The Attorneys at Westman, Champlin & Kelly

NICHOLAS K. BEAULIEU holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering (summa cum laude) from the University of North Dakota and a Juris Doctor (cum laude) from William Mitchell College of Law. Prior to law school, Nick worked as an engineer for Intel Corporation, Hutchinson Technology, and Seagate Technology. Nick is experienced in patent preparation and prosecution in the chemical, mechanical, computer hardware, and computer software fields. He also has experience in trademark prosecution and enforcement. Nick is a member of the Minnesota Bar and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

DAVID C. BOHN formerly worked for 3M as an electrical engineer, and for Rosemount Inc. as an electrical engineer and patent attorney. Dave's engineering work has included optical and magnetic transponders for traffic controls and security systems, and magnetic systems and electrodes for liquid flow meters. Dave holds a bachelor of electrical engineering degree from the University of Minnesota, an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and a Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law. Dave is experienced in patent preparation and prosecution in the areas of analog and digital electronics, mechanical devices, sensors, instrumentation, optics and magnetics.

KENNETH A. BRANDT has extensive experience as an engineer, having worked as a design engineer and inventor for over twelve years with Bobcat Company prior to attending law school. He is a named inventor on over 20 U.S. Patents. He holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering with a Computer Option and a Masters of Business Administration from North Dakota State University. Kenneth received his JD, magna cum laude, from William Mitchell College of Law, where he was an assistant editor of the law review and a member of the Dean's Patent Scholar program. He has experience in preparing and prosecuting patent applications in the mechanical, electrical, and software arts. Kenneth is a member of the Minnesota Bar.

DAVID D. BRUSH holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Minnesota and a Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law (cum laude). He worked as an Engineer for Control Data Corporation where he specialized in integrated circuit design and layout, timing and logic simulation. He is a member of the Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honors Society. Mr. Brush is experienced in patent preparation, prosecution, enforcement and licensing in the electrical, electronic, semiconductor and mechanical areas, such as IC design and fabrication, data storage, communications, industrial process sensors, plasma discharge and process inspection tools.

KIRK A. CESARI is a registered patent attorney with over nine years experience. Mr. Cesari holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (Cum Laude) from University of North Dakota and holds a Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law. He currently practices in the areas of patent procurement, patent strategy development, patent portfolio review, and client counseling for Intellectual Property issues related to products and technology. He also offers litigation support for IP related issues, including offensive and defensive litigation support, non-infringement opinions, and patent invalidity opinions. In addition, he is experienced in drafting and negotiating technology agreements, including licensing agreements, joint development agreements, university research agreements, and non-disclsoure agreements. Mr. Cesari spent about 6 years in-house with Seagate Technology LLC, which helps him understand the needs of his clients and provide unique expertise and cost-effective solutions for their Intellectual Property needs.

JUDSON K. CHAMPLIN is experienced in all aspects of patent preparation, prosecution, licensing and related opinions. He has experience with mechanical and electrical patents including computer hardware and software, microelectronic fabrication and design, and communications. He graduated from William Mitchell College of Law, and has a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Mr. Champlin has counseled clients on national and international licensing of Intellectual Property rights. He has been a speaker on Trade Secret protection, and the Electronic Communications Privacy Act, focusing particularly on their application to computer software and the Internet.

CHRISTOPHER R. CHRISTENSON holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering and a Juris Doctor (cum laude) from the University of Minnesota. Chris is experienced in patent preparation and prosecution in the electrical and mechanical fields. Chris is a member of the Minnesota Bar and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent Office.

