Six Fredrikson & Byron Attorneys Recognized in Intellectual Asset Management’s 2016 Patent 1000 Guide

Debuting in the 2016 edition of the IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals were Lora Friedemann and Ann M. Ladd. Also ranked again were Thomas R. Hipkins, Kurt J. Niederluecke, Charles D. Segelbaum and David C. West. The IAM Patent 1000 identifies the top patent professionals in key jurisdictions around the world.

According to the IAM Patent 1000, “Fredrikson & Byron has the strongest IP transactions practice of any firm in the Twin Cities; it has three individuals recommended within the discipline, whereas no rival has more than one.” Ann Ladd, who serves on the firm’s Board of Directors and is a member of its Executive Committee and is chair of the Technology Transactions & Licensing Group, “debuts in the guide this year on the back of outstanding references. ‘Ann excels at project management and puts all the right resources at the disposal of her clients on matters that necessitate very fast turnaround times. She understands your objectives and expectations, and she is exceptionally integrated as a business partner.’ As testament to this, one respondent called her ‘a friend and mentor’, as well as a ‘truly gifted attorney’. She forms a great partnership with commercialisation maven David West”, chair of the firm’s Advertising, Marketing & Trademark Group, “in a major recent highlight, the pair acted for Medtronic on the drafting and negotiation of a settlement agreement with Edwards Lifesciences, which brought to a neat and tidy close a multi-jurisdictional battle over Medtronic’s CoreValve product.”

Charles Segelbaum, with a background in electrical and mechanical engineering and 19 years of business-focused legal experience, “keeps things running smoothly on the due diligence front, but brings much else to the table – not least outstanding prosecution skills. He is excellent at communicating clearly with business folks on all manner of patent topics. So too is Thomas Hipkins, who chairs the Patents Group. His pin-sharp risk analyses are warmly appreciated by those looking to introduce new products to the marketplace.”

As further stated in the IAM Patent 1000, “A crack litigation unit lends a nice balance to the group.” Kurt Niederluecke, chair of the firm’s Intellectual Property Litigation Group, “brings staunch leadership to the contentious division; he has lately been manning worldwide enforcement efforts for Medtronic. The experienced trial lawyer has a knack for shifting the momentum in difficult cases. Lora Friedemann doesn’t flinch when patrons are sued by top competitors; HM Electronics knows this well, having seen her in action in its dispute with 3M over wireless intercom systems used in the fast-food business.” Friedemann heads the firm’s Intellectual Property Division. Prior to assuming that position, she chaired the Intellectual Property Litigation Group for over a decade.

The IAM Patent 1000 shines a spotlight on the firms and individuals that are deemed outstanding in this area of practice. Individuals qualify for a listing in the IAM Patent 1000 when they receive sufficient positive feedback from peers and clients with knowledge of their practice and the market within which they operate. Only those individuals identified by market sources for their exceptional skill sets and profound insights into patent matters feature in the IAM Patent 1000.

Fredrikson & Byron is a 275-attorney law firm based in Minneapolis, with offices in Bismarck, Des Moines, Fargo, 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.