John Cheek's Email & Phone Number

💼 Past Experience

I have over 15 years of experience in the intellectual property field. I am a Managing Attorney - Intellectual Property Conflicts at Caterpillar Inc. from March 2005 to April 2008. I created and led Caterpillar’s global center of excellence forIP dispute management including oversight for patent disputes and opinion processes and other contentious matters including domestic and international patent litigation. In this role, I also had leadership for Caterpillar’s patent search and analytics function. I was a Managing Intellectual Property Attorney - Europe at Caterpillar Inc. from January 2003 to March 2005. I led Caterpillar’s IP team in Europe with responsibility for supporting 15 engineering and design centers responsible for a wide range of mechanical, electronic, and computer-controlled products and systems. I also provide a wide range of commercial and IP support for regional technology consultancies and the company’s regional government-sponsored research initiatives. I was an Intellectual Property Attorney - Europe at Caterpillar Inc. from June 2001 to January 2003. I was the first non-managing IP attorney assigned to the European-based IP team, providing day to day patent and IP dispute and agreement support for 15 regional engineering and design centers responsible for a wide range of mechanical, electronic, and computer-controlled products and systems. I also provide a wide range of commercial and IP support for regional technology consultancies and the company’s regional government-sponsored research initiatives. I was a Managing Intellectual Property Attorney at Caterpillar Inc. from July 1997 to June 2001. I led a group of more than 20 patent attorneys, agents, and other professionals with responsibility for protecting the majority of Caterpillar’s innovation, overseeing IP legal support for executing of Caterpillar’s technology strategy, and supporting Caterpillar’s innovation and digital initiatives (e.g. data analytics, e-business, smart machines, autonomous machines, connected worksite, 3D printing). I also had a leadership role in Caterpillar’s legislative and lobbying activities and was Caterpillar’s initial legal Division Champion (2011-2014) for legal process outsourcing projects including commercial contracts, employment matters, litigation support, and intellectual property matters. I served as a member and former Chair of Caterpillar’s Pro Bono Outreach & Recognition committee. I was also a leader-teacher for Caterpillar's L.E.A.D (Leadership Excellence in Accountability and Development) leadership training program and oversaw development of the IP aspects of Caterpillar’s corporate venture capital program. I am currently a Managing Attorney - Intellectual Property Conflicts with Caterpillar Inc. from March 2005 to April 2008. I am a Guest Lecturer for MBA students on topics including Innovation Management, Brand Management, and Intellectual Capital Management. I am a Board and Executive Committee Member at Intellectual Property Owners Association. I am also on the Board of Executive Committee for the Association of Corporate Patent Counsel and Benchmarking Taskforce.

🎓 Education

John Cheek has a background in business, both as an MBA student and as a law graduate. He has also worked extensively in the technology industry, first as an Entrepreneur at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business from 1999 to 2005, and then as a lawyer at the University of Dayton School of Law from 1991 to 1994. In 2007, he accepted an MBA International Exchange Scholarship to attend the University of Warwick in England. There, he studied Business Administration ( MBA ), Entrepreneurship and Law. John is now a practicing law attorney, and has a strong interest in working with startups and tech companies.

💡 Technical & Interpersonal Skills

I have a wide range of enterprise responsibilities as the executive leader for intellectual property strategy and asset management and for all legal matters related to intellectual property (e.g. patents, trademarks/brand protection, trade secrets, technology transactions), social media and advertising. I also have a B.S. in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan. I have been a managing attorney - intellectual property conflicts for Caterpillar Inc. for 3 years 2 months. I was also the first non-managing IP attorney assigned to the European-based IP team and provided day to day patent and IP dispute and agreement support for 15 regional engineering and design centers responsible for a wide range of mechanical, electronic, and computer-controlled products and systems. I also provide a wide range of commercial and IP support for regional technology consultancies and the company’s regional government-sponsored research initiatives. I also have responsibilities as the executive leader for innovation and technology strategy and asset management for Tenneco Inc. and have been with Tenneco for 7 years. Additionally, I have a B.S. in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan. I am a management attorney - intellectual property conflicts at Caterpillar Inc. from March 2005 to April 2008 and was the first non-managing IP attorney assigned to the European-based IP team. I am currently a managing attorney - intellectual property conflicts at Caterpillar Inc. and am responsible for the combined Tenneco and Federal-Mogul. I have a leadership role in Caterpillar’s legislative and lobbying activities and was Caterpillar’s initial Legal Division Champion (2011-2014) for legal process outsourcing projects including commercial contracts, employment matters, litigation support, and intellectual property matters. I am also a member and former Chair of Caterpillar’s Pro Bono Outreach & Recognition committee. I also have a B.S. in industrial engineering from the University of Michigan.