Future Forward Insights
Each of us at Nolan Heimann has an affinity for new frontiers, from immersive entertainment and influencer brands to blockchain, DAO’s, and the metaverse(s), we are attorneys with deep knowledge that provide detailed expertise in executing novel aspects of our clients’ strategies. Protecting IP, while planning for its future growth and monetization, is at the heart of what we do.
These insights are offered as an expression of our commitment to helping all creators and business makers structure their ventures on solid, authentic foundations to enable growth and transformation. Keep up-to-date with our monthly newsletter. Subscribe at the bottom of our site.
Patenting for Inventors Ep. 172: Do You Lose Your Patents in Bankruptcy?
Patents are property—and in bankruptcy, that means they can be sold, rejected, or transferred without your input. Adam Diament explains how bankruptcy law treats patents, what Section 365(n) of the Bankruptcy Code means for licensees, and the steps inventors and small businesses can take to protect their IP.
Patenting for Inventors Ep. 171: Your Patent's First Judge: How the Patent Office Picks Your Examiner
Ever wondered who decides the fate of your patent application—and how they got the job? In Episode 171, Adam Diament pulls back the curtain on the USPTO's examiner assignment process and explains why knowing your examiner can change everything.
Patenting for Inventors Ep. 170: How to Stop Competitors From Patenting Your Idea Without Filing a Patent — Defensive Publications
Sometimes the goal isn't to protect an invention — it's to keep anyone else from owning it. Adam Diament breaks down defensive publications: when to use them, how to do it right, and when they can quietly become your most resourceful IP move.
Patenting for Inventors Ep.169: Using a Petition to Withdraw from Issue to Fix Last-Minute Errors
You've paid the issue fee, the patent is days away from issuing, and you spot an error. Now what? Adam Diament walks through the petition to withdraw from issue — your emergency brake before a patent becomes final.
Patenting for Inventors Ep.168: How Universities Handle Inventorship and IP Rights for Student Inventions
Think your university owns every idea you come up with on campus? In Episode 168, patent attorney Adam Diament breaks down the real rules around student inventions — using the University of California system as a model — and explains exactly when students keep their rights and when ownership shifts.
Every Deal Is a Dance Ep. 12: From Hollywood Editor to Creative Technologist: Editor Christopher Hill on Reinvention, VR, and Building Your Own IP
Hollywood editor Christopher Hill has cut 445+ episodes of Big Brother — and then reinvented himself entirely. He talks with Mishawn Nolan about curiosity, ownership, and building new things when the industry changes around you.
Patenting for Inventors Ep.167: How to Use the Patent Office Patent Assignment Database Like a Pro
In Episode 167 of Patenting for Inventors, host Adam Diament explains who actually owns that patent. Adam walks you through the USPTO Assignment Database — one of the most powerful (and underused) tools in the patent world.
Every Deal Is a Dance Ep. 11: Musician Adam Gaynor on The Art of the Pivot: From Matchbox 20 to Creative Entrepreneurship
From selling 30 million records with Matchbox 20 to building family animation company Creationville, Adam Gaynor embodies perpetual creativity and the art of the pivot. In this conversation, he shares hard-won lessons about launching before building everything, meeting the universe halfway, recognizing when your creative barometer is working, and why this is the year every creative entrepreneur needs to make halftime adjustments.
Patenting for Inventors Ep.166: Patent Thickets: When Owning Too Many Patents Is the Point
In Episode 166 of Patenting for Inventors, host Adam Diament explains how big tech companies use patent thickets—dense webs of overlapping patents—to create leverage, protect investments, and shape competitive landscapes. Learn why understanding these strategic forests matters for inventors and startups.
Every Deal Is a Dance Ep. 10: From Dishwasher to Empire Builder: Chef Gavan Murphy on Food, Hospitality, and Creative Entrepreneurship
Chef Gavan Murphy connects people through food — and has built a business in Las Vegas doing exactly that. His conversation with Mishawn Nolan is a candid look at what Creative Entrepreneurship actually looks like from the inside.
Patenting for Inventors Ep.165: Help! My Co-Inventor Refuses to Sign the Patent Application!
A co-inventor refusing to sign your patent application is a problem — but it's not a dead end. Patent attorney Adam Diament breaks down your legal options and how to move forward.
Patenting for Inventors Ep.164: Patent Pools: Cooperation That Looks Like Competition
In Episode 164 of Patenting for Inventors, host Adam Diament breaks down how patent pools simplify licensing in the tech industry—helping companies avoid legal gridlock, reduce costs, and get products to market faster. Learn why these behind-the-scenes tools are essential for modern innovation.
Every Deal Is a Dance Ep. 9: Authenticity and Vision: Horror Director David Yarovesky on Building a Hollywood Career from Obsession
Horror director David Yarovesky has known who he is since age 4 when he declared "every day is Halloween for me." In this conversation, he shares his journey from childhood obsession to directing Elizabeth Banks and Anthony Hopkins, discussing authenticity, handling doubt, staying calm under pressure, and why the entertainment industry's upheaval means artists will need the industry less than ever.
Patenting for Inventors Ep.163: Can You Patent an App? What You Need to Know Before You File
Can you patent an app? Patent attorney Adam Diament explains when apps qualify for patent protection, why ideas alone aren’t enough, and what inventors need to know before filing.
Every Deal Is a Dance Ep. 8: From Brows to Brand Empire: Damone Roberts on Transformation as Strategy
Transformation isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a business strategy. In this episode, Mishawn Nolan speaks with legendary beauty entrepreneur Damone Roberts about turning artistic intuition into a thriving, purpose-driven brand.
Every Deal Is a Dance Ep. 7: From Stage to Strategy: Pamela Fisher on Reinvention and Building Creative Careers
In this episode of Every Deal Is a Dance, Mishawn Nolan talks with top talent manager Pamela Fisher on reinvention, identifying talent, and building creative careers through alignment, trust, and flow.
Every Deal Is a Dance Ep. 6: Authenticity at Scale: Nate Siggard on Reinvention, AI, and Building in Uncertainty
In this episode of Every Deal Is a Dance, Mishawn Nolan talks with entrepreneur and technologist Nate Siggard about reinvention, AI as a “cultural mirror,” and what it takes to lead with authenticity when uncertainty is the only constant.
Patenting for Inventors Ep.162: Zootopia 2: The Shocking Fraudulent Patent That Drives the Entire Plot!
Zootopia 2 unexpectedly hinges on a patent dispute. In this episode, Adam Diament explains what the movie gets hilariously wrong about inventorship, “forged patents,” and why real patents don’t support century-long empires.
Every Deal Is a Dance Ep. 5: World-Building in Real Life: Karen Somers on Creativity, Reinvention & Impact
In this episode of Every Deal Is a Dance, filmmaker, photographer, and property developer Karen Somers joins host Mishawn Nolan to discuss creative reinvention, world-building, and how artists can translate their skills into meaningful impact—from polar bear shoots to Rust Belt housing.
Every Deal Is a Dance Ep.4: Act One, Act Two: How David Ackert Turned Creativity Into a Business-Building Superpower
In this episode of Every Deal Is a Dance, host Mishawn Nolan speaks with David Ackert — CEO of PipelinePlus and best-selling author of The Short List — about how his acting roots became the foundation for his work in business development and professional growth.