Carlson, Caspers, Vandenburgh & Lindquist

Carlson, Caspers, Vandenburgh & Lindquist is an acclaimed intellectual property boutique law firm founded in 2003 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a single office. The firm operates with approximately 30-33 attorneys, all of whom focus exclusively on intellectual property matters. Carlson Caspers consistently receives high rankings, including being recognized as a "Best Law Firm" by U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers, and achieving "Silver" national and "Gold" Minnesota rankings for Patent Litigation by IAM Patent 1000. Chambers USA also identifies the firm as a leading IP practice in Minnesota.

The firm specializes in high-stakes intellectual property litigation and counseling, with particular expertise across diverse technology-driven sectors. This includes pharmaceuticals and life sciences (including extensive Hatch-Waxman/ANDA litigation for generic drug manufacturers), medical devices, wireless communications, telecommunications equipment, manufacturing, semiconductors, mechanical arts, and bio-agriculture. Attorneys at Carlson Caspers possess strong technical backgrounds in areas such as pharmacology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, molecular biology, cellular biology, chemical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science, which informs their legal strategies.

While the firm's tracked appearances indicate a plaintiff-side role in one case, public records and the firm's own descriptions demonstrate a versatile practice representing both plaintiffs and defendants in patent disputes. Carlson Caspers has secured notable outcomes for its clients, including a $14.38 million jury award (plus enhanced damages) for Exmark Manufacturing Co. in a patent infringement case affirmed by the Federal Circuit, and multi-million dollar judgments and settlements for clients like ADC Telecommunications (including a $75 million result for wireless OFDM technology) and Teva Pharmaceuticals in complex patent litigation. The firm also assisted DuPont Pioneer in securing global licensing agreements for CRISPR-Cas technology.

Carlson Caspers maintains a robust post-grant practice before the USPTO, frequently engaging in Inter Partes Reviews (IPR), Post Grant Reviews (PGR), and other contested proceedings, often in parallel with district court litigation. Founding Partner Philip P. Caspers has served as lead counsel in over a hundred such proceedings. Patexia's 2023 report recognized the firm among the top ANDA litigation firms and highlighted partners J. Derek Vandenburgh, Peter Kohlhepp, and Dennis Bremer among the top-performing attorneys in PTAB proceedings.

Key partners in the firm's patent litigation practice include founding partners Philip P. Caspers, J. Derek Vandenburgh (also Managing Partner), and Timothy A. Lindquist, alongside Dennis C. Bremer. These partners are consistently recognized by leading legal directories such as Best Lawyers, Super Lawyers, and Chambers USA for their extensive experience and successful track records in complex patent litigation and appellate advocacy before the Federal Circuit.