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By: Mark R. Malek

2011 was a great year for us at Zies Widerman & Malek, both from a business perspective and a community/family perspective.  I’ll keep the business side short.  The biggest thing that happened for us is moving into our new space in Melbourne, Florida.  The firm outgrew the old office (four offices) and the new space (seventeen offices) more suits our expansion needs.  The intellectual property team of Mark Malek, Philip Zies, Scott Nyman, Mark Warzecha, Gene Quinn (founder of IPWatchdog) and Danielle Roy filed a record number of patent, trademark and copyright applications on behalf of our clients.  Several articles were posted to TacticalIP.  The assumption must be that the articles are well written and contained great information because traffic to TacticalIP has skyrocketed (12,553 visits from September 1 – December 30).  Aaron Thalwitzer, Daniel Davidson and Rene Dial have been instrumental in the success of TacticalIP, and they are thanked.

From a community perspective, the firm was extremely active in supporting many wonderful causes throughout the year.  Without a doubt, the most fun we had as a firm was when we participated in Brevard County’s Corporate Dodgeball Challenge as the Lethal Litigators.  Unfortunately, we did not bring home the win, but with some additional training, we will take down many of the other teams, including our arch-dodgeball-nemesis, Craig Technologies, in 2012.  The firm also supported many charities.  Please take a look at our community page for more information on some of the groups that the firm continues to support.  We encourage all of you join us in supporting these great causes, either through volunteer efforts or financial donations.  Of note this past year, the firm sponsored and attended events for The Scott Center for Autism Treatment, Junior Achievement of the Space Coast, March of Dimes, Brevard Symphony Orchestra, Epilepsy Association, and the Space Coast Early Intervention Center.

On the personal/family side, the firm, and many individuals within the firm, enjoyed much prosperity.  We all loved attending Rene Dial’s wedding in early October, and Mark Warzecha’s wedding just a couple of weeks after that.  We wish both of you all the best as you endeavor on the great adventure!  We were also glad to hold our first annual Zies Widerman and Malek family picnic.  It was a bit hot, but a great time for all of us to get together with our families.  We also enjoyed a wonderful holiday party at Silvestro’s in Cocoa Beach this year.  The firm welcomed Danielle Roy as a Registered Patent Agent, and congratulate Mark Warzecha (already an attorney registered in New York and Indiana) on passing the Florida Bar.

The above is just a little bit of the success that the firm experienced over the past year, and we look forward to 2012!  Thanks to all that made this happen.