About Michael A.
Michael A. DiNardo trained as an engineer before turning to law. He earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in 1989 and completed his J.D. at The John Marshall Law School in 1994. The technical and legal training inform the work he does today.
After law school he entered private practice and by 1998 was working at Yanny & Smith, LLP. He moved firms in 2005 to join Kelly, Lowry & Kelley, LLP and became a partner at Kelly & Kelley, LLP in 2012. Those moves map a steady climb through firms that handle intellectual property matters and related commercial disputes.
DiNardo is a registered patent lawyer with the United States Patent and Trademark Office. He is admitted to practice in Virginia and California, and he maintains admissions to several federal forums including the 4th Circuit, the 9th Circuit, the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Supreme Court. That range of admissions allows him to handle appeals and federal patent matters across multiple jurisdictions.
His work has included drafting and prosecuting patent applications, advising on patent portfolio strategy and supporting litigation teams on technical issues. The combination of a chemical engineering degree and USPTO registration shapes how he approaches patent prosecution. He evaluates inventions against prior art and prepares filings intended to withstand scrutiny from patent examiners.
Outside the office he has been involved in professional and business organizations. He joined the American Intellectual Property Law Association in 2005 and has maintained membership since then. Beginning in 2013 he took on leadership in BNI - Business Builders, serving as chapter president. Those activities reflect a sustained engagement with peers and local business networks.
At Kelly & Kelley, LLP he has worked on matters that span patent prosecution and counseling. Colleagues describe him as methodical and precise in handling technical records and in preparing formal submissions. He balances technical detail with the procedural requirements of patent practice.
He currently handles patent-related work, including preparation and prosecution of patent applications, counsel on portfolio management and participation in federal appellate practice. His current practice centers on patent prosecution, patent litigation support and intellectual property counseling.
