis

Education

B.S., Industrial Engineering, 1960, North Carolina State University; LL.B. (J.D.), 1966, George Washington University School of Law; Student Bar Council; Phi Alpha Delta.

Prior Legal Experience

Managing Partner, Rhodes & Mason, PLLC, Greensboro, NC, 1999-2001; Senior Partner, Rhodes, Coats & Bennet, Greensboro, NC, 1987-1999; Sole Proprietor, C. Robert Rhodes, Greensboro, NC, 1974-1987; Associate and Partner, Hunt & Rhodes, Greensboro, NC, 1966-1974.

Prior Business Experience

U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Washington, DC, 1963-1966; Boeing, Cape Canaveral, FL, 1962-1963; Western Electric (AT&T), Burlington, NC, 1960-1962.

Publications

"Protecting Names of Products and Services," .General Practice Journal 2:1, May, 1987.

Areas of Proficiency

  • Intellectual Property Law
  • International Patent Law
  • Licensing Law
  • Litigation
  • Mediation

Honors

Practice & Industry Teams

Articles

Publications

Lawyer Articles

Client Alerts

Case Studies