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Tracy L. Bornman

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Partner

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Tracy is a partner at Hovey Williams LLP, having joined the firm upon graduating law school. She received a BS in Chemistry from Missouri University of Science & Technology and a JD from Drake University Law School. Tracy prepares and prosecutes patent applications in the chemical technologies and has worked extensively with inventions involving polymer chemistry, mineral technology, agricultural chemistry, metallurgy, and microelectronic chemistry and processing. Her clients appreciate her thoroughness and ability to quickly understand the complexities of the chemistry involved so that she can ensure the technology is protected at every stage possible.


While Tracy practices regularly before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, a significant portion of her practice is devoted to protecting corporate intellectual property outside the U.S., particularly in Europe, Asia, and South America. She assists clients in managing their global intellectual property portfolios, evaluating competitive landscapes to identify technology gaps presenting research and business opportunities, and managing risks in crowded technology areas. She has also drafted corporate intellectual property policies and procedures and provides intellectual property training to client personnel regarding invention harvesting, technology assessment, and patent basics.


Tracy has served on numerous boards over the years, including serving as the President of the Association for Women Lawyers Foundation (“AWLF”), of which she is a co-founder. AWLF was founded to help women in law develop and advance, and to assist in improving the lives of women and girls in the Kansas City metropolitan area. Tracy has been honored with the Kansas City Business Journal's Women Who Mean BusinessTM Award, the Missouri Lawyers Weekly Business Practitioner Women's Justice Award, the Association for Women Lawyer’s President’s Award, the Best of the Bar over multiple years, and the Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association’s Distinguished Counselor Award.

Areas Of Practice

  • Patents
  • Trademarks & Copyrights

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri, 1997
  • Kansas, 2008
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 1998

Education

  • Drake University Law School, Des Moines, Iowa
    • J.D. - 1997
    • Honors: With High Honors
  • Missouri University of Science & Technology, Rolla, Missouri
    • B.S. - 1993
    • Major: Chemistry

Honors and Awards

  • Women's Justice Awards, Business Practitioner, Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2011
  • Best of the Bar, Intellectual Property Law, 2005, 2007-2015
  • Women Who Mean Business Award, Kansas City Business Journal, 2007
  • President's Award, Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, 2005
  • Distinguished Counselor Award, Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, 2017
  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® - 2024

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Missouri Bar Association
  • Kansas Bar Association
  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association, Board of Directors, 2008 to 2008
  • Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, Board of Directors, 2002 to 2008
  • Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City, President, 2007 to 2007
  • Lawyers Encouraging Academic Performance, Board of Directors, 2007 to 2008
  • Federal Court Advocates, Founding Committee, 2008 to 2008

Pro Bono Activities

  • Association for Women Lawyers Foundation, Founding Director
  • Association for Women Lawyers Foundation, Board of Directors, 2008 to 2019
  • Association for Women Lawyers Foundation, Treasurer, 2008 to 2016
  • Sheffield Place, Board of Directors, 2005 to 2007
  • Association for Women Lawyers Foundation, President, 2017 to 2018

Fraternities/Sororities

  • Chi Omega