Intellectual property law firm McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP (MBHB) has established a dedicated Quantum, Optics, and Semiconductors Practice Group to counsel hardware developers, research universities, and government contractors. Headquartered in Chicago, the team will serve the expanding regional hub anchored by the state-backed Illinois Quantum and Microelectronics Park (IQMP), where anchor tenant PsiQuantum and partners such as IBM are deploying commercial quantum infrastructure.
| MBHB Quantum Practice Overview | ||
|---|---|---|
| Focus Area | Leadership & Scope | Key Mandate |
| Leadership | Co-chaired by Andrew Velzen and Aaron Gin, Ph.D. | Combines engineering and national lab backgrounds (Purdue, Sandia, CINT) to evaluate complex hardware claims. |
| Technology Coverage | Photonic and solid-state QPUs, compound semiconductors, and integrated optics | Patent drafting, USPTO prosecution, and portfolio risk management. |
| Commercial Strategy | Startups, academic spin-outs, and Fortune 100 enterprises | Advises on Bayh-Dole compliance, joint research agreements, and international licensing. |
The practice addresses growing patenting challenges as quantum innovation transitions from basic research to proprietary products. In particular, firms must navigate 35 U.S.C. § 101 eligibility by grounding claims in physical apparatuses—such as cryogenic controls and photonic packaging—rather than abstract algorithms, while managing federal march-in rights and export controls tied to public funding.
Practice group capabilities are detailed in the official MBHB Announcement here.
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