AVEK IP Expands Operations with New St. Louis Office and Team Acquisition

In a strategic move to broaden its reach and enhance its intellectual property services, AVEK IP, LLC, has announced the acquisition of the intellectual property group from Sandberg Phoenix. This transition, set to take effect on November 16, 2026, includes the opening of a new office located in St. Louis, Missouri. With this addition, AVEK IP will bolster its attorney roster to more than 30 experienced professionals.

The Sandberg Phoenix team joining AVEK IP comprises notable shareholders, including Scott Gray, Joseph Rolnicki, Jonathan Soifer, and Tracey Truitt, alongside counsel members Harley Blosser, McPherson Moore, Joseph Muller, and Philip Polster. While Truitt will primarily operate from AVEK IP’s Overland Park office, the rest of the team will establish their base in the newly launched St. Louis office.

Expanding Expertise into New Markets

This infusion of talent is significant not only for AVEK IP but also for its clients. The newly acquired attorneys come with a diverse background and decades of substantial experience in patent and trademark prosecution, opinion writing, licensing agreements, and litigation matters. Their collective expertise encompasses various critical sectors, including biotechnology, life sciences, agribusiness, aerospace, automotive, healthcare devices, and software solutions. Several team members transitioned to legal practice from engineering roles, enhancing their capabilities with a practical understanding of technical fields.

Justin Poplin, AVEK IP’s co-managing partner, expressed enthusiasm about the addition of Sandberg Phoenix's intellectual property group. He remarked, "This is a strong group that shares our belief that clients are best served by a focused intellectual property firm. Their experience in biotech and university work significantly expands our current practice, and their activities in aerospace and automotive complement our firm's prime areas of focus."

Tracey Truitt, a principal figure in the transferred group who previously led Sandberg Phoenix's IP practice, echoed this sentiment, stating, "Joining a dedicated IP boutique allows our team to excel in what we do best. AVEK IP's extensive resources in patent prosecution and litigation will enhance our capacity to serve our clients better, and we are excited to strengthen our presence in St. Louis."

About AVEK IP

Founded in 2022 through the merger of Avant Law Group and Erickson Kernell IP, AVEK IP is dedicated exclusively to intellectual property law, covering all facets of patent, trademark, and copyright services. The firm has a robust track record, managing thousands of patent and trademark prosecutions and nearly 100 inter partes reviews before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. Litigation efforts are pursued across federal courts nationwide and before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Currently, AVEK IP operates from offices in Overland Park, Kansas, and the newly established St. Louis location, with additional offices planned in Golden, Colorado, and Charlotte, North Carolina. The impressive portfolio of clients includes independent inventors, startups, universities, tech incubators, and large corporations with extensive patent portfolios.

St. Louis Intellectual Property Practice Group

The St. Louis practice group primarily caters to a diverse clientele, offering services that include the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and international patent and trademark applications. They provide patentability and validity opinions, negotiate licenses, and represent clients in patent litigation and Patent Trial and Appeal Board proceedings.

This strategic expansion into St. Louis is poised to enhance AVEK IP’s capabilities significantly, enabling the firm to deliver even more comprehensive IP solutions in the region and beyond.