Addition Brings Number of Business Transactions Attorneys and Consultants Serving Leading Florida Businesses
November 3, 2025 – TAMPA, FL – Trenam Law is pleased to announce that patent and trademark firm Smith & Hopen joins the firm, bringing to the team shareholder Anton Hopen, shareholder Nicholas Pfeifer, registered patent agent Molly Sauter and associate Andrew Behrens. Hopen and Pfeifer will lead Trenam Law’s Patent Practice, a key segment of the firm’s statewide Business Transactions Practice Group, which will collaborate with Trenam’s trademark, technology transactions, corporate, health care, privacy and litigation teams to deliver truly integrated IP solutions.
“We are excited for the exceptional patent and trademark team at Smith & Hopen to be joining the firm as leading practitioners in the area of high-technology intellectual property development,” said Nelson Castellano, managing shareholder at Trenam. “As we continue to grow our presence in the greater Tampa Bay area, we aim to satisfy the specific needs of our clientele and acquire top talent that brings innovation and professional prowess to the table just as in the case of Smith & Hopen.”
“Over years of collaboration we saw not only results, but how Trenam operates, professional, transparent, and respectful. Integrating our teams aligns people, process, and technology so we can protect IP, support transactions, and move business forward on one coordinated platform,” said Hopen.
Hopen and Pfeifer’s team pairs technical fluency with pragmatic strategy—securing strong rights, positioning portfolios for financing or exit, and coordinating with Trenam colleagues on brand protection, regulatory compliance, employment/IP assignments, data/privacy, and dispute resolution. All practitioners have science and engineering degrees and are admitted to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO). Clients have access to a multidisciplinary approach to legal services as well as a full-service law firm with experience in corporate and transactional, financial services, intellectual property, litigation, real estate and land use and regulatory work.
“Our aim is to be able to serve as outside general counsel for all our clients’ needs which is why the addition of Anton, Nicholas, Molly, and Andrew adds significant value to our clients,” said Diana Hayes, shareholder and co-leader of the Business Transactions Practice Group at Trenam Law. “Patents and trademarks are significant business assets, and the addition of the Smith & Hopen team provides clients with access to expert counsel on how they can be leveraged advantageously in business transactions and other opportunities.”
Hopen is a registered patent attorney who counsels universities, technology companies, and founders on building, defending, and monetizing patent portfolios. With decades of experience spanning biotechnology, software, telecommunications, and engineered systems, he pairs rigorous prosecution and post‑grant strategy with practical, business‑forward advice. His capabilities include appeals and administrative litigation before the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and Trademark Trial and Appeal Board (TTAB); he is also admitted to all federal district courts in Florida and to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. He is one of only 135 attorneys to hold Board Certification in Intellectual Property by the Florida Bar.
Hopen earned his law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and his undergraduate degree in Interdisciplinary Science from the University of South Florida.
Pfeifer is a registered patent attorney focusing on patent prosecution, portfolio strategy, and IP counseling for universities, companies, and entrepreneurs. With a technical foundation in mechanical and aerospace engineering and experience across medical devices, biotechnology, and software, he handles domestic and international filings, advises on patentability and freedom‑to‑operate, and coordinates post‑grant strategy. Like Hopen, he has substantial administrative litigation experience in adversarial matters before the USPTO PTAB for patent litigation and TTAB for trademark litigation and appeals.
Pfeifer earned his law degree from the University of Florida Levin College of Law and his undergraduate degree in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida.
Sauter is a USPTO‑registered patent agent with extensive experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the electrical and engineering sciences. She supports clients across communications technologies, power systems, environmental solutions, and information systems, translating complex innovations into clear, defensible claims.
Sauter earned her master’s and her undergraduate degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of South Florida.
Behrens is a registered patent attorney and experienced in drafting and prosecuting patents in a wide range of technological fields for both private clients and public universities and research institutions. He also has significant experience in federal trademark prosecution and counseling.
Behrens earned his law degree from the University of Missouri School of Law and his undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering from Saint Louis University.
