Four Fredrikson & Byron Attorneys Recognized in Intellectual Asset Management's 2015 Patent 1000 Guide

Fredrikson attorneys Thomas R. Hipkins, Kurt J. Niederluecke, Charles D. Segelbaum and David C. West were recently featured in the IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals 2015.

The IAM Patent 1000 is a guide that identifies individual and firm expertise in all major areas of patent law and practice. Through a research process conducted by a team of qualified full-time analysts, the publication identifies the best in prosecution, litigation and licensing. The listings and editorial provide readers with a comprehensive overview of patent services around the world.

Hipkins is the chair of Fredrikson’s Patents Group. He helps technology-driven clients minimize patent infringement risk by developing noninfringement and invalidity positions with respect to their competitors’ patents, while also helping protect and leverage their own technology. Hipkin’s clients come to him with complex freedom-to-operate issues. He works with them to stake out noninfringement and/or invalidity positions. Hipkins also helps protect his clients’ technology by drafting and prosecuting patent applications. His clients value his detailed understanding of their machines, mechanical and electro-mechanical devices, software, and manufacturing processes, as well as his skillful approach to working with patent examiners to move applications through to allowance. When Hipkins’ clients want to leverage their patents, he assesses the likelihood of the relevant competitor’s product or process being covered by the client’s patents and then helps devise and implement an enforcement strategy.

Niederluecke is the chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Group. Niederluecke is an experienced trial lawyer focusing on complex intellectual property litigation, with a particular emphasis in patent litigation. Niederluecke has successfully led trial teams in the enforcement and defense of patent litigation throughout the United States. In addition, Niederluecke has led and participated in trials involving trade secrets and other technology-based complex litigation. He has also successfully led appeals to, among others, the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. Complementing his litigation practice, Niederluecke counsels his clients on intellectual property acquisition, valuation, due diligence, maintenance and licensing strategies. Niederluecke leverages his background as a registered patent attorney and real-world experience in aerospace engineering and mechanics to emphasize the importance of transforming complex technology into manageable concepts and convincing stories to educate and persuade judges and juries.

With a background in electrical and mechanical engineering and 18 years of business-focused legal experience, Segelbaum advises clients on patent due diligence, litigation, preparation, and clearance matters that hinge on understanding of complex technology. As chair of the Firm’s IP Due Diligence Group and former chair of the Patents Group, a position he held for eight years, Segelbaum has helped advance initiatives in the areas of process uniformity and fee predictability. Prior to practicing law, Segelbaum was a data network engineer and project manager for the Federal Reserve Systems’ national data communications network. Segelbaum is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. His practice also includes trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets and unfair competition.

West helps clients of all sizes with their intellectual property issues and technology concerns. His work includes developing, acquiring, protecting, enforcing and commercializing patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights and know-how. His clients work in a variety of industries, including life sciences, medical device, health care, software, manufacturing, advertising, design, service and retail. West assists clients with their intellectual property, commercial and transactional needs, including analyzing, advising on and negotiating license, development and affiliation agreements relating to items such as medical device technology and software. He keeps businesses up-to-date on the legal issues surrounding developments relating to e-commerce, such as protecting and policing intellectual property on the internet, domain name issues, privacy concerns, web content agreements, and legal audits of websites. His practice involves all aspects of intellectual property, including U.S. and foreign patent and trademark prosecution, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition.

Fredrikson & Byron is a 275-attorney law firm based in Minneapolis, with offices in Bismarck, Des Moines, Fargo, St. Paul, Monterrey, Mexico, and Shanghai, China. Fredrikson & Byron has a reputation as the firm “where law and business meet”. Our attorneys bring business acumen and entrepreneurial thinking to work with clients, and operate as business advisors and strategic partners, as well as legal counselors. More information about the firm is available at www.fredlaw.com. Follow us on LinkedIn and on Twitter @FredriksonLaw.