Louis M. Troilo

Louis manages international IP portfolios in fields such as inorganic catalysts, zeolites, olefin manufacturing, metal composites, superconductors, carbon nanotubes, and lithium-ion batteries. He has successfully argued cases before the European Patent Office (EPO) and navigated complex appeals and oppositions in Europe, Japan, and Korea. Louis also assists both sovereign nations and sovereign wealth funds in developing policies and strategies to capitalize on the value proposition of intellectual property. He acquired a practical appreciation of the challenges facing in-house IP attorneys as a result of a secondment with a Swedish-based global manufacturing company that focuses on transport and infrastructure solutions.

With a technical foundation in materials science, Louis applies his deep expertise in petrochemicals, alternative energy, metallurgy, advanced ceramics, semiconductors, and water treatment systems to his IP practice. He works on cutting-edge technologies including organic solar cells, biofuels, hydrogen chemistry, and hydroponics.

Louis began his career as a research scientist at Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Advanced Research and Development Laboratory in Munich before moving to the Naval Research Laboratory, in Washington, D.C. At these highly respected laboratories, he developed reproducible methods for synthesizing wide-band gap semiconductors, work that led to peer-reviewed publications on single-crystal diamond fabrication via plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition.

A sought-after speaker and educator, Louis lectures globally on IP strategy and patent law. He taught advanced courses for the Patent Resource Group (PRG) on Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) practice and IP due diligence, and is an active instructor for the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) in Geneva. He has guest lectured at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on the intersection of IP and business strategy.

Louis dedicates time to pro bono matters and has provided pro bono representation in tenant-landlord disputes for indigent residents of Washington, D.C., as well as for a contested adoption case, securing permanent placement for nine children with their foster parents after a multi-day trial.