Michael Burleigh is a patent attorney in Leydig’s Boulder office whose practice focuses primarily on patent prosecution, due diligence and trademark matters. His diverse range of patent prosecution experience encompasses materials science, chemistry, biotechnology, computer science, and mechanical engineering. His prior career as a process engineer in the pharmaceutical industry informs his legal approach and grounds him technically.
Experience
Mr. Burleigh has been practicing patent law since 2012, first as a patent agent and then as an attorney.
Prior to law school, Mr. Burleigh worked for over 4 years as a process engineer at two different pharmaceutical plants in Boulder, where he designed pharmaceutical processing equipment systems and scaled-up new drug processes in collaboration with chemists, engineers and piping system designers.
Honors
- Recognized in The Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch®, 2026
- Technical Editor, the Race to the Bottom (corporate law blog)
Articles, Publications & Lectures
- “In the Matter of New York Stock Exchange LLC, and NYSE Euronext: SEC Sanctions NYSE for Discriminatory Data Distribution.” Web blog post. The RACE to the BOTTOM. The University of Denver, 15 October, 2012.
- “SEC v. Bartek: Officer/Director Bans Barred by Statute of Limitations.” Web blog post. The RACE to the BOTTOM. The University of Denver, 5 October, 2012.
- “Oddo Asset Management v. Barclays Bank PLC: N.Y. Court of Appeals Affirms Lack of Fiduciary Duty to Debt Holders.” Web blog post. The RACE to the BOTTOM. The University of Denver, 31 August, 2012.
- “Medafor v. CryoLife: Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act does not Provide a Private Right of Action.” Web blog post. The RACE to the BOTTOM. The University of Denver, 6 August, 2012.
- “U.S. v. Motz: Second Circuit Upholds Eight Year Sentence for Cherry Picking.” Web blog post. The RACE to the BOTTOM. The University of Denver, 10 April, 2012.
Practices
Technologies
Insights
- Leydig Sponsors AUTM Western Regional Meeting in Salt Lake City, UT
October 9, 2025 - Leydig Attorneys Named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch® for 2026
August 25, 2025 - Michael Burleigh and Jen Richie Attend Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM) Meeting
September 27, 2024 - Michael Burleigh Discusses Patenting AI Inventions with CSU STRATA
August 22, 2024 - Michael Burleigh Discusses Recent Decision on Patent Prosecution Laches
October 26, 2023 - Leydig Participates in Colorado State University (CSU) Invention and Research Day
April 19, 2023