Walter C. Linder

Partner

F +1 612 766 1600

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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. This expertise includes:

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.