Theodore C. Theofrastous Cleveland, Ohio

About

Theodore C. Theofrastous

I have worked at the intersection of technology, capital and law since 1999 — as a technologist, executive, board member, fund counsel, commercialization officer and teacher. The consistent thread has been the evaluation of opportunity where there are no comparables to lean on.

Practice

  • PresentKohrman Jackson & Krantz LLPPartner. Chair, Intellectual Property, Technology & New Ventures. Chair, AI Strategy, Risk Management & Compliance.
  • PresentBRITE Energy InnovatorsGeneral Counsel and Chief Innovation Officer. Warren, Ohio.
  • PresentThetaSquared, LLCFounder. The contracting entity for the assessment, advisory and neutral work described on this site. Not a law firm.
  • EarlierPanzica InvestmentsManaging Director and Fund Counsel. Created and managed a portfolio of new and existing technology startup investments.
  • EarlierCleveland Clinic FoundationChief Commercialization Counsel. Managed a diverse IP portfolio and handled startup venture financings commercializing CCF life science technologies.
  • EarlierSquire, Sanders & Dempsey L.L.P.Cleveland and London. Practice focused on the nexus of investment capital and technology, from high-tech start-up ventures to multi-billion dollar domestic and offshore private equity fund offerings.

Case Western Reserve University

Twenty-seven years of continuous teaching across the schools of law, engineering and management, beginning in 1999.

  • 2010–presentDistinguished Practitioner in Residence; Director, FUSION Certificate ProgramInterdisciplinary graduate certificate for law, management and doctoral science students. See CF-02.
  • 2014–presentAdjunct Professor, Division of Engineering Leadership & Professional PracticeOnline curriculum in IP management and commercialization, needs-based innovation, technology transfer and innovation leadership.
  • 2014–presentVenture Law and FinancePractical skills program: venture capital formation, deal terms, financial modelling, transactional fundamentals.
  • 2014–2020Founding Managing Attorney, IP Venture ClinicAccredited student legal practicum in venture formation and IP cultivation. See CF-01.
  • 2009–presentThe Management and Commercialization of Intellectual PropertyWeatherhead School of Management.
  • 2007, 2008Engineering EntrepreneurshipThe Institute for Management and Engineering.
  • 2004–2006Intellectual Property TransactionsSchool of Law.
  • 2002–2006The Conflict of LawsSchool of Law. Including eConflicts, a module of the course, 2001.
  • 1999–2005Advanced International and Foreign Legal ResearchSchool of Law.

Boards and civic service

  • 2020–presentIdEnergieDirector.
  • 2014–presentOhio InventsFounder and Chairman. A nonprofit partnership with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office bringing pro bono intellectual property services to economically disadvantaged inventors in Ohio.
  • 2014–presentClassrooms to CorporationsCo-Founding Director.
  • 2014–presentHessler Neighborhood AssociationTrustee and Treasurer.
  • 2010–presentThe North East Ohio Musical Heritage AssociationFounding President and Trustee. Designed and co-founded a regional nonprofit sustaining and growing the folk and traditional music community across Northeast Ohio through year-round educational and performance programming.
  • 2010–2016Chardon TomorrowFounding Chairman. Main Street program for historic preservation, revitalization and economic development. See CF-09.
  • EarlierYoungstown Business IncubatorBoard of Directors.
  • EarlierKent State University GeaugaVice Chair, Dean's Advisory Board.
  • EarlierThe Cleveland International Lawyers' GroupVice President; Board of Directors for over a decade.

Education, certification and admissions

  • 1999Case Western Reserve University School of Law, J.D., cum laudeEditor-in-Chief, Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law.
  • 1994Marlboro College, B.A., magna cum laudeHistory.
  • —Weatherhead School of ManagementCertificate in Appreciative Inquiry and Positive Business and Society Change. Year to be confirmed — the source records it undated.
  • 1999AdmittedState of Ohio; U.S. District Court, Northern District of Ohio.

Professional associations

American Bar Association · Ohio State Bar Association · Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association · Geauga County Bar Association · Association of University Technology Managers · Licensing Executives Society · American Association for the Advancement of Science.

The mark

Θ² is theta squared, for the theory and practice of innovation. It remains in the footer as the signature of the contracting entity.

Contact