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Overview

Walt Linder partners with growing and established companies to develop and manage their worldwide intellectual property portfolios. Walt’s extensive breadth of experience— which includes a term as in-house IP counsel at 3M and interacting with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) on a wide variety of matters— enables him to quickly bring sound judgment to a wide range of clients’ patent and technology legal issues. While he focuses on patents, he routinely counsels clients on a range of IP matters, including trademarks, trade secrets and copyrights.

Patent Experience

Walt assists clients on all aspects of patent-related legal issues encountered in their businesses. He has particular experience in post-grant proceedings, including:
  • Prosecuting post-grant proceedings including inter partes reviews, covered business method reviews, reexaminations and reissue patent applications
  • Developing and implementing business programs to identify, evaluate and protect valuable inventions
  • Assessing and rendering opinions on the patentability of inventions
  • Building worldwide patent portfolios
  • Assessing and rendering opinions on the validity and infringement risks of patents
  • Assessing and rendering opinions on patent design-around opportunities
  • Conducting freedom to operate evaluations

Technology Experience

Walt prosecutes patent applications in a range of electrical, mechanical, software and business method technologies, including:
  • Medical devices, technology and informatics
  • Disk drives and components
  • Optical image processing
  • RF and other wireless communication systems
  • Integrated circuits and MEMS devices
  • 3D Printing
  • Semiconductor devices and manufacturing processes
  • Construction equipment
  • Software-controlled machines
  • Financial services
  • Laser imaging systems
  • Food products and packaging
  • Radar systems

Transaction Experience

Walt understands that patents and other intellectual property are assets that can optimize the value of a business in various ways. He advises clients on IP-related business transactions, including:
  • Negotiating and preparing patent, trademark, trade secret and copyright license agreements
  • Negotiating and preparing joint development agreements involving intellectual property
  • Conducting IP due diligence in mergers and acquisitions
  • Advising boards of directors on intellectual property
  • Negotiating and preparing sponsored research agreements

Insights & Events

Other Perspectives
  • Inter Partes Review – The Year in Review
    Managing IP, 2013

Leadership & Community

Professional Associations

  • Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association — Past treasurer

Honors

  • Faegre Drinker — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2023-24
  • Faegre Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2014-19
Awards Methodology
No aspect of these recognitions has been approved by the highest court of any state.