patent + trademark attorney

Scott E. Brient is the founder and managing attorney of Brient IP Law, an intellectual property law firm representing innovative companies ranging from early-stage startups to major multinational corporations. With more than 25 years of experience, Scott helps businesses develop, protect, and strategically manage their intellectual property, with a particular focus on patent strategy, freedom-to-operate analysis, patent prosecution, and trademark protection.

Throughout his career, Scott has advised leading companies including UPS, OneTrust, Dropbox, Assurant, Altium, VSP, Marchon, Mohawk Industries, and Splunk. He has extensive experience helping early-stage and rapidly growing companies establish their initial patent strategies, as well as developing and managing substantial patent portfolios for established corporations.

Before founding Brient IP Law in 2009, Scott practiced for nearly a decade at Alston & Bird, one of the nation's leading law firms, where he became a partner and led the firm's Atlanta patent practice. In that role, he oversaw 12 patent attorneys, three paralegals, and supporting staff. He also served as lead outside patent counsel for UPS, managing a team of approximately 10 attorneys responsible for patent prosecution and patent-related opinions involving complex logistics systems, transportation technologies, mechanical devices, and computer systems. More recently, Scott served as a partner at Thomas Horstemeyer while continuing to manage Brient IP Law.

Since establishing Brient IP Law, Scott has served as lead outside patent counsel for companies including OneTrust, Assurant, Altium, VSP, and Marchon. He has also worked closely with emerging technology companies to develop intellectual property strategies that evolve with their businesses, from identifying and protecting foundational innovations to building comprehensive patent portfolios.

Scott brings a combination of legal and technical experience to his practice. With degrees in mechanical engineering and German, as well as professional experience in systems analysis and software development, he is particularly well suited to working with companies developing complex technologies. His patent experience spans enterprise software, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, logistics, medical devices, industrial machinery, telecommunications, financial technologies, manufacturing systems, and mechanical devices.

In addition to developing patent portfolios, Scott advises clients on freedom-to-operate investigations, patentability assessments, patent infringement and validity issues, intellectual property licensing, and trademark protection. He works closely with business leaders, in-house counsel, engineers, and product development teams to provide practical legal advice tailored to each company's technology, competitive environment, and business objectives. Scott particularly enjoys working with innovative companies at pivotal stages of their development. He takes pride in building lasting client relationships and helping businesses transform promising technologies and ideas into valuable intellectual property assets.

Representative Experience:

Dropbox — Cloud Computing and Enterprise Software

Worked closely with Dropbox's in-house patent counsel to develop and implement the company's initial patent filing strategy. Brient IP Law helped establish an extensive patent filing program designed to identify and protect important innovations as the company grew. The representation involved close collaboration with in-house counsel and technical teams to develop a comprehensive approach to patent protection.

OneTrust — Enterprise Software and Data Privacy

Served as lead outside patent counsel, helping develop the company's patent strategy and build an extensive intellectual property portfolio. Brient IP Law helped OneTrust grow its patent portfolio from its earliest stages to more than 250 issued patents in less than six years, protecting important software technologies as the company rapidly expanded.

UPS — Global Transportation and Logistics

While at Alston & Bird, served as lead outside patent counsel for UPS, managing a team of approximately 10 attorneys responsible for patent prosecution and patent-related opinions. The representation encompassed complex logistics systems, package handling technologies, transportation systems, and sophisticated computer technologies, as well as strategic counseling concerning third-party patents. Subsequently represented UPS and its acquired company Kiala on selected patent matters through Brient IP Law.

Intellectual Property Licensing: Negotiated multiple patent licenses involving commercially significant fiber optic technologies used in modern archery equipment.

Education and Technical Background: Scott received his Juris Doctor, with honors, from the University of Florida College of Law in 1999. He earned dual degrees in Mechanical Engineering and German from the University of Florida in 1993, where he was a member of Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society.

Before attending law school, Scott worked as a systems and business analyst for Electronic Data Systems (EDS), where he helped develop a client/server computer system for processing Medicaid insurance claims for the State of Vermont. He also worked as a mechanical engineer and software developer for the University of Florida's Department of Anesthesiology.

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