Professional Attorneys

C. Vincent Choken, Esq.
C. Vincent Choken, Esq.Lawyer

C. Vincent Choken, Esq. combines a strong background in litigation, accounting, and tax. Mr. Choken utilizes his legal training to assist his clients in meeting their goals. Mr. Choken has successfully settled numerous personal injury and catastrophic cases. He has an extensive background in working with all types of business ventures from start-ups to established, and from simple to complex configurations. In addition to litigation and taxation law, Mr. Choken’s areas of expertise also include complex estate planning, probate, entity formations and dissolutions, and contracts.

Mr. Choken is a graduate of the University of Akron’s College of Business with a Masters Degree in Taxation as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the United States Tax Court, United States District Courts for the Northern and Southern Districts of Ohio, the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, and the Supreme Court of Ohio.

David A. Welling, Esq.
David A. Welling, Esq.Lawyer

David A. Welling, Esq. has been selected for inclusion by Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine nominated as a Super Lawyer for 2012 – 2015 for the area of Intellectual Property Litigation. The Super Lawyers lists appeared in Ohio Super Lawyers Magazine, the Cincinnati Magazine, the Columbus Monthly, the Cleveland Magazine, and Inside Business magazine.

In addition to Super Lawyers, Mr. Welling was named to the The National Trial Lawyers Association: Top 40 under 40 in the state of Ohio. Top 40 under 40 is limited to the top 40 trial lawyers in the State of Ohio under the age of 40 who exemplify superior qualifications, trial results, and leadership as young trial lawyers.

Mr. Welling concentrates his practice in handling civil lawsuits for both plaintiffs and defendants. He obtained his undergraduate degree from Ohio State where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. While in college, Mr. Welling attended Oxford University in England studying international law, and attended Clemson University. He received his Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron School of Law. Upon admission to the bar, Mr. Welling practiced for 5 years as a litigation associate at a downtown Cleveland law firm. Mr. Welling opened Choken Welling LLP in 2008.

Mr. Welling’s practice involves litigating commercial, personal, and intellectual property litigation. Mr. Welling is admitted to Federal Courts in Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Texas, and Colorado, and actively handles cases throughout the United States and abroad.

  • Supreme Court of Ohio
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Ohio
  • US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio
  • US District Court for the District of Colorado
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Texas
  • US District Court for the Central District of Illinois
  • US District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
  • US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit
Mark Swihart
Mark SwihartOf Counsel

Mark H Swihart, Esq. is an insurance & employer defense attorney. Among other things, Mark has seen clients through BWC accident investigations, safety requirement violations (VSSR), EEOC complaints, and numerous interactions with State and Federal reporting & monitoring agencies as an advocate for his business owner clients. A seasoned veteran from the insurance industry, Mark’s 20 plus years of experience have given him critical insights into both coverage intricacies as well as carrier tactics and behaviors in accident situations involving individuals as well as businesses. Finally, Mark has a niche practice in seeing new/existing businesses through the DBE/MBE/WBE designation process in Ohio and throughout the United States.

Mr. Swihart graduated from Louisville High School before moving on to Malone University earning his BA in both Accounting and Business Administration. From there, he earned his MBA from Kent State University before completing his educational track at The University of Akron School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Ohio and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio as well as the Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia.

Jack Butler
Jack ButlerOf Counsel

Jack D. Butler, Esq. combines 22 years of business experience with his legal education to assist clients in finding creative solutions to a variety of issues.

Mr. Butler has an interest in the following areas of practice:
– Business counseling services, including start-ups & dissolutions.
– Contracts
– Commercial litigation
– Estate Planning wills / trusts
– Probate

Mr. Butler received his bachelor’s degree from The University of Akron as well as a Juris Doctorate from the University of Akron School of Law. Jack is admitted to the practice of law in the state of Ohio.

John D. Gugliotta
John D. GugliottaAssociated Co-Counsel on certain IP matters

1993 to Present, Founder and Managing Administrator for Patent, Copyright and Trademark Law Group of Akron, OH. Admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as well as the U.S. Supreme Court, this boutique IP practice provides a broad strength and depth of representation need in managing and performing all aspects of intellectual property protection.

John Gugliotta specializes in Intellectual Property Application and Prosecution, with experience in Patent, Copyright and Trademark protection services and IP counseling including monitoring and guiding of research at the idea stage to determine avenues of patentability, marketability, licensability, and enforceability; referral of inventions to joint venturers, OEM production facilities and independent contractors for production and sale.

Having successfully prosecuted several thousand patent filings over the last 25 year, Attorney Gugliotta has handled just about every aspect of protection one would find in a patent, trademark and copyright practice, including international filings and prosecutions in chemical, pharmaceutical, mechanical, medical, electronic an business systems areas. Attorney Gugliotta also specializes in Protection and Enforcement of their intellectual property, including working with clients in monitoring infringement of patents and trademarks; determining the validity and scope of third party patents in order to provide “right of use” opinions; counseling on related legal and business options, including licensing, cross licensing, procurement of IP rights in bankruptcy arena, business formation and liability risk management. In addition, Attorney Gugliotta offers Transactional services, including, drafting and negotiating IP license agreements, as well as secrecy, joint development, consulting and indemnification agreements, and Business formation services, including business plan development, market research, marketing plan development, and seed financing and startup funding procurement.

Nathan Gugliotta, Esq.
Nathan Gugliotta, Esq.Associated Co-Counsel on certain IP matters

Nathan Gugliotta, Esq. is a trademark and copyright attorney. Among other things, Nathan has assisted his clients in conducting trademark searches, filing trademark applications, responding to and overturning Office Actions issued by USPTO examining attorneys, and representing clients before the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board. Mr. Gugliotta also counsels his clients in forming new businesses as well as protecting their various business assets, such as trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.

Mr. Gugliotta graduated from The University of Akron with a B.A. in Political Science as well as a Juris Doctorate from The University of Akron School of Law. He is admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of Ohio and the United States District Court for the Northern District of Ohio.

Tracy Headley
Tracy HeadleyAssistant

Tracy Headley  has been with the firm since 2009. Tracy strives to provide the best in customer service utilizing her strong work ethic and attention to detail.

Should you ever stop in at Choken & Welling location, Tracy will be there to greet you warmly with a smile on her face. Tracy is a life time resident of Ohio. She has a son and enjoys gardening in her spare time.

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