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Michael “Max” Sneyd focuses his practice on assisting clients with business issues, intellectual property protection, contract formation and negotiation, and entrepreneurial growth. With 25 years of experience, he leads the firm’s Intellectual Property practice group.
Practice Areas
Bio
Max has a broad range of expertise assisting clients navigate business issues from a legal perspective. He has considerable experience in drafting and negotiating commercial contracts, terms and conditions of sale and master agreements for the sale of goods or provision of services. Max is also able to assist clients with business formations, employment, lending relationships, restructurings, real estate, resolving troubled business situations and buying and selling businesses. Max particularly enjoys helping entrepreneurs and small businesses grow mere ideas into viable, thriving businesses.
Max leads the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group which focuses on the protection, licensing and enforcement of clients’ intangible rights. He has extensive experience prosecuting trademark applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, as well as litigating trademark disputes before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. He also regularly assists clients in negotiating technology licenses and other intellectual property agreements.
Max is also experienced in commercial litigation, appearing regularly before state, federal and appellate courts on matters related to all aspects of civil business litigation, including supplier disputes, intellectual property infringement actions and business torts. He also utilizes alternative dispute resolution to efficiently achieve positive results outside the courtroom.
Max’s clients have included public and private companies in the technology, manufacturing, professional services, entertainment, food, distribution, transportation and retail industries. He serves as corporate counsel for a number of businesses, handling their various legal needs.
A respected attorney and author, Max has presented seminars and publishes regularly on business and intellectual property matters. He also holds regular office hours at TechTown Detroit for its “Ask an Expert” Program.
Download Max’s brochure Starting Your Start Up Right: Before you can put your idea into practice, you need to protect yourself and your intellectual property …
credentials
Affiliations
- American Bar Association
- State Bar of Michigan
- Intellectual Property Section
- Litigation Section
- TechTown Detroit
- Professional Service Network
- Ask an Expert Program, Resident Legal Expert
- Fox Hills Community Association, President
Bar and Court Admissions
- Michigan
- United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan
- United States District Court for the Western District of Michigan
- United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
- Michigan Court of Appeals
Clerkship
- Hon. Martin M. Doctoroff, Chief Judge Michigan Court of Appeals
Education
- Wayne State University Law School, J.D.
- Miami University, B.A.
Insights & News
October 5, 2022
Intellectual Property Audits -- Do You Have a Plan to Protect your Intellectual Property?
Your company's intellectual property and confidential information can be among its most valuable assets. Whether the company is a newly formed start-up or it has been in business for many years, it must be proactive in the protection of its rights.
June 6, 2022
Lemon Law in the Age of Electric Vehicles
The still-developing technology and supply chains for Electric Vehicles (EVs) have spawned a new age in Lemon Law and Consumer Protection actions.
August 30, 2021
Kerr Russell Wins Summary Disposition in Trademark Matter
Max Sneyd and Jeffrey May were successful in both obtaining a dismissal of a third-party case against their client and summary judgment as to their counterclaim.
June 3, 2021
Intellectual Property Essentials for Entrepreneurs
A great business idea is only as valuable as the ability to protect it and create a successful business around it. Attorney Max Sneyd discusses IP essentials for entrepreneurs in this webinar.
May 28, 2021
Common Mistakes That Can Attract Copyright Trolls
In order to avoid being a victim of a “copyright troll,” businesses need to be vigilant about the content they post on social media, websites and other promotional materials.
May 11, 2021
Upcoming Webinar: Intellectual Property Essentials for Entrepreneurs
Intellectual Property (IP) attorney Max Sneyd will be presenting a webinar on Thursday, May 20, 2021 from noon-1:00 PM EDT. This webinar, hosted by Corp! Magazine, will discuss IP essentials for entrepreneurs.
September 15, 2020
Max Sneyd Discusses Force Majeure Clauses During A Global Pandemic On OESA's Automotive Insider Podcast
Kerr Russell attorney Michael "Max" Sneyd was recently featured on OESA's podcast, Automotive Insiders. Listen as Max shares how Force Majeure clauses have been applied to COVID-19 and the way future clauses will be drafted.
August 25, 2020
Why You Should Take Advantage of Your Business Incubator's Legal Services
As many entrepreneurs know, a business incubator can be invaluable in transforming an idea for a product or service into a profitable business. But did you know that many business incubators have relationships with local attorneys?
May 18, 2020
Opportunities and Obstacles for Contractors in a COVID-19 Economy
Kerr Russell attorneys hosted a webinar for the Southeastern Michigan Chapter of the National Electricians Association (NECA).
