IP Lawyer Invests Time, Talent, & Resources in NWPA

Registered patent attorney Jonathan D’Silva moved to northwestern Pennsylvania in 2005, and he has no plans to leave anytime soon. In fact, he just began a new business venture there, and that’s also where you’ll find his two largest clients. The nature of his business, however, has no geographic boundaries.

Born in Kuwait, Jonathan attended school there until 1990, when the country was invaded by Iraq, setting off the first Gulf war. Luckily, he was visiting with relatives in Portugal during the week of the invasion.

From Kuwait to Cornell

During the war, Jonathan finished ninth grade in New Jersey, where an uncle lived. A couple of years later, back at the American School of Kuwait, he learned about Cornell University through some literature his friend had obtained. Deciding to apply, he received an early-decision offer and enrolled in Cornell’s biology program.

After a semester in Ithaca, knowing he did not want to be a doctor, a profession to which many biology majors aspire, Jonathan switched to biological engineering. He then learned that the market for his major favored candidates with graduate degrees, so he continued on toward his master’s at Cornell. That’s where he met his future wife, Melanie. They now have four children.

After earning his master’s degree in 1999, Jonathan took a job at the Buffalo, NY office of a large engineering firm. He was assigned to a project in Corry, PA, helping the town improve the quality of its storm and waste water systems. Another Pennsylvania project involved designing the sewer lines along the Erie Bayfront Extension.

From Engineering to the Bar

After working in the engineering profession for several years, Jonathan became restless for a new challenge. He enrolled in law school at SUNY Buffalo, after some negotiations with Melanie. Having his green card by that time, he was eligible for in-state tuition rates, and during his sophomore year, he started working in the University’s tech-transfer office, which provided both a paycheck and tuition remission.

By the time Jonathan passed the bar in 2005, he and Melanie already had one child and another on the way. By now a U.S. citizen, Jonathan decided he did not want to raise his children in a big city, and he did not want to be a slave to his work.

During the Corry water project, Jonathan had worked closely with the MacDonald Illig law firm from Erie, and through that association, he scored a job interview. Most of his time in Erie had been spent on the Bayfront construction site, though, so he hadn’t seen much of what the city had to offer.

On the day of his job interview, Jonathan stepped off the elevator in the firm’s high-rise offices and was met with a panoramic view of Presque Isle Bay with the peninsula and Lake Erie beyond. That view is part of what sold him on the city.

When Jonathan began his law career in Erie, PA, specializing in intellectual-property cases, he appreciated working fewer hours than many of his University of Buffalo classmates. “One night at 11:00 p.m., I received a message from a friend working in New York City, saying he was just leaving work for the day—and he’d have to be back in the office at 8:00 a.m.,” Jonathan said.

New Venture, New Challenge

Jonathan worked for the Erie law firm for a decade, and then he began to yearn for a new challenge and more autonomy. So, in early 2016, he founded MMI Intellectual Property (MMIIP) and moved into an office at the Erie Technology Incubator at Gannon University. MMIIP specializes in patent, trademark, copyright, Internet, IT, trade-secret, licensing, and contract law, in addition to providing business and intellectual-property counseling.

Jonathan decided to stay in northwestern Pennsylvania, because he was already established in the area, and his two largest clients are based there. “I would have had to start from scratch anywhere else,” he said.

Although his business is anchored in northwestern Pennsylvania, the nature of the intellectual-property industry is global, so he has clients in countries around the world. “Intellectual property is not a local issue,” said Jonathan.

Spreading Ideas in NWPA—TEDxErie

Having a career that gets him home by dinnertime also allows Jonathan to contribute to the local community in roles such as the chair of the Innovation Erie Design Competition and serving on the boards of several non-profits.

In 2015, Jonathan acquired a license to bring the TEDxErie program to the area. TEDx is a program that extends the reach of the popular TED (technology, entertainment, and design) program to local communities. “The TED philosophy concerns connecting an idea to why a person thinks it’s important,” says Jonathan. “Studies have shown that when a speaker connects with an audience, the brain waves of both parties actually start to sync.”

In November 2015, the inaugural TEDxErie program featured 12 speakers at a five-hour event held at the Erie Art Museum. The program was a success, and plans are underway for the November 5, 2016 event to be held in the 2,000+ seat historic Warner Theatre.

Complementing the yearly TEDxErie event, TEDxErieSalons, are smaller gatherings designed to celebrate and engage the TEDxErie community. These events take place at local establishments and are funded by sponsorships. The format includes a brief introduction of one or more TED or TEDxErie videos, and after the video, the floor opens for discussion, commentary, and conversation.

Even though his new business venture, community engagement, and dedication to family keep him very busy, Jonathan continues to find new ways to challenge himself. His other interests include learning to ride a motorbike and trying out Indonesian cooking. There’ll also be a new addition to the D’Silva home soon as Jonathan tries his hand at beekeeping.

 

 

 

Written By: Ann Silverthorn

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AnnSilverthorn

Twitter: @annsilverthorn

Instagram: ann_silverthorn

LinkedIn

Do you know of an interesting person, or project, I should profile? Send me a message!