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Overview

After 30 years as a litigator representing clients in intellectual property (IP) enforcement and defense, Jeff knows that moving a client’s interests forward means working backward from the closing argument.

Not all cases, stakes, or budgets are the same, so Jeff collaborates with the client to set expectations at the outset. They agree on strategy, with the goal of adding value to the client’s business and leaving no stone unturned only when warranted. While clients are drawn to his competitive nature, persuasive skills, and years of trial experience, Jeff is keenly aware that sometimes the best legal and business solutions are found outside the courtroom.

Jeff joined the firm in 2024 after chairing the IP litigation team of an IP boutique. He focuses his practice on complex litigation and represents clients of all sizes, from individuals to Fortune 500 companies, in patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters in the pharmaceutical, medical device, software, and manufacturing industries.

Once a practicing pharmacist, clients find his technological and scientific background advantageous when matters involving technology, especially common with patents, are involved in their cases. He has successfully represented numerous companies in Hatch-Waxman (ANDA) litigation as they endeavored to bring new generic drugs to market while facing brand-name company patents.

Industries

Services

Recognition

  • The Best Lawyers In America®
    • Litigation - Intellectual Property, 2024 and 2025
  • Minnesota Law & Politics, IP Super Lawyer, 2007-2010, 2014-2017
  • Hennepin County Volunteer Lawyers Network, Private Practice Pro Bono Lawyer of the Year

Education

  • J.D., University of Minnesota Law School
    • cum laude
  • Pharm.D. (Doctor of Pharmacy), University of Michigan

Admissions

  • Minnesota
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Seventh Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals, Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. District Court, Western District of Wisconsin
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Professional Memberships and Certifications

  • American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network
  • Hon. Jimmie V. Reyna Intellectual Property American Inn of Court
2024 Pro Bono Contributor
Experience

Patent Litigation

  • Pending: A.L.M. Holding Company and Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions, Inc. v. Hi-Tech Asphalt Solutions, Inc., 3:23-cv-467 (E.D. Va.). Represents plaintiff patent owners against construction contractor defendant in patent litigation involving asphalt paving compositions and methods of applying asphalt paving.
  • Pending: Littelfuse, Inc. v. Adler Elektrotechnik Leipzig GmbH et al., 3:23-cv-05841 (N.D. Cal.). Represents distributor of solar panel electrical fuses against claim of patent infringement.
  • Schwab-Vollhaber-Lubratt, Inc. v. Carson Design and Manufacturing, Inc., et al., 21-cv-00619 (D. Minn.). Defended HVAC equipment manufacturer and distributor in patent infringement and unfair competition case, resulting in confidential favorable settlement.

Trade Secrets Litigation

  • Pending: Mednet Solutions, Inc. v. Veeva Systems, Inc., 20-cv-02502 (D. Minn.). Represents plaintiff e-Clinical software company against former employee and competitor software company after former employee took confidential documents from plaintiff and illicitly broke into plaintiff's computer systems while working for defendant competitor.

Trademark Litigation

  • Northwoods Heating & Cooling, LLC v. Northwoods Heating & Air Conditioning, LLC, 21-cv-484 (W.D. Wis.). Represented plaintiff heating and cooling business against defendant competitor for trademark infringement based on competitor's business name. Obtained money judgment including attorney fees for client.

Pharmaceutical/Hatch-Waxman Litigation

  • Forest Labs, et al. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., et al., 14-cv-00121 (D. Del.). Served as lead trial counsel representing world's largest generic drug company in patent infringement dispute relating to generic company's attempt to market generic version of $2.2 billion blockbuster Alzheimer's drug, Nameda XR, before patent expiration. An analyst attending the trial reported that Jeff's cross-examination of the brand company's main expert witness "drew blood on almost every point." After the trial was over, but before decision, the case settled favorably for the generic company under confidential terms.
  • Purdue v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., 14-cv-02357 (S.D.N.Y.) Part of a team that secured a victory for a large pharmaceutical company in a patent infringement case involving oxycontin. Successfully argued that four of plaintiff's patents lacked novelty or were obvious; fifth patent was ruled invalid for indefiniteness. Client secured favorable settlement.
  • Hoffmann-La Roche v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., 09-cv-5283 (D. N.J.). Lead trial counsel in a Paragraph IV Hatch-Waxman case representing a pharmaceutical company concerning its ANDA for capecitabine (Xeloda®). Challenged the infringement and validity of listed Orange Book patents; case settled on favorable terms on the eve of trial.
  • OSI Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Pfizer, Inc. And Genentech, Inc. v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., et al., 09-cv-00185 (D. Del.). On a team representing a pharmaceutical company against charges of infringement of compound, polymorph and method patents relating to erlotinib (Tarceva®) in a Paragraph IV Hatch-Waxman case. Client was offered a favorable settlement on the first day of trial.
  • Celgene v. Teva Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc., 04-cv-04030 (D. N.J.). Lead trial counsel in a Paragraph IV Hatch-Waxman case over its efforts to introduce a generic version of Focalin® (dexmethylphenidate) into the consumer market. Achieved a successful settlement for the defendant.
  • Astra v. Kremers Urban Development Co. and Schwarz Pharma., 99-cv-08928 (S.D.N.Y.). Part of a team representing Kremers Urban Development Co. and Schwarz Pharma in support of their ANDA seeking permission to launch a generic version of Prilosec® onto the market. The drug was netting around $10 million per day. Achieved a successful decision for clients in multidistrict litigation, finding no infringement, and permitting clients to introduce a generic version of the drug.

Pro Bono Litigation

  • Kathryn Eich et al. v. City of Burnsville. Co-counsel for residents of a manufactured home park against defendant city of Burnsville, Minnesota, because of the city's enforcement of property maintenance code in the park. The city subsequently changed its code due to the lawsuit.

Other Litigation

  • Annette Nawls v. Timothy Scott McCaffrey. Represented a woman assaulted at a casino while working as a food and beverage server at a private party. Sued perpetrator for assault, tried the case to a jury, and won a judgment of more than $300,000.
Outside the Office

Jeff is married with two adult children. When not spending time with family or practicing law, he enjoys cycling at home and abroad, with the rolling hills of Tuscany being a favorite destination. Jeff rides with a cycling club, occasionally races, and participates in various Gran Fondos (“big rides”), often 100 miles long.

His cycling club travels to Europe every other year for the Tour de France. Members do not race but ride part of the route that the professionals will conquer the following day.

Community Leadership

Jeff has dedicated hundreds of pro bono hours in support of under-resourced individuals. He took a three-year hiatus from private practice to serve indigent tenants through Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, where he focused on housing, civil rights, and qui tam cases. Jeff also values continued involvement with education and has served as both a moot court judge and teacher.

  • University of Minnesota Law School, Intellectual Property Moot Court Judge
  • Volunteer Lawyers Network, Former Board Member
  • Fund for the Legal Aid Society of Minneapolis, Former Board Member
  • University of St. Thomas, Intellectual Property Law Survey Undergraduate Teacher
  • University of Minnesota Law School, Intellectual Property Moot Court Teacher