UHLC Prof. Janicke
July 14, 2017 — University of Houston Law Center Professor Paul M. Janicke was honored with the Tom Arnold Lifetime Achievement Award by the Intellectual Property Law Section of the State Bar of Texas during its annual meeting last month in Dallas.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to teach at the Law Center," Janicke said in accepting the award. "I have wonderful students and terrific colleagues. While I very much appreciate this award, the real reward during the past 25 years of service at the Law Center has been the process itself."
"Professor Janicke is a giant in the field of intellectual property law," said Dean Leonard M. Baynes. "He is an outstanding teacher, a terrific scholar, and a very valued and respected member of our Law Center community. I am delighted that his accomplishments are being recognized by the Texas Bar."
Janicke, who joined the UHLC faculty in 1992, was instrumental in creating the Institute for Intellectual Property & Information Law (IPIL) at the Law Center. He teaches Evidence, Patent Litigation, an introductory survey course in Intellectual Property Law, and a seminar for Advanced Topics in Intellectual Property Law. He has published extensively in the fields of patent law and licensing law.
"He is a big reason why UHLC's IPIL has been consistently regarded as one of the top IP law programs in the country," said Greg Vetter, associate dean and HIPLA Professor of Law who teaches various intellectual property law courses.
While introducing Janicke at the awards luncheon, Vetter thanked his colleague for his mentoring and friendship during his 15 years at the Law Center. "His support for my endeavors has been invaluable. It has been a privilege to help Paul in his singular mission: to give the best and highest education and professional development to our students."
Prior to entering academe, Janicke practiced patent litigation for more than 20 years with the Houston firm of Arnold, White & Durkee, where he was outside patent counsel for clients such as Shell Oil Company and Compaq Computer Corp. The firm was founded by Tom Arnold, the namesake of the lifetime achievement award.
In letters of recommendation, colleagues and former students praised Janicke for his character and professionalism in representing clients during his years of practice as well as his dedication to students in the classroom.
"As a litigator, Paul provided insightful, vigorous representation for his clients, but always with utmost civility and respect for the parties, counsel — and the law," one wrote. "Paul's word was his bond. Few meet Paul's high standards for professionalism, fairness and devotion to the highest ideals of the legal profession."
A former student wrote: "As a law professor for 25 years, Professor Janicke has many accomplishments and has been and is a beloved teacher, top-flight scholar, and model citizen of UHLC and the greater University.
"Focusing on the practice and practical aspects of IP law, he pioneered the use of empirical and statistical analysis as a way to study patent litigation. His studies and analyses have been used by IP attorneys across the state and the nation. For myself, I know his influence was critical for me to become a better IP lawyer."
