Burris Law is recognized among the 2026 “Best Up & Coming Law Firms” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly, a list spotlighting firms founded within the past decade that are positioned for continued growth and success. Michigan Lawyers Weekly, founded in 1986, is a newspaper and online resource dedicated to reporting on and enhancing the practice of law in Michigan.
Founded in Detroit by Kelly Burris – an aerospace engineer, licensed pilot, and intellectual property attorney – Burris Law has grown from a three-person startup into a globally recognized IP firm. Today, the firm includes a team of 22 attorneys, agents, and staff, serving more than 600 clients across the United States and internationally, including Fortune 50, Fortune 100, and Fortune 500 companies, mid-sized manufacturers, and individual inventors.
Now with offices in Detroit and St. Louis, Burris Law provides counsel in patent preparation and prosecution, post-grant proceedings, trademarks, trade secrets, IP transactions, and strategic portfolio development. Burris Law attorneys and patent agents have filed thousands of patent applications worldwide, helping clients protect and advance their innovations.
A defining feature of Burris Law is its distinctive “fly-to-client” service model. Through this approach, attorneys travel directly to client sites to develop a firsthand understanding of technologies and business objectives before crafting patent strategies, strengthening collaboration and delivering more tailored, effective outcomes.
In 2016, Burris Law opened inside the same building as the Elijah J. McCoy Midwest Regional United States Patent and Trademark Office, reflecting the firm’s commitment to being close to both the innovation ecosystem and the decision-making process. “Detroit is a city of builders and innovation. It is resilient, creative, unafraid of hard work, and that spirit is baked into who we are as a firm,” Burris said. “We are proud to call Detroit home.”
As Burris Law has grown, so has its commitment to the Detroit community. Attorneys volunteer with local charities, and the office features a gallery of works by Detroit artists. Team members also serve on nonprofit boards and support STEM pipeline programs aimed at creating opportunities for future engineers, inventors, and legal professionals.
Burris Law has built an employee culture focused on long-term growth, collaboration, and development. The firm supports its team through monthly continuing legal education (CLE) sessions, mentorship and career path programs, and “water cooler” discussions that foster connection and knowledge-sharing. Burris Law offers flexible work arrangements, unlimited PTO, fully covered employee healthcare, and performance-based incentives. Team members regularly come together through firm-sponsored lunches, outings, and volunteer initiatives, reinforcing a culture that prioritizes both professional excellence and personal well-being.
Over the past ten years, Burris Law has earned numerous accolades from legal, business, and industry publications, including Juristat’s “Top Patent Firms” in patent prosecution before the USPTO; Best Law Firms® Tier 1 in Detroit in Patent Law; “Top 10 Midsized Firms” in the Patent Bots® Patent Quality Rankings; “Best Women-Led Law Firms” by Michigan Lawyers Weekly; and a “Diversity-Focused Company” honoree by Corp! Magazine.