COJK is pleased to announce the firm has expanded its trademark practice capabilities and enhanced its patent practice with the addition of three attorneys.  Frances M. Jagla joins the firm as a member, Peter W. Becker joins as of counsel, and Makiko K. Coffland joins as an associate. 

The highly talented team joins COJK from a local area general practice law firm, where Jagla chaired the IP transactions team, working closely with Becker and Coffland to provide trademark services to clients across a variety of industries. 

"I am very excited to welcome Fran, Peter, and Makiko to COJK," said co-managing member John Denkenberger.  "Fran and Peter, in particular, have exceptional reputations within the IP community, and their extensive in-house experience at various tech and pharma companies will serve our clients well." 

"We are excited about the opportunity to work at an IP boutique firm, where the sole legal focus is intellectual property law, and nearly every discussion is IP-focused," said Fran Jagla, who has assumed the role of chair of the firm's trademark practice group.  "I am pleased my team made the decision to join me at COJK.  With Peter and Makiko, and the fantastic team at COJK, our transition to the firm has gone remarkably smoothly.  I look forward to building my practice at COJK and seeing where this stellar team takes us."

Frances M. Jagla is a leading practitioner in the field of intellectual property law, representing startup to Fortune 100 companies in all areas of trademark law, primarily in highly regulated industries such as pharmaceuticals, medical devices, healthcare, wine and spirits, and cannabis.  Her practice includes counseling clients on trademark issues related to acquisitions, divestitures, and licensing, as well as Internet domain name matters and regulatory issues. Fran has served as in-house counsel for some of the nation’s leading corporations, providing her with a unique perspective to develop practical, business-centric solutions to address her clients’ needs. Fran earned her law degree from Valparaiso University School of Law, and her Bachelor of Arts degree from Indiana University Bloomington.

Peter W. Becker brings his vast trademark, copyright, and domain name experience to his practice, assisting clients in all areas of brand protection, enforcement, and management.  Having served as in-house counsel for area tech giants, Pete brings to his practice valuable insights into the business needs of organizations as they seek to protect their IP assets and minimize their IP risk exposure. Pete graduated from Marquette University Law School, and he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University.

Makiko K. Coffland is a registered patent attorney before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, with experience securing patents in the medical devices, biotechnology, software, and electronics industries. She also assists clients in securing and enforcing trademark and copyright protection; and advises clients on IP-related transactions and litigations, with a focus in trade secret and antitrust issues. Makiko received her law degree from the University of Idaho College of Law, and her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science degrees in aquatic biosciences from Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology.