Michael Rodriguez
Managing partner of Munck Wilson Mandala’s Austin office. He is part of the technology & intellectual property law group.
Michael’s practice emphasizes patent and trademark preparation and prosecution and includes domestic and international patent procurement and enforcement; analysis of infringement and invalidity in support of litigation. He also counsels clients on copyright and trademark enforcement and compliance. Michael’s clients work in a variety of industries, including construction, electronics, retail, restaurant, telecommunications, pet-care, vehicle manufacturing, and energy. Michael has experience prosecuting and defending reexaminations in a variety of technical areas including power electronic devices, computer software, and semiconductor devices. He is an officer in the United States Navy Reserves, having achieved the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
What has been one of the most rewarding moments you’ve experienced in your career?
In addition to being the managing partner of MWM’s Austin office, I’m also a decorated Navy veteran, onetime pro-baseball hopeful, Hispanic community advocate, and father of three adopted children. While these experiences undoubtedly help craft me into the attorney I am today, it’s the positivity and passion I encounter with my clients every day that I find the most rewarding. I constantly meet people who are pursuing their dreams – and I love being an integral part to bring those visions to reality. For most lawyers, you’re approached after a negative experience: somebody wrongs them or has filed suit. But I’ve discovered with patent law, when I meet clients for the first time, they have hope and ambition; there is happiness of the horizon and joy in the successes when I help them stay moving upward. One of the standout examples of the life changing success that comes with dreams realized came when I was fortunate enough to witness a client – for whom I wrote a couple of patents – recently sell his interest in the company that resulted in the client becoming a millionaire.
What would you say to young Latinas today thinking about pursuing a career as a lawyer? Why is it so important to increase representation in the industry?
Be adamant in your pursuit of greatness. I’m forever grateful that my father put such emphasis on pursuing a college degree and being persistent through adversity. This is one of the primary factors driving my passionate support of Austin’s Hispanic community and programs like Con Mi Madre, which empowers young Latinas and their mothers through education. Education is the biggest ticket out of low-income circumstances – it equips you with the tools to be successful and help lift others up on the way. Many Latinas are innately gifted in math, sciences and STEM-focused studies. For these women to pursue a law degree – particularly as a patent attorney – is an exceptional feat and one I’m hopeful many more will strive to obtain. To blaze their trails in a nontraditional career like patent law effectively makes these diverse women unicorns in a field of horses. Creating space for unique and different perspectives, experiences, backgrounds, talents and interests, diversity and inclusion within the field of law translates to better service for clients and greater opportunity for diverse communities to thrive.