David L. De Bruin
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David L. De Bruin
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David L. De Bruin
Firm: Michael Best & Friedrich LLP
Address: Two Prudential Plaza
180 North Stetson Avenue
Suite 2000
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 596-5804 (Chicago)
(414) 225-2776 (Milwaukee)
Fax: (312) 222-0818 (Chicago)
(414) 277-0656 (Milwaukee)
E-mail: Contact Us
Web site: http://www.michaelbest.com

Position Areas of Practice Bar Admissions
Education Honors Published Works
Affiliations Representative Clients Representative Cases
Lawyer Profile:

Dave De Bruin is a creative and seasoned first-chair patent trial and appellate lawyer. Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business has characterized Dave as an "impressive litigator," citing sources stating he possesses "an extremely acute legal mind" and noting his "ability to think his way around any issue." While Dave is well-equipped to argue legal issues and to explain complex technology to lay judges and juries, he understands that at trial, the human story behind the dispute must be told. He also understands that litigation may not always be the best approach to achieve a client's goals.

Dave has successfully tried patent cases in a variety of venues. In 2009, he obtained a liability jury verdict in the Central District of California on a patent covering 3D computer modeling in orthodontics, leading to a recovery publicly valued in excess of $90M. Dave has first-chaired jury trials in the rocket docket of the Western District of Wisconsin and, in a last minute substitution of lead trial counsel, obtained a willful infringement finding against Walmart in the District of Colorado. The technology in Dave's cases have ranged from mechanical and electrical devices to biological and chemical patents.

Although he is admitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and has a physics degree from M.I.T., Dave's judgment as a litigator is informed by the substantial non-patent business litigation he lead during the first decade and a half of his career, which included securities fraud, RICO, insolvency and telecommunications fraud, and first-chairing a five-week long accountant liability trial that remains a leading accountant liability and attorney misconduct case in Wisconsin.

Dave has successfully argued numerous patent cases before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals and prepared an amicus brief whose arguments were noted in a recent en banc ruling. He also has served as an arbitrator deciding securities claims and IP insurance coverage issues and submitted testimony as a Markman expert. Dave also authors patent opinions and provides IP counseling.

Current Employment Position(s):
Partner

Areas of Practice:
Intellectual Property
Intellectual Property Litigation
Energy & Sustainability
Certification/Specialties:
Patent Law, United States Patent Trademark Office, 1991

Bar Admissions:
Wisconsin, 1982
U.S. Court of Appeals Federal Circuit, 1993
U.S. Court of Appeals 7th Circuit, 1982
U.S. District Court Eastern District of Wisconsin, 1982
U.S. District Court Western District of Wisconsin, 1982
U.S. Federal Courts, 1982
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 1992
U.S. District Court District of Colorado, 2001
U.S. District Court Northern District of Illinois, 2002
Illinois, 2007
U.S. Supreme Court, 2008
U.S. District Court Central District of Illinois, 2010
Education:
University of Michigan Law School at Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1981
J.D.
Law Review: Michigan Law Review, Associate Editor and Note Editor and , 1979 - 1981

University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1981
M.P.P.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1977
B.S.
Major: Physics

Published Works:
The Western District of Wisconsin Is the Intellectual Property Place to Be, American Bar Association, Litigation Section, IP Litigation Newsletter, Spring, 2007

Guidelines for Patent Invalidity and Non-Infringement Opinions, IP Litigator, October, 2001

'Offer to Sell' Provision Expands Forum Options, National Law Journal, January 26, 1998

Representative Cases:
Chevron Chemical Co. v. Deloitte & Touche, 501 N.W.2d 15 (Wis. 1993)
Maquip V. Folber America, 96-0726
Representative Clients:
First Brands Corporation
Classes/Seminars Taught:
Accounting Malpractice Law in Wisconsin, National Business Institute, Inc.

