For the past 40 years, David has obtained patents for some of the world’s largest companies. He practices from Big Sky, Montana.
With a primary focus on patent prosecution, licensing, and other agreements, David works with highly sophisticated clients to draft and prosecute patent applications and ensure that innovations are protected and ready for use. While not a litigator, he has overseen and participated in litigation in the U.S. and several other countries. He has also served as an expert witness in several contested matters. Six patents he prepared and prosecuted have been litigated – all successfully.
Many of the clients David has served over the course of his career are household names and leaders in their industries. While these industries vary, he has recently devoted most of his time to medical devices, packaging coatings, asphalt, marine bioassays, and other chemical, optical, and mechanical inventions. Thanks to a pre-law background in both chemistry and auto mechanics, understanding both the components and the practical use of inventions is second nature to him, and he thrives on the opportunity to immerse himself in clients’ new developments. David views his role as actively listening to clients and their inventors, then crafting a narrative that will persuade examiners to grant enforceable patents.
David first began his legal career by working 20 years in-house for 3M, where his duties included responsibility for the company’s international patent portfolio and portfolio licensing. During a five-year post in Belgium, he served as senior IP counsel for Europe, formed an office of European patent attorneys, and gained deep exposure to a broad range of foreign legal systems.
David’s decades of in-house experience help him understand how to best support in-house clients while making efficient use of their time. His 3M experience, in addition to his work with other major companies, has also given him an up-close view of how multinational corporations operate, the role their IP plays, and what matters most to these clients. With an enthusiasm born of a true passion for his practice area, David is dedicated to protecting the innovations at the heart of clients’ businesses.