Intellectual Property Experts: Sisson & Banyas Attorneys at Law

Many automotive parts and accessory brands learn about the importance of intellectual property after they have an issue:

• Numerous Spork clients have expressed regret over failing to register a trademark after seeing a competitor choose a strikingly similar brand name
• Patent issues have impacted several of our clients over the years, leading to cancelled or delayed products and/or issues exhibiting at the SEMA show
• Copyright infringement is a constant issue for our clients; Some are falsely accused of infringement, some are trying to take back their own copyrighted materials

Through it all, we’ve learned just enough about intellectual property laws to know there’s no substitute for legal expertise. Sisson & Banyas is an IP law firm that knows the parts and accessories industry, having worked with several manufacturers in our space.

We recently sat down with Jeffrey Banyas, Legal Production Manager at Sisson & Banyas, to talk about what they do, their roots in the industry, and the biggest misconceptions about IP law. Jeffrey will explain more about his firm below, but we would call out one thing we really appreciate: Flat fee billing for legal services.

Surprise legal bills suck, and Jeffrey tells us that’s not something his firm does. That right there is enough to put his firm on our short list.

Can you describe the services of Sisson & Banyas as if I knew nothing about you?

We help protect what often proves to be our customer’s most valuable assets, their brands and their innovations. We do this through filing, prosecuting, enforcing, and licensing trademarks, patents, design patents, and copyrights in the United States and around the world.

Can you tell us briefly about your auto parts industry experience?

The high performance and aftermarket automotive industries have literally put food on the table and a roof over my head my entire life. Starting from growing up in a family owned high performance racing engine business. At age 11 I began racing quarter midgets, and later sprint cars and super-modifieds throughout the Midwest, and continued to do so until a few years after I graduated from law school. Today, I get to stay involved in the industry I love so much by helping dozens of parts manufacturers and related aftermarket businesses protect their brands and innovations.

What is your favorite part about your job?

Seeing our customers bring a product to market that we’ve helped protect brings me a lot of satisfaction. Knowing that we play a role in helping support their business growth and capturing/growing their market share is what it is all about. I have very little interest in filing patent or trademark applications just to get someone a pretty plaque to put on the wall that they won’t ever be able to use to generate income.

What’s your standard ‘elevator pitch’ for Sisson & Banyas?

Our Firm operates on a different model than most. We provide most of our services on a pre-arranged flat fee basis designed to provide our customers with budget predictability and reduce communication barriers that come with typical attorney hourly billing practices. We also pride ourselves on our commitment to responsiveness with all communications returned to you within 24 hours.

Are there any common misconceptions that people have about the services of Sisson & Banyas?

This profession comes with a lot of misconceptions. Most notably, the idea that trademarks and patents merely represent a ticket to sue someone in court. While litigation is one avenue a company might take to enforce and monetize their intellectual property assets, many others exist. Including licensing, ecommerce enforcement, customs and border seizures, and more.

When you’re talking to potential clients, what are the most important things you want them to know?

Companies have a lot of options when it comes to securing their intellectual property assets. What sets myself and Sisson & Banyas apart are:

• Our customer service philosophy (flat fees, responsiveness)
• My background and commitment to the industry

How long has Sisson & Banyas been in business?

The Firm has been in business for 21 years. I have been with the Firm for 15 years.

How did you end up in Medina, Ohio?

The Firm was founded in Medina, Ohio – one of the more economically successful counties in our state – by my business partner, Ed Sisson. Ed and I have committed to keeping the Firm in Medina because of the business friendly culture and strong sense of community.

What do you think it is that has made your firm so successful?

If I had to point to one thing it would be our people staying true to our mission, vision, and values. We value the individual and diversity of opinion and views, the courage to speak up, and the discipline to respect a decision once it is made. Our vision is to create a culture of competencies to proactively advise customers with business-based intellectual property decisions in a global context. I believe that everyone within our Firm has done an excellent job living up to these ideals every day.

How do you see intellectual property legal services changing over the next 5 years?

The market for our services will likely continue expanding. With developments in artificial intelligence, new product development tools, and increased options to communicate with customers coming out every day, protecting a company’s investment in branding and R&D against counterfeiting and knock-offs has never been more important.

Thanks to Jeffrey Banyas for participating in our interview series. To learn more about Sisson & Banyas, visit https://sissoniplaw.com/.