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Overview

For the past 40 years, David has obtained patents for some of the world’s largest companies.

With a primary focus on patent prosecution, licensing, and other agreements, David works with highly sophisticated clients to draft and prosecute patent applications and ensure that innovations are protected and ready for use. While not a litigator, he has overseen and participated in litigation in the U.S. and several other countries. He has also served as an expert witness in several contested matters. Six patents he prepared and prosecuted have been litigated – all successfully.

Many of the clients David has served over the course of his career are household names and leaders in their industries. While these industries vary, he has recently devoted most of his time to medical devices, packaging coatings, asphalt, marine bioassays, and other chemical, optical, and mechanical inventions. Thanks to a pre-law background in both chemistry and auto mechanics, understanding both the components and the practical use of inventions is second nature to him, and he thrives on the opportunity to immerse himself in clients’ new developments. David views his role as actively listening to clients and their inventors, then crafting a narrative that will persuade examiners to grant enforceable patents.

David first began his legal career by working 20 years in-house for 3M, where his duties included responsibility for the company’s international patent portfolio and portfolio licensing. During a five-year post in Belgium, he served as senior IP counsel for Europe, formed an office of European patent attorneys, and gained deep exposure to a broad range of foreign legal systems.

David’s decades of in-house experience help him understand how to best support in-house clients while making efficient use of their time. His 3M experience, in addition to his work with other major companies, has also given him an up-close view of how multinational corporations operate, the role their IP plays, and what matters most to these clients. With an enthusiasm born of a true passion for his practice area, David is dedicated to protecting the innovations at the heart of clients’ businesses.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers In America®
    • Patent Law, 2020-2025

Education

  • J.D., University of Minnesota Law School
    • cum laude
  • B.A., Macalester College
    • cum laude
    • Chemistry
    • Economics

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • Minnesota Supreme Court
  • Montana
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • England
  • Wales

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American Intellectual Property Law Association, Speaker, International Education Committee, 1996-2001
  • Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association, Board of Directors, 1990-91 and 1997-2000; President 1998-1999
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • State Bar of Montana
  • United Kingdom Law Society
  • Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association, President, 1998-1999


*Contact David to set up an in-person consultation by appointment in the Minneapolis office.
Experience
  • Served as in-house counsel for 3M for 20 years, including a five-year post in Belgium as senior IP counsel for Europe and three years as assistant chief IP counsel.
  • Represented clients in international licensing negotiations in several important technologies.
  • Oversaw prosecution, defense, and enforcement of portfolio of applications for making warm mix asphalt.
  • Served as expert witness in matters involving inequitable conduct, malpractice, and licensing.
  • Successfully partnered with a fellow inventor to patent and license their own inventions in barbecue technology.
Outside the Office

With a love for the outdoors, David spends most of his time in Big Sky, Montana. He particularly enjoys skiing and cycling, and he takes a biking trip with friends in Europe every two years as a fundraiser for a Nepalese charity.

David is also an avid barbecuer and holds several patents for innovations in the barbecue world.