Atty. William H. Honaker

Atty. William H. Honaker

Bill helps businesses protect their brands, inventions and copyrights to build business and avoid being sued. With more than 30 years experience, Bill has extensive knowledge and expertise in all aspects of patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright matters including litigation in a broad range of industries.

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Profile Summary

About William H. Honaker at a glance

William H. Honaker is a patent, trademark, and ip attorney based in Troy, Michigan, practicing at Dickinson Wright PLLC. Educated at University of Toledo (J.D., 1984) and University of Toledo (—, 1979). Recognitions include Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property (2026), Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Patent (2026), and Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law (2026). Serands clients in Troy, MI and the surrounding metropolitan area.

Verified attorney profile · Updated June 2026

About

  • Bill helps businesses protect their brands, inventions and copyrights to build business and avoid being sued
  • With more than 30 years experience, Bill has extensive knowledge and expertise in all aspects of patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright matters including litigation in a broad range of industries
  • He evaluates patents, trademarks, and copyrights along with advising clients on the protection of inventions, trademarks, and copyrightable subject matter
  • Bill is a highly sought-after IP attorney in part due to his proprietary client communication, and project management system, The Harmony System®
  • Bill’s representation includes Fortune 500 clients, small to mid-size privately held companies, and startups
  • He approaches each client matter from the perspective of the business – whether it’s IP rights, IP infringement or litigation
  • Bill listens and asks questions to fully understand what’s critical to his client’s business
  • Unlike many IP attorneys, Bill understands that just having a patent is not important, that protecting the invention and providing value to the client is the true goal
  • Bill has the unique ability to help clients avoid unnecessary litigation
  • He has represented numerous clients in resolving Intellectual Property litigation in the early stages, and often well before the lawsuit is even filed
  • Through extensive research of technologies throughout the world, he can typically find proof that the [competitor’s] patent is not valid or substantially limited in scope
  • He helps clients understand the costs of litigation, both financial and personal, and the many alternatives that are available
  • In the event litigation is unavoidable, Bill uses a team approach, putting the right person at the right cost doing the right job
  • With more than 70 IP specialists at various rates, he can provide superior value at extremely reasonable rates
  • Bill has developed the Harmony System® to address the typical frustrations that clients have with their IP counsel
  • The Harmony System® is a three-step process that covers critical ongoing information to keep clients informed and ensure there are no surprises
  • Bill provides regular presentations and training seminars for his clients and their employees on Intellectual Property issues of importance to their business
  • He also investigates his clients’ businesses to better understand their business and provide relevant information to them
  • His book, The Business Owner’s Guide to Intellectual Property – Turn Your Ideas Into Gold, was recently published by Written In Detroit Publishing Company
  • It provides an easy to understand guide to IP, the importance of IP to every business and an overview of the Harmony® System
  • Bill has also co-authored Intellectual Property Deskbook for the Business Lawyer, published by the American Bar Association, and The Entrepreneur’s Guide to The Michigan Medical Marijuana Laws
  • Visit IPGuy.com for more information on Bill’s speaking engagements, published works, and updates on the law

Practice Areas Explained

William H. Honaker's Areas of Practice

Each practice area below reflects the types of cases William H. Honaker handles, with a brief overview of what that area of law covers.

Patent Law

William H. Honaker is one of 20,749 patent attorneys indexed nationally. Browse patent attorneys in Michigan →

Trademark Law

William H. Honaker is one of 23,222 trademark attorneys indexed nationally. Browse trademark attorneys in Michigan →

Intellectual Property

IP attorneys protect inventions, brands, and creative work through patent prosecution, trademark registration, copyright, and trade-secret enforcement.

William H. Honaker is one of 106,079 ip attorneys indexed nationally. Browse ip attorneys in Michigan →

Jurisdictional Context

Why local counsel matters in Michigan

Practicing law in Michigan. Legal matters in Michigan are governed by state-specific rules of civil and criminal procedure, statutes of limitations, and substantive law. Cases originating in Troy are typically filed in the local municipal court or the appropriate Michigan state district court, depending on subject matter and amount in controversy. An attorney licensed in Michigan brings working knowledge of local procedural deadlines, judicial practices in this andnue, and the substantive law that applies to cases brought here. Out-of-state attorneys generally cannot represent clients in Michigan courts without local counsel or pro hac vice admission.

Looking for additional Michigan attorneys? Browse all attorneys in Troy or all attorneys in Michigan.

Frequently Asked

Common questions about William H. Honaker

Where is William H. Honaker's law office located?
William H. Honaker's law practice is located in Troy, Michigan. The firm is Dickinson Wright PLLC. You can contact the office directly through this profile page.
What practice areas does William H. Honaker handle?
William H. Honaker focuses on patent, trademark, ip. Each practice area listed reflects experience handling cases of that type in Michigan.
Where did William H. Honaker go to law school?
William H. Honaker earned their education at (J.D., 1984); (—, 1979).
How can I contact William H. Honaker for a consultation?
You can contact William H. Honaker directly through this profile page. Click "Ask the Attorney" to submit a question, or "Schedule a Consultation" to book a meeting. Most claimed-profile attorneys respond within one business day.
What awards or recognition has William H. Honaker received?
William H. Honaker's notable recognition includes: Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property; Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Patent; Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law; Best Lawyers in America — Trademark Law; Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:.

Education

J.D.
University of Toledo
- 1984
University of Toledo
- 1979

Awards

Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Intellectual Property
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation - Patent
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Patent Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Trademark Law
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Special Focus:
- 2026
Best Lawyers in America — Litigation
- 2026

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