Describe your career trajectory.
I began my career as a software designer/developer, working for a consulting company and a startup that was one of the first Software-as-a-Service companies. This was the dot-com era and we were developing innovative technology and having a lot of fun. I also got really good at ping-pong. However, I wanted to go back to school and develop new skills.
I researched and found that many CEOs have law degrees, so I knew that going to law school would be a great education. I applied to nearby Vermont Law and Graduate School and, somewhat fortuitously, an intellectual property (IP) professor explained that an engineering degree is required to be a patent attorney. I was confident I was the only one in the room to have one and from that point on focused on IP law. While there are millions of attorneys in the United States, there are fewer than 30,000 active patent practitioners, and even fewer with computer science degrees, so I have been fortunate that my skillset has always been in demand.
I held clerkships during law school at Homeland Security, the Vermont Judiciary, and a general practice firm in Boston. After graduation, I accepted a position at the Boston firm, but ultimately moved to Connecticut where I joined IP boutique firms. I still live in Connecticut with my wife and our three young children.
Why did you choose to move your practice to Husch Blackwell?
My practice grew to where I needed more support. I was fighting for resources at a boutique and finding it difficult to service my clients. I was not thinking of joining an Am Law 100 firm, but a colleague introduced me to Husch Blackwell and I could hardly believe how nice everyone was during the interview process. Having Midwest roots helps drive a great culture. It is very collegial.
How does Husch Blackwell support your practice?
I am supported by a talented legal team and receive a tremendous amount of support for marketing and client development. When I worked at a boutique, I had to manage everything from human resources to firm finances, including developing my own marketing materials. Now I can focus more on client relationships, legal strategy, and business development. In addition, I can now support my clients in other areas such as corporate law, data privacy, and employment, since Husch Blackwell has some of the most well-known attorneys in every area of law. It is a great situation because my clients receive both the high-caliber services of an Am Law 100 firm and the extremely competitive billing rates of a Midwest firm.
Describe your experience with The Link, the firm’s virtual office.
Admittedly, I was apprehensive about The Link because I like to be in an office, around people and initially I was only considering firms that had physical offices. The Link, however, has been great because it provides flexibility to drive my kids to school every day while still being part of the Husch Blackwell team. The firm started The Link before COVID and it is really technology-driven, helping to keep people engaged with each other.
What is your advice for a new hire?
Meet as many of your colleagues as possible. One of my clients recently experienced a data breach, and, through internal networking, I had the opportunity to work with our exceptional data privacy team. I have only been here a couple of months, but have already collaborated with several different teams to service my clients on non-IP issues.