Nick Kuchinski

Current Technical Focus

In his current role, Nick practices across a broad range of advanced technologies, based upon his experience as a process (chemical) and instrumentation engineer prior to becoming an attorney. His practice areas include:

• Chemical formulations and chemical processing, including polymers and many specialty chemical systems
• Complex three-dimensional printing technologies, including co-reactive additive manufacturing
• Mechanical systems and articles
• Medical devices and health care technologies
• Optical systems methods
• Metallurgies and high-performance materials
• Instrumentation systems and devices
• Computer-implemented technologies, including artificial intelligence and machine learning

Prior Legal and Engineering Experience

Before joining Faegre Drinker, Nicholas practiced patent law at two Colorado intellectual property firms. His work included foreign and domestic patent prosecution, drafting provisional and nonprovisional applications and preparing office action responses. During this time, he handled patent matters in a wide range of industries, including circuitry, semiconductors and related processing, data security, battery technologies, IoT, telecommunications, robotics, and software.

Nick also served as a patent examiner extern at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), where he conducted prior art searching, patentability analysis, and office action drafting. In addition, he clerked for an administrative law judge at the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB), contributing to inter partes review proceedings.

Before entering the legal profession, Nick spent four years as a chemical and process engineer, taking on multidisciplinary roles across chemical, mechanical and electrical/process control engineering. He supported engineering projects in industries including energy (both renewable and traditional), oil and gas, food and consumer products, agrochemicals, pulp and paper, and petrochemicals. This hands-on technical background continues to inform and strengthen his approach to patent strategy and prosecution.

Personal Interests

Outside of his legal practice, Nick enjoys exploring the Colorado outdoors and is an avid runner, skier and hiker. He also has a passion for international travel and experiencing new cultures.