Insurers' Duty to Defend of Provide Coverage in Intellectual Property Cases under Standard Comprehensive General Liability Coverage, Milwaukee Bar Association

Financial Reporting and Subsequent Discovery of Errors: A Case Study, ABC Financial Communications Forum

Annual Securities Law Update, State Bar of Wisconsin

Advantages of Litigating Securities Fraud Cases Under the Uniform Securities Act, Milwaukee Bar Association

RICO Seminar, Wisconsin Association of Trial Lawyers

Speaker, "Drafting Opinions of Counsel for Software and Business Method Patents," Sweeping Changes for Software and Business Method Patenting and Litigation

Moderator, "Can the Attorney-Client Privilege Protect Patent Advice?: Willful Infringement and the Adverse Inference After Knorr-Bremse," ABA IPL Annual Meeting

Speaker, "Prosecution Laches: New Life for Intervening Rights?", National CLE Conference, Intellectual Property Law, Law Education Institute, ABA IPL Section and INTA

Speaker, "Mock Trial and Jury Research Presentation", National CLE Conference, Intellectual Property Law, Law Education Institute, ABA IP Section and INTA

Speaker, "Litigation in the United States: Patents, Trademarks, Copyrights and Trade Secrets," La Gestione di un Contenzioso Negli USA: Cartele Contrattuali e Strategie Difensive, Camera di Commercio Industria Artigianato E Agricoltura di Bologna, Bologna

Moderator, "A View from the Bench", National CLE Conference, Intellectual Property Law, Law Education Institute, ABA IPL Section and INTA

Speaker, "Opinions of Counsel: Do's and Don'ts," ABA IP Section Annual Meeting

Speaker, "The Attorney-Client Privilege in IP Cases", National CLE Conference, Intellectual Property Law, Law Education Institute, ABA IPL Section and INTA

Speaker, "Using Patents to Protect Technology Inventions and Computer Software," presented at "Hot Topics in I.T. & E-Business", State Bar of Wisconsin

Speaker, "Recent Developments in Claim Construction", National CLE Conference, Intellectual Property Law, Law Education Institute and INTA

Speaker, "Obtaining Personal Jurisdiction Through 'Offer for Sale' Infringement", National CLE Conference, Intellectual Property Law, Law Education Institute

Honors and Awards:
Who's Who in America

Who's Who in American Law

Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business

Wisconsin Super Lawyer in the area of Intellectual Property Litigation

Professional Associations and Memberships:
M.I.T. Alumni Club of Wisconsin, 1987 - Present
Educational Counsel Member

Rotary Club, 1990 - 1993
Member

Milwaukee Bar Association
Member, Former Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Law Section

American Bar Association
Member

American Bar Association
Member, Litigation, Science and Technology

American Bar Association
Member, Patent, Trademark and Copyright Law Sections

State Bar of Wisconsin
Member, Patent Law, Litigation Sections

Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association
Past Board

Bar Association of the Seventh Federal Circuit
Member

Wisconsin Academy of Trial Lawyers
Member

Washington Park Development Corporation, 1985 - 1994

Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, 1986 - Present
Member

ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Committee 803 - Resolutions, 2006 - Present
Co-Chair

ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Committee 606 -- Experts, 2004 - 2005
Co-Chair

ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Committee 602 -- Arbitration and other Alternative Procedures, 2002 - 2004
Chair

ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Committee 651 -- Special Committee on Attorney Opinions, 2000 - 2002
Chair

American Intellectual Property Law Association

Federal Circuit Bar Association

Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Inc.
Board of Directors

Legal Aid of Milwaukee, Inc.
Board of Directors

Public Policy Forum Education Committee

MIT Club of Wisconsin
Board of Directors

MIT Education Council

Future Milwaukee, Institute for Local Leaders
Board of Directors (past member)

Democratic Party of Wisconsin

Past Employment Positions:
Chief Judge John W. Reynolds, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin, Law Clerk, 1981 - 1983

Birth Information:
1955, Appleton, Wisconsin, United States of America
Profile Last Updated:
9/7/2012

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