Defense and Aerospace

Bochner’s Defense and Aerospace Practice serves as a trusted intellectual property partner to innovators operating at the intersection of national security, advanced engineering, and emerging technology. We advise defense contractors, aerospace manufacturers, dual-use technology companies, and government-adjacent innovators on protecting, enforcing, and monetizing intellectual property in highly regulated and mission-critical environments.

Our team combines deep technical knowledge, military experience and insight, and experienced advocacy to help clients safeguard innovation, navigate government contracting frameworks, and mitigate long-term technology risk across the Defense Industrial Base.

Technical and Military Experience and Insight

Bochner’s Defense and Aerospace Practice is distinguished by firsthand experience in defense engineering, military service, and complex technology environments. We understand how innovation is developed, deployed, and sustained within national-security ecosystems.

• Practice Chair Matthew J. May brings unmatched perspective from more than 30 years of service in the United States Army, Illinois National Guard, and Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point with a degree in Mechanical Engineering (Aerospace concentration), Matthew combines nearly two decades of intellectual property practice with substantial engineering and operational experience in both military and commercial settings.
• Our attorneys include former engineers and practitioners with deep science and technology backgrounds, enabling seamless collaboration with technical teams and a practical understanding of how IP decisions impact real-world systems, manufacturing, and deployment.

This blend of legal, technical, and military experience allows us to deliver counsel grounded in operational reality rather than abstract risk.

Comprehensive IP Strategy for Defense and Aerospace Technologies

We provide end-to-end intellectual property services tailored to the unique challenges facing defense and aerospace innovators, with a focus on compliance, security, and long-term portfolio value.

Patent Prosecution and Portfolio Development

• U.S. and international patent prosecution for aerospace, defense, and dual-use technologies
• Strategic portfolio development aligned with product roadmaps, funding milestones, and government engagement
• Clearance, freedom-to-operate, and risk-assessment opinions
• Counseling on invention disclosure, ownership, and IP positioning in government and subcontractor relationships

Government Contracting, Data Rights, and Compliance

• Guidance on IP ownership, licensing, and data rights under DFARS, FAR, and Bayh-Dole frameworks
• Support for SBIR/STTR programs, joint development agreements, and public-private partnerships
• Strategies to protect proprietary technology while meeting disclosure and compliance obligations

Dual-Use and Emerging Technology Counsel

• IP strategy for autonomous systems, counter-UAS platforms, aerospace propulsion, advanced manufacturing, defense-focused AI, secure communications, robotics, and next-generation materials
• Counseling for companies transitioning from commercial to defense markets, including portfolio hardening and investor diligence support

Dispute Resolution, Enforcement, and Risk Mitigation

When disputes arise or risk escalates, Bochner’s litigators and IP strategists work together to defend and enforce our clients’ rights with precision and discretion.

Litigation and Post-Grant Proceedings

• Patent and trademark enforcement and defense in federal courts
• Inter partes reviews (IPR) and post-grant proceedings
• Trade secret misappropriation and technology-related disputes

Proactive Risk Management

• Addressing prior-art complexity, public disclosure risks, and competitive intelligence threats
• Data-rights negotiation strategies and IP positioning for long-term sustainment
• Development of best practices for invention disclosures, markings, NDAs, and internal IP governance

Brand and Trade Secret Protection

• Global trademark prosecution and portfolio management
• Protection of proprietary designs, processes, and know-how in domestic and international markets
• Strategies to mitigate economic espionage and unauthorized technology transfer

Litigation and Corporate Support

Defense and aerospace innovation frequently requires coordinated legal support beyond patent prosecution. Bochner’s Defense and Aerospace Practice works closely with the firm’s litigation and corporate teams to ensure intellectual property strategies are aligned with enforcement readiness, transaction objectives, and long-term business planning.

Our clients benefit from integrated support for:

• Patent, trade secret, and technology-related disputes, including enforcement, defense, and post-grant proceedings
• Licensing, technology transfer, and strategic collaboration agreements
• Mergers, acquisitions, investment transactions, and diligence involving defense, aerospace, and dual-use technologies

This collaborative approach allows clients to move efficiently from portfolio development to enforcement, investment, or exit without disruption or fragmented counsel.

A Mission-Aligned IP Partner

Bochner’s Defense and Aerospace Practice is built to support innovators whose technologies matter. We understand that intellectual property in this sector is not merely a legal asset, but a strategic tool tied to national security, operational readiness, and long-term enterprise value.

Our goal is to deliver mission-ready IP protection that combines technical precision, regulatory awareness, and business insight, enabling clients to innovate with confidence in an increasingly complex