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
Services & Industries
Credentials
Bar Admissions
Minnesota
Wisconsin
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Education
Marquette University Law School
J.D. (1984)
University of Wisconsin
B.S. in Electrical Engineering, with honors (1981)
Insights & Events
Insights
News
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 Baker Daniels — Pro Bono Honor Roll, 2014-19