Sam Frederick is a business attorney with Crowley Fleck PLLP and focuses his practice on technology and intellectual property. Sam helps clients protect and commercialize their valuable intellectual property assets and minimize risk. As part of his practice he negotiates, drafts and enforces commercial contracts.

Sam represents clients in complex technology transactions, web, mobile and gaming development, e-commerce, ERP, software licensing, procurement and implementation, Cloud, SaaS, PaaS, IaaS, fiber, wireless, technology licensing, social media and digital marketing. He advises pure technology companies and enterprise IT users on procurement, implementation, licensing and exits.

Sam advises businesses in the field of tech, IP and licensing across industries and borders, working with health care systems, manufacturers, OEMs, ISPs, data centers, software businesses, nanotechnology and life science companies, agriculture, energy, cooperatives, chemical manufacturers, vertically integrated companies, co-packers, clothing and fashion, designers, advertising, and financial services such as banking and credit unions.

As part of his technology practice Sam works with STEM field employees to secure workforce transfers, visas, and corporate compliance with immigration.

Whether you are contemplating pushing the bounds of the law with new technology, disrupting a market, creating a manufacturing supply agreement or joint venture, acquiring another company, building a new e-commerce platform, protecting your intellectual property or purchasing new software for your business, consider giving Sam a call. He will genuinely want to learn about your business.

Personal Aside
After spending 15 years in Michigan and working as a partner in a 100+ law firm, Sam and his wife decided to return to the West to raise their family. When he is not commercializing new technology, protecting brands or enforcing contracts, Sam enjoys spending time with his 5 kids in the great outdoors, imagining life through the eyes of Captain Clark and Hemmingway, fly fishing, boating and watching old episodes of Deadwood.

Practice Areas

Bar Admission

Montana
Michigan

Education

Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, cum laude
University of Montana, Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, cum laude

Presentations & Publications

What You Need to Know About Protecting Your Business’s Intellectual Property, September 15, 2015
Navigating Intellectual Property Concerns: Patents, Trademarks & Copyrights, Global Business Club of Mid-Michigan, April 22, 2014
Software Licenses: What You Don’t Know Can Hurt You, State Bar of Michigan’s Health Care Law Section, March 26, 2014
WEBINAR: TOP 5 LEGAL ISSUES TO ADDRESS IN EVERY SOFTWARE TRANSACTION, October 16, 2013
WEBINAR | International Intellectual Property Protection Strategies, March 6, 2013
Developing Internal Policy for use of Social Media, October 19, 2011
WEBINAR | Social Media: Developing and Implementing an Effective Policy for Your Municipality, August 16, 2011
Legal Savvy Winter Warm Up, State Bar of Michigan, January 15, 2011
IP, Social Media, Employment Insurance, Tax, Lobbying and Health Care, November 17, 2010
Proven Strategies to Protect Your Innovations Internationally, 2010 International District Export Council Conference, October 27, 2010
Copyright Protection & Licensing in the Arts: Practical solutions for securing and commercializing your clients’ creative works, Arts, Communications, Entertainment and Sports Section of the State Bar of Michigan, October 1, 2010
WEBINAR | Protecting Against the Unknown: How to Successfully Review IT Contracts to Increase Your Rights and Avoid Potential Liability, June 22, 2010
Doing Business in China – It’s Different, Global Business Club of Michigan. Henry Center at Michigan State University, March 31, 2010

PUBLICATIONS
How to Improve Product Design Using Trade Dress, October 29, 2015
Net Neutrality Rules take Effect, March 27, 2015
Protect Your Intellectual Property, April 2014
Representing the Author: From Inspiration to Published Work, Michigan Lawyers Weekly, November 15, 2011
Social Media Webinar Wrap-Up, September 2011
Trade Secret: Barbie vs. Bratz, August 15, 2011
H-1B VISAS REMAIN AVAILABLE!, Spring 2011
H-1B VISA REMAINS AVAILABLE!
The U.S.’s “Greatest” Utility Business Visa, Typically Oversubscribed and the Subject of Scarcity, Remains Available, Fall 2010
.CO Domain Names: the .COM Alternative?, August 2010
New Green Cards Issued by USCIS, June 17, 2010
Software Licenses Do Not Automatically Transfer in a Merger or Acquisition, Spring 2010
Federal Government Targets Employers: Increasing I-9 Audits, July 16, 2009
Trademark Owners Faceoff with Facebook, June 19, 2009
Google Adwords Program Triggers “Actionable” Trademark Infringement Claim, May 2009
Employers Required to use New I-9 Form Effective April 2, 2009, March 20, 2009
Software Downloads are subject to U.S. Export Laws, March 2009