LEANNE TAVEGGIA FARRELL received her Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. Leanne also holds her Juris Doctor from William Mitchell College of Law where she served as a staff member and as an editor on the Law Review. She is experienced in preparing and prosecuting patent applications in diverse technological fields within the electrical and mechanical disciplines as well as in computer hardware and software. She is also experienced in preparing and prosecuting trademark applications in the U.S. and internationally under the Madrid Protocol. Ms. Farrell is a member of the Minnesota Bar and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

HALLIE A. FINUCANE is experienced in all aspects of patent preparation, prosecution and licensing in the medical device, mechanical, chemical and biotechnology fields. As the former Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, Cardiac Surgery Division, for St. Jude Medical, Inc., she has specialized in the medical device field for more than 14 years. Ms. Finucane graduated from Drake University Law School in Des Moines, Iowa, and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from the University of Minnesota. In addition, she taught intellectual property courses as an adjunct professor at Hamline University in St. Paul, Minnesota. Ms. Finucane is named as an inventor on one patent. Ms. Finucane is a member of the State Bars of Minnesota and California.

CHRISTOPHER L. HOLT is a registered patent attorney with experience preparing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patents in the electrical and mechanical fields, as well as for computer hardware and software inventions. Chris also specializes in preparing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign trademark applications, and enforcing trademark rights. He received his law degree from the University of Kansas School of Law and holds an undergraduate degree in physics from Southwestern College (Winfield, Kansas). Chris is licensed to practice law in both Minnesota and Kansas.

KATHRYN M. HOWARD formerly worked for Rosemount as an engineer, manager and patent attorney. Most recently, she worked at CyberOptics as Sr. Attorney/General Counsel, and was responsible for all aspects of IP protection in addition to other duties. She has worked in the areas of digital and analog circuit design, semiconductor process development and pressure sensor development. She received a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from University of Wisconsin - Madison and a J.D. from William Mitchell School of Law. She is admitted to the State Bars of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Missouri and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

PETER J. IMS holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Chemical Engineering (summa cum laude) from the University of North Dakota and a Juris Doctor (cum laude) from the University of Minnesota. He worked for Koch Refining Company as a process engineer in its oil refining units. Pete is experienced in patent preparation and prosecution in the chemical and mechanical fields. He also has experience in trademark prosecution and enforcement. Pete is a member of the Minnesota Bar, the District Court of Minnesota, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent Office.

BRIAN D. KAUL is a registered patent attorney with experience preparing and prosecuting patents in the electrical and mechanical fields. Brian received his Juris Doctorate (cum laude) from William Mitchell College of Law and holds Bachelor of Science degrees in Electrical Engineering (with distinction) and Aerospace Engineering from the University of Minnesota. He is a member of Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honors Society. Brian is a member of the Minnesota Bar and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

JOSEPH R. KELLY is experienced in all aspects of patent preparation, prosecution, licensing and enforcement in the electrical, electronic, computer software and mechanical areas. He is also experienced in the area of trademark prosecution, licensing and enforcement. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from Iowa State University and a law degree from William Mitchell College of Law (Valedictorian, summa cum laude). He is a former design engineer for Micro Control Company where he designed automated integrated circuit burn-in and test equipment. He has also lectured at CLE presentations on Trade Secret law, Unfair Competition, ethical issues regarding law firm dissolution, computer software protection and intellectual property issues relating to the Internet.

STEVEN M. KOEHLER was an electrical engineer at Northern States Power Company where he taught engineering and electrical principles along with his other engineering duties. He earned a degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Minnesota where he was on the Dean's List and in the Civil Engineering Honors Program. He received his Juris Doctorate from William Mitchell College of Law where he was an officer in the Intellectual Property and Computer Law Society. He practices primarily in mechanical and electrical disciplines of Patent Law and in Trademark Law.

JOHN D. VELDHUIS-KROEZE formerly worked for Rockwell International Corporation both as an electrical engineer and as an intellectual property attorney. John holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from the University of Iowa where he served as a teaching assistant in the Engineering Department. He also holds a Juris Doctor (with distinction) from the University of Iowa where he served as Managing Editor for the Journal of Corporation Law. John is experienced in patent preparation, prosecution and enforcement in the electrical and mechanical fields.

