Timothy K. Kroninger

Intellectual Property, Franchise and Business Law Attorney

Tim is a member of the firm’s Intellectual Property Team as well as the Business and Corporate Services Practice Team. He has extensive experience in many legal business areas including intellectual property and contract law; corporate and general business law; franchise and marketing law; commercial transactions; warranty and disclosure law; and trademark, copyright, and technology licensing as well as litigation. 

Tim has personally owned and operated many different types of businesses, and he has served as both in-house and outside legal counsel, which provides him with a unique understanding and perspective in helping clients with their legal and business needs, issues, challenges and opportunities.

Tim’s experience includes working with Fortune 500 companies around the world. He uses his significant experience in law and business to apply a unique perspective, philosophy, and attitude to assist all types and sizes of companies in analyzing, protecting and enforcing their intellectual property from an overall strategic perspective, which is unique to the legal industry. Tim has prosecuted hundreds of trademark registrations both domestically and internationally, and manages clients' comprehensive trademark and copyright portfolios globally.

Tim has extensive experience in negotiating, drafting, and analyzing complex license and franchise agreements, as well as handling and managing business transactions of all types and sizes, that involve the diverse areas of manufacturing, distribution, sales, marketing, insurance and indemnification, warranty and quality control, financials and intellectual property. Tim conducts intellectual property due diligence in M&A deals and transactions, providing analysis, advice and execution on the strategies and tasks necessary to secure and protect the valuable IP rights. Through his work in franchising and licensing, Tim helps clients grow their businesses, providing counsel, advice and guidance to both franchisors and franchisees in protecting, enforcing and commercializing their rights and interests.

Additionally, Tim represents several companies as outside general counsel, regularly providing guidance and counsel on matters affecting their businesses and assisting in their day-to-day needs. 

For more information, please contact Tim Kroninger at 313/481-7320 or tkkroninger@varnumlaw.com

Auburn Hills Optimist Club: Distinguished Volunteer Service Award, 2017; Optimist of the Year, 2007 - 2008

C.O.T.H.A. (Troy Homeowners Associations), Volunteer of the Year, 2000

Oxford High School (Michigan), Distinguished Alumnus, 1990

Troy Soccer Club, Distinguished Volunteer Service Award, 2012

American Bar Association

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Detroit Bar Association

International Collegiate Licensing Association (ICLA)

International Licensing Industry Merchandisers Association (LIMA)

International Trademark Association (INTA)

Michigan Intellectual Property Law Association

MSU Alumni Association

MSU Spartan Executive Group - Metro Detroit

State Bar of Michigan: Business Law Section; Franchising Section; Intellectual Property Law Section

University of Detroit Mercy School of Law, Trademark and Entrepreneur Clinic, adjunct professor and director

Crescent Ridge/Park Subdivision Association: Board of Directors, past president and treasurer

North Hills Christian Reformed Church, guest choir member/soloist

Optimist Club of Auburn Hills, member; past Vice President and Board of Directors member

Troy Soccer Club: coach/trainer; past club director/president

Michigan State University, judge, Broad Business Model Competition, March/April 2018

Entrepreneurial Detroit Open City Event, panelist, Build Institute, January 15, 2018

GreenLight Michigan Business Model Competition, judge, March 28, 2018; March 29, 2017

Michigan State University, College of Business, speaker, Business Entrepreneurship classes on Business Entity Creation, and Intellectual Property Protection and Enforcement, 2014 - 2019

The C12 Group, Fall Conference, guest speaker, "Trade Secrets, Confidentiality, and Non-Compete Agreements," 2010

University of Detroit School of Law, guest speaker, Lunch with a Lawyer Program: "Intellectual Property and Licensing in the 'Real World'," 2013

MICPA Forensic Accounting & Valuation Services Conference, speaker, “Franchise It! Valuations and & Contract/Marketing Agreements,” May 20, 2021

20 Fathoms Executive Forum, speaker, “Assessing Risk – Legal, IT Security, & Business Liabilities,” March 9, 2020