Title: Associate
Company: K&L Gates LLP
Location: Elmhurst/IL
Education: JD, Notre Dame Law School (2023); Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering, University of St. Thomas (2019)
Career History: Associate, K&L Gates (2023-Present); Summer Associate, Intern, K&L Gates (2022-2023); Staff Member, Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics and Public Policy (2021-2023); Summer Law Clerk, Intern, Patterson Thuente (2021-2022); Associate Mechanical Engineer, Tactile Medical (2019-2020); Manufacturing Engineer Contractor, Abbott (2019); Engineer Intern, RespirTech (2017-2019)
John Paul A. Galgano, Associate at K&L Gates LLC, has been recognized as a Marquis Emerging Leader for their contributions and achievements in the field of law.
Since 2023, Mr. Galgano has established himself at the legal firm, where he focuses on patent prosecution and post-grant proceedings. A United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) registered patent lawyer, he prepares patent applications and manages client portfolios, engages with the USPTO to secure patent allowances, and counsels on various office activities. Finding success at the company from the start, Mr. Galgano considers his most notable achievement to be winning an appeal at the USPTO, which demonstrated his strong understanding of patent law and the appeals process. He has taken pride in navigating multiple rounds of office actions, showcasing his persistence and expertise in overcoming challenges.
Attributing his accomplishments to a strong personal support system and an inherent drive to improve the lives of others, Mr. Galgano initially studied mechanical engineering at the University of St. Thomas, where he developed an appreciation for such areas of technology as medical devices, telecommunications, and robotics; his undergraduate senior project centered on designing a medical device for eye implants in developing countries. While pursuing a bachelor’s degree, which he ultimately earned in 2019, he gained experience in the field as an engineer intern at RespirTech and a manufacturing engineer contract at Abbott; he later served as an associate mechanical engineer at Tactile Medical.
Melding his passions for technology and innovation with law, Mr. Galgano went on to attain a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Notre Dame Law School. Admitted to practice through the Illinois State Bar Association, he was a summer law clerk and intern at Patterson Thuente and an associate at K&L Gates before joining full-time. At this early stage, he completed projects in patent prosecution, patent litigation, and IPR proceedings and contributed pro bono work through Legal Prep Academy.
Looking toward the future, Mr. Galgano strives to continue growing in his legal career, especially as he progresses toward taking on more client responsibilities, managing overseas portfolios, and ensuring the delivery of excellent client service. He acknowledges that it can be difficult to harbor aspirations when just starting out, but he believes that his immediate focus will be on building solid client relationships and establishing trustworthiness.