March 17, 2020
Coronavirus/COVID-19 Business Continuity: A Message to Our Community, Clients and Friends
Kerr Russell is committed to its community, clients and people. As the world navigates through the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus), we want to assure you that Kerr Russell is committed to supporting our community, clients and people as effectively as we have through every other crisis our Nation has encountered over our firm’s nearly 150-year history.
Our firm is fully operational: We have made sure that our lawyers and staff are able to safely and effectively serve our clients’ needs and continue operations on an uninterrupted basis. Most of our people
November 25, 2019
Balancing an Open Court System with the First Amendment Right to Anonymity
Kerr Russell attorneys Max Sneyd and Jeffrey May recently discuss recent court cases relating to First Amendment rights and online posts. Their article is published in the Sep-Oct 2019 edition of the Detroit Lawyer magazine.
June 4, 2019
Max Sneyd Discusses Intellectual Property on Recent Podcast
Intellectual property rights are necessary for the music business. Listen HERE to the discussion on the Detroit podcast, "The Business of the Music Business."
November 9, 2018
Wayne State students partner with Kerr Russell to create a non-profit organization to provide meals to those in need in Metro Detroit.
In 2016, two freshmen from Wayne State University, Nicholas Ang and Camilla Cascardo, decided to take it upon themselves to address hunger issues by redistributing food from university cafeterias and local restaurants that would have otherwise gone to waste.
September 18, 2018
Max Sneyd quoted in Forbes article "Elon Musk Sued By Rescue Diver Following Twitter Attacks"
Kerr Russell member Max Sneyd(intellectual property) is quoted in the Forbes article "Elon Musk Sued By Rescue Diver Following Twitter Attacks" by David Kiley.
June 24, 2018
Max Sneyd presents "Starting Your Start Up Right" to capacity crowd at Detroit TechStars Start Up Week
Kerr Russell member Max Sneyd (intellectual property) presented “Starting Your Start Up Right” as part of Detroit Startup Week to an engaged and enthusiastic crowd.
From the session description: "Before you can put your idea into practice, you need to protect yourself and your intellectual property. Attorney Max Sneyd will provide quick, actionable feedback on how to protect yourself and your ideas early in the entrepreneurial process."
April 23, 2018
Kerr Russell colleagues and family members spend Earth Day 2018 volunteering at Votrobeck Playground
In observance of Earth Day 2018, Kerr Russell colleagues returned to the garden at Votrobeck Playground in Detroit for spring planting and clean-up on Saturday, April 21. Thank you to Joanne Geha Swanson both for organizing the effort and for these beautiful photos - view the full album here.
March 16, 2018
Kerr Russell's Max Sneyd quoted in Forbes' article "First Death Of A Pedestrian Struck By An Autonomous Vehicle May Set Tone For Lawyers And Liability"
Kerr Russell member Max Sneyd (intellectual property, automotive) is quoted in the Forbes article "First Death Of A Pedestrian Struck By An Autonomous Vehicle May Set Tone For Lawyers And Liability" by David Kiley.
January 26, 2018
Download Kerr Russell's updated firm brochure and overview of services
Kerr Russell is proud of Detroit. We are proud to have had a seat at the table here since 1874. Our exceptional attorneys understand the unique challenges facing business leaders. Our legal solutions are prompt, accurate, economical, and focused around your needs in every area. We know Michigan business like the back of our hands.
December 18, 2017
Kerr Russell team makes holiday donations to Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Wigs 4 Kids, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor, and Children's Hospital of Michigan
One of our traditions here at Kerr Russell is to hold a holiday raffle to benefit three local charities as well as to conduct a toy drive for local children. This year's raffle (many of the beautiful and festive prizes picture here) raised a record total of $3,450 which will be divided equally among three organizations: Capuchin Soup Kitchen, Wigs 4 Kids of Michigan, Inc., and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Ann Arbor.
November 30, 2017
Merry and bright ... Kerr Russell welcomes the holiday season
It's a time to celebrate, reflect and remember. However you mark the holidays, we hope your days are filled with warmth and thankfulness, good times, and endless cheer. As another year draws to a close, we at Kerr Russell are grateful to you. You give purpose to our work and add meaning to our relationships. Your trust is a cherished gift. Enjoy these images as we get our offices ready to celebrate the holiday season. Design by Mandy Lark of Lark Interior Design.
November 30, 2017
Kerr Russell, Boulevard Investment lunch and learn
Kerr Russell hosted Royal Oak's Boulevard Investment Banking at our Detroit office for a lunch-and-learn event on Thursday, November 30. From Boulevard's website: "Boulevard is a boutique, investment banking and private investment firm focused on working with owners, operators, and businesses active in the middle market.
