David A. Cornett

Biography

David has an extensive background in electrical engineering with particular interest in software, automation, controls and energy related technologies. In addition to his significant depth of knowledge in those technologies, David amassed substantial experience as an engineer for over ten years in the electric utility industry where his responsibilities included software programming, transmission and distribution design and analysis, and power plant construction. His prior experience gives him a unique perspective into the technical intricacies of electrical patents, and he has garnered the reputation as the “go-to” attorney for clients who need advice and counsel on their intellectual property assets.

David’s legal experience lies in patent preparation and prosecution, opinion drafting and client counseling on various intellectual property matters, including patent portfolio management and strategy; claim strategy; competitor analysis; licensing; transactional intellectual property provisions in sales, purchase and merger agreements; confidentiality agreements; use of open source software; and trade secret, copyright and trademark protection. His technical expertise includes computer hardware and software; automation and controls, renewable energy, remote monitoring and diagnostics, metering, memory, telecommunications, video, medical device and various other computer-related, software and electromechanical technologies.

Prior to joining Meunier Carlin & Curfman, David was in-house counsel with General Electric Company (GE). David spent several years in GE Energy’s intellectual property, patent and procurement group where he drafted, filed and prosecuted patent applications for GE Energy technologies, particularly software and computer-implemented inventions. He later served as intellectual property counsel for GE Intelligent Platforms where he advised and counseled the three sub-businesses of Intelligent Platforms (Control & Communications Systems, Software & Services and Military & Aerospace) in all aspects of intellectual property law.

Previous to joining GE, David was a partner in the intellectual property section of Ballard Spahr LLP.