Michael R. Henson

A Partner in the Corporate Services practice group, Michael Henson is a registered patent attorney and one of the legal industry's foremost voices on blockchain innovation. Combining technical depth with strategic legal acumen at the intersection of intellectual property law and emerging technology, he counsels clients on patent and trademark prosecution and litigation, and develops proactive, business-focused portfolio strategies.

Michael brings authoritative insight into blockchain and other cutting-edge technologies, helping clients navigate a rapidly evolving digital landscape. He holds multiple blockchain certifications, including Certified Enterprise Blockchain Professional, Certified Web3 Professional, Certified Blockchain Developer Ethereum, Certified Blockchain Solution Architect, and Certified Blockchain Business Foundations. He has served as Associate Editor for "Frontiers in Blockchain," the first peer-reviewed blockchain journal from a scientific publisher, and chairs the Intellectual Property Working Group for the Government Blockchain Association. His deep knowledge of blockchain architecture, smart contracts, and Web3 technologies enables him to advise clients on complex intellectual property matters where legal strategy meets technological advancement.

Michael excels in intellectual property procurement, transactional, and enforcement matters, both domestically and internationally. He assists clients with infringement, freedom-to-operate, and validity opinions, as well as patent prosecution, trademark, and licensing matters. He has experience before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and numerous Federal District Courts. He has prosecuted thousands of patent applications across numerous engineering disciplines and industry sectors, including computer science, electrical engineering, and mechanical engineering -- spanning digital and analog circuits, artificial intelligence and machine learning, semiconductors, encryption, authentication, e-commerce, real-time communications, signal processing, data storage, graphical user interfaces, and medical devices, to name a few.

Prior to joining Adams & Reese, Michael practiced intellectual property law at international, national, and regional firms. Before his legal career, he worked as a co-op engineer in the steel industry and for the Central Intelligence Agency with top-secret clearances while earning his electrical engineering degree from Northwestern University. He received his B.S. from Northwestern University, his J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, and has been continuously recognized in IAM Patent 1000: The World's Leading Patent Professionals since 2014.