November 16, 2017
Culture of Connection - new Kerr Russell ad to appear in Michigan Lawyers Weekly and dbusiness
Kerr Russell introduces the second ad in the new "Est. in Detroit 1874" series: "A culture of connection." The piece emphasizes the firm's 143-year presence in Detroit as part of the larger business and legal community. "We are relationship focused. We know our people and our clients are the lifeblood of our firm."
November 13, 2017
Starting Your Start Up Right
Before you can put your idea into practice, you need to protect yourself and your intellectual property ...
November 3, 2017
Kerr Russell launches new advertising in upcoming issues of dbusiness and Crain's Detroit
With this month's issue of dbusiness, focused on Top Lawyers in Metro Detroit, Kerr Russell launches its new brand advertising with "A Track Record of Results." Working with Identity Public Relations and Marketing, Kerr Russell's marketing team developed the creative to emphasize the firm's longstanding place in Detroit's legal and business history.
November 1, 2017
Kerr Russell ranked in the 2018 U.S. News - Best Lawyers® "Best Law Firms" list nationally in 1 practice area and regionally in 17 practice areas
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers, for the eighth consecutive year, announce the "Best Law Firms" rankings.
October 6, 2017
Team spirit ... for some great causes
Today was a day of team building and team spirit, camaraderie and good-natured rivalry. To raise money for Kerr Russell’s holiday giving initiatives, attorneys and colleagues were encouraged, for a small donation, to wear their favorite team apparel - with an obvious leaning toward tomorrow’s big game between the Spartans and the Wolverines.
September 27, 2017
business Magazine covers Kerr Russell's participation in Detroit Chinese Business Association International Golf Outing
Kerr Russell was well-represented at the Detroit Chinese Business Association (DCBA) International Golf Open.
August 15, 2017
Max Sneyd interviewed for MLive article "Yes, Red Wings could go after hate groups using their logo"
From MLive.com: "Do the club and the league have legal recourse from preventing their intellectual property from being used in such manner? It is not cut and dry, there are gray areas.
August 10, 2017
A culture of giving
If you want to know how a firm can thrive for over 140 years in a city that has faced considerable challenges, walk through the door of Kerr Russell’s suite on the 25th floor of the Detroit Center and get a feel for the people.
April 20, 2017
Max Sneyd and Katherine Cser prevail on summary disposition motion for local snack foods company
Max Sneyd and Katherine Cser obtained summary disposition in a breach of contract and unjust enrichment case in favor their client, a local snack foods company.
November 10, 2016
DeLine and Sneyd prevail in issue of first impression in auto supplier dispute pending in Wayne County Business Court
On November 28, 2016, the Wayne County Circuit Court’s Business Court ruled in favor of an auto supplier represented by James DeLine and Max Sneyd.
April 10, 2016
Max Sneyd and Jacquelyn Klima obtained a $3.7 million judgment and a permanent injunction for Nedschroef Detroit Corp. in a federal case involving trademark infringement and the theft of trade secrets. The judgment was affirmed by the Sixth Circuit Court
The Sixth Circuit on Friday upheld a Michigan federal court’s determination that the ex-employees of a fastener company who started a rival business owe their former employer $3.68 million in damages for unfair competition, unjust enrichment and several other counts.
December 29, 2013
Max Sneyd authors "Controlling Corporate Information on Personal Devices" for the Kerr Russell Intellectual Property Newsletter
Social media is a place to share personal information and can be a place to mine information about others. Because of this, students, job applicants and employees are repeatedly warned to limit what they post in social media at the risk of being passed over for admission, a new job or losing their current employment.
October 11, 2013
Max Sneyd authors "Choosing a Name for Your Business, a Trademark Perspective" for the Kerr Russell IP Newsletter
Businesses spend countless hours and resources to research and develop effective names for their corporate entities, products and services. While much of the consideration properly addresses marketing concerns, there are important trademark issues that should be considered when choosing a name.
March 13, 2013
Max Sneyd authors "Is Your Business Protected from Cybersquatters?" for the Kerr Russell Intellectual Property Newsletter
Trademark rights prohibit the use of another company's trademarks or service marks to describe other goods or services, or in other ways that will likely cause confusion among consumers.
Representative Matters
Representing a national recording artist in a trademark dispute regarding junior user’s adoption of an infringing stage name
Enforcing the registered service mark of a well-known transportation company against multiple infringers
Representing a Tier I auto supplier in a contract dispute regarding tooling and re-sourcing
General Counsel to startup manufacturer of electric vehicles