I work with clients across the spectrum of trademark issues, including clearance and selection advice, prosecution and maintenance of applications and registrations, drafting and negotiating licenses, due diligence and advice related to mergers and acquisitions, protection of trade dress, and management of national and international trademark portfolios. I work closely with clients to develop customized protection strategies that reflect their business goals. These efforts include demand letters, opposition and cancellation proceedings at the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, online enforcement, domain name dispute proceedings under the UDRP, litigation in federal courts, and working closely with local counsel in countries throughout the world.
My Approach
We collaborate with clients to create and implement strategies to enhance the value of their businesses. I have had the good fortune to focus on intellectual property issues for my entire career, developing a deep understanding of both the legal and business implications, and how today’s decisions affect our client’s future.
I utilize my expertise and experience to assist clients to manage and their existing intellectual property portfolio, and plan and develop expanded offerings. Whether I’m managing a global trademark portfolio for a publicly traded company, or helping an early stage startup to prioritize its needs for launching a new product, my goal is to protect those assets that add value to your business. Every action an attorney makes should have a specific business justification. If a new application or a proposed enforcement action doesn’t add value, it only adds cost.
Each business has a different strategy, so the first discussion always focuses on identifying the intellectual property assets of the business, not just today, but also ten years down the road. Some businesses rely heavily on brands and trademarks, others on copyrights, and others on patents or trade secrets. More often than not, each business has assets that fall into multiple buckets. I work with my clients to develop and efficiently execute a strategy tailored to their specific business goals for each brand. This can include effective clearance for new trademarks, streamlined management of portfolios of all sizes, and purposeful enforcement efforts, both when defending against claims from others and preventing others from unfairly profiting off of your business’s assets.
My interest in intellectual property stems from seeking a creative outlet as part of my career. Whether playing bass in garage bands or acting in college, I always found myself not just creating art, but managing the business: booking shows, managing the finances, and handling merchandise orders. I guess I was even my own first client, registering the copyright in our band’s first album as a senior in high school.
Outside of work, I spend time with my wife, our two children, and our golden retriever, Hank, and I love watching the Minnesota Twins and my Iowa Hawkeyes. My guitars are still in tune for the times when a creative urge hits me.
Practice Areas
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Trademark & Brand Protection
Bold Perspectives
Adult Use Cannabis Business Licenses Are Coming Quickly — Are You Ready?
06.21.24
Key Trademark Decisions of 2022–2023
09.28.23
Honors & Awards
Rising Stars
Minnesota Super Lawyers®, 2019-2024
MSBA North Star Lawyer
Pro Bono Service, 2016-2020, 2023
Top Ten Author, Trademarks
JD Supra Readers’ Choice Awards, 2018-2019
Associations & Memberships
Federal Bar Association
Minnesota Chapter
Member, Intellectual Property Committee
International Trademark Association
Simon Says Give
Board of Directors