Matthew J. May

Matthew J. May is a Partner at Bochner PLLC and Chair of the firm’s Aerospace and Defense Practice. He advises aerospace, defense, and advanced-technology companies on building, protecting, and monetizing intellectual property portfolios that support long-term growth, government engagement, and enterprise value.

Matthew combines nearly two decades of intellectual property experience with deep engineering and military credentials. His practice focuses on patent and trademark prosecution, IP strategy, and portfolio management for companies operating in highly regulated, technically complex, and mission-critical environments. Clients rely on Matthew not simply as a filing attorney, but as a strategic IP partner who aligns intellectual property decisions with product development, commercialization, and operational risk.

AEROSPACE, DEFENSE & DUAL-USE LEADERSHIP

As Chair of Bochner’s Aerospace and Defense Practice, Matthew leads the firm’s efforts to serve defense contractors, dual-use innovators, and advanced manufacturers across the Defense Industrial Base. He regularly advises clients developing technologies with national-security, infrastructure, and sustainment implications, including autonomous systems, aerospace hardware, secure communications, and defense-focused software platforms.

Matthew is an active member of the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) and the NDIA Intellectual Property Working Group (IPWG), where he collaborates with leaders from government, industry, and academia on intellectual property challenges unique to defense and aerospace programs. Through this work, he supports companies navigating technology ownership, protection, and long-term readiness requirements.

His counsel is informed by direct experience with defense systems, engineering teams, and government stakeholders, enabling him to deliver practical, risk-aware IP strategy grounded in operational realities.

PRACTICE FOCUS

Matthew leads and manages U.S. and international patent and trademark portfolios for advanced-technology clients, with a practice emphasizing:

• Patent and trademark prosecution
• IP strategy and portfolio development
• IP opinions and risk assessment
• Counseling aligned with product development and commercialization
• Support for enforcement, licensing, and dispute-avoidance strategies

His technical experience spans aerospace and mechanical systems, defense and security technologies, advanced manufacturing, medical devices, industrial hardware, consumer products, electronics, energy systems, and emerging technologies.

Matthew has also served as a senior member of litigation teams in patent and trademark matters, supporting enforcement, defense, and strategic positioning.

ENGINEERING & INDUSTRY BACKGROUND

Prior to entering private practice, Matthew was an engineering manager at Baxter Healthcare, where he supervised engineers and technical specialists working on complex medical products and manufacturing systems. His responsibilities included oversight of heat transfer, fluid dynamics, software design and validation, microbiology, metrology, and multiple sterilization processes, including moist heat, ethylene oxide, and e-beam sterilization.

Earlier in his career, he worked as a project engineer at Avon Products and as a process engineer designing food and beverage manufacturing systems and facilities. This hands-on industry experience enables Matthew to communicate effectively with technical teams and to structure IP strategies grounded in real-world engineering, manufacturing, and regulatory constraints.

MILITARY SERVICE

Matthew is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Aerospace Engineering. He served for 30 years in the United States Army, Illinois National Guard, and Army Reserve, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in May 2022. At the time of his retirement, he held a Top Secret security clearance.

His military service continues to inform his work with defense and aerospace clients, particularly in matters involving mission-critical technologies, government programs, and long-term sustainment planning.

LEADERSHIP & FIRM CONTRIBUTIONS

At Bochner, Matthew plays an active leadership role in building and scaling the firm’s Intellectual Property Group. He collaborates closely with colleagues across litigation, corporate, and emerging-technology practices to deliver integrated legal solutions and to support cross-practice collaboration and client growth.

He is committed to mentoring attorneys, implementing efficient and technology-enabled prosecution workflows, and advancing Bochner’s position as a premier IP platform for aerospace, defense, and dual-use innovators.

Honors

• Super Lawyers, 2018