DEIRDRE MEGLEY KVALE received her Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School. Deirdre is experienced in all aspects of procurement of patents and protection of Intellectual Property. She has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Vermont. Deirdre is a member of the bar in Minnesota and is admitted to practice before the U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

MAI D. LAUER graduated from the University of Minnesota Law School (cum laude) and the University of Florida College of Engineering. She focuses on patent preparation, prosecution and opinion practice in the mechanical and software disciplines. She was a member of Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society in college. She now serves on the TBP national board as an Engineering Futures Facilitator. She is a member of the Minnesota and Florida Bars and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

THEODORE M. MAGEE has drafted and prosecuted patents in a wide range of electrical and mechanical disciplines including channel encoding/decoding, speech recognition and natural language systems. He holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering degree (magna cum laude) and a Juris Doctorate (magna cum laude, Order of the Coif) from the University of Minnesota. He has worked as a computer programmer and was a contributing author to West's Intellectual Property Law for Business Lawyers.

Brian R. Morrison received his Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota. During his undergraduate studies, he competed as a sprinter on the University of Minnesota's Swimming and Diving Team, where he was a two-time Big Ten Scholar Athlete. After graduation, Brian was a Product Development Engineer for 3M's Dental Products Division, and was a co-inventor of U.S. Patent Nos. 6,458,341 and 6,733,745. He received his Juris Doctor (cum laude) from William Mitchell College of Law, and is experienced in preparing, prosecuting, and enforcing patents in the chemical and mechanical fields. Brian is a member of the Minnesota Bar and the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. He enjoys aviation, astronomy, and triathlon/marathon training.

ALAN G. REGO received his Juris Doctorate from the Franklin Pierce Law Center. He has experience in patent preparation and prosecution in both the electrical and mechanical disciplines. Alan received his Masters in Electrical Engineering from the University of Bridgeport Connecticut and graduated from the Bangalore University in India with a Bachelor of Engineering in Electrical Engineering. He is a member of the Minnesota Bar and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent Office.

Z. PETER SAWICKI has over 20 years experience in all aspects of patent preparation, prosecution, licensing, rendering opinions and enforcement in the chemical and mechanical areas in the United States and other countries. He also has extensive experience in clearance of trademarks, trademark registration, licensing and enforcement in the United States and in other countries. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering from Purdue University, a Master in Business Administration from the college of St. Thomas and a Juris Doctor from Hamline University School of Law. Prior to entering law school, he was a process engineer with the 3M Company of St. Paul, Minnesota. He has lectured at CLE presentations on patent, trademark and trade secret law. Pete is a member of the Minnesota Bar and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent Office and the Canadian Patent and Trademarks Office.

CHRISTOPHER J. VOLKMANN is a registered patent attorney with experience preparing and prosecuting patents in the electrical and mechanical fields, as well as for computer hardware and software inventions. Chris also specializes in preparing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign trademark applications. Chris received his Juris Doctorate from Hamline University School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering from North Dakota State University. Chris is a member of the Minnesota Bar and registered to practice before the U.S. Patent Office.

NICKOLAS E. WESTMAN is a patent lawyer with over 30 years experience in preparing, prosecuting, licensing and enforcing patents in the mechanical and electro-mechanical fields. He has a degree in engineering from North Dakota State University and a law degree from the William Mitchell College of Law. He is a former president of the Minnesota Intellectual Property Lawyer's Association and a member of Tau Beta Pi honorary engineering society. He has been a lecturer for Minnesota Continuing Legal Education in areas of domestic and foreign patent law.

JAMES L. YOUNG has over two decades of experience in preparing, prosecuting, licensing, rendering opinions and enforcing patents related to mechanical inventions. He also has developed an extensive practice regarding the clearance, registration, licensing and enforcement of trademarks. Jim obtained both his Industrial Engineering degree and Juris Doctor (with distinction) from the University of Nebraska. As an engineering student, he was a member of the Tau Beta Pi engineering honor society. As a law student, he served on the Nebraska Law Review and as chair of the law school's Moot Court Board. He is a past president of the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association, and is a frequent author and lecturer on intellectual property topics. Jim is a member of the Minnesota and Nebraska state bars, and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and the Canadian Intellectual Property Office.