Jeffrey M. Ingalls is Counsel at Harrity & Harrity, LLP, with more than two decades of experience in patent prosecution. He helps clients protect innovation through strategic patent preparation and prosecution, as well as patent portfolio development. Drawing on his experience as an engineer, law firm partner, and in-house patent counsel, Jeff provides practical intellectual property guidance informed by both technical and business considerations.
Jeff prepares and prosecutes patent applications across a broad range of technologies, including semiconductor devices, software and artificial intelligence, chemical and materials technologies, communications systems, medical technologies, and other advanced electrical and mechanical innovations. His broad technical experience enables him to quickly understand new technologies, work effectively with inventors and engineering teams, and provide practical patent strategies that support each client’s business and intellectual property goals.
Prior to joining Harrity, Jeff served as Intellectual Property Counsel at IBM, where he worked with inventors, engineers, and business leaders to evaluate inventions, prioritize patent investments, manage patent portfolios, and prepare and prosecute patent applications involving semiconductor technologies, software, artificial intelligence, chemical and materials technologies, and other advanced technologies. His in-house experience provides valuable insight into how leading technology companies evaluate inventions and manage intellectual property portfolios.
Earlier in his career, Jeff practiced for nearly two decades with a large international law firm, where he became a partner in the firm’s intellectual property practice. He represented clients developing semiconductor and other complex electrical, software, chemical, materials, and advanced manufacturing technologies. His practice included patent procurement, patent portfolio development, patentability analyses, infringement and validity opinions, and broader intellectual property counseling.
Before entering the legal profession, Jeff worked as an engineer developing hardware and software solutions for advanced manufacturing systems supporting the semiconductor and electronics industries. That engineering experience continues to shape his practical approach to patent counseling and his ability to bridge the gap between complex technologies and effective intellectual property protection.
Jeff earned his J.D., with Dean’s List honors, from the University of Wisconsin Law School, where he served on the Moot Court Board. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering, with High Honors, from the Colorado School of Mines. He is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, the State of Illinois, and the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
