Dave S. Christensen | McCarter & English, LLP

An engineer and inventor, Dave’s significant technical and business management experience shapes his patent strategies for technology companies.

Dave Christensen’s intellectual property practice focuses on assisting clients in protecting their inventions in both U.S. and foreign patent offices in a variety of technical fields, including aerospace and defense, artificial intelligence and machine learning software, optics, automation and robotics, automotive, autonomous vehicle, satellite and space systems, and consumer products. Dave further has worked as in-house patent counsel at several companies that produced a broad range of energy technologies including renewable energy, electrochemical systems, fuel cells, hydrogen generators, wind turbines, distributed power systems and electrical distribution and control devices.

He also has significant experience in assisting clients in developing strategies for managing risk in developing new products and the building and managing their intellectual property portfolios. Dave assists clients with obtaining freedom to operate and invalidity positions and performing infringement monitoring of competitors. He further counsels startup to mid-cap clients in preparing for mergers, acquisitions, investment financing, and associated due diligence activities.

Before beginning his career as an IP attorney, Dave was a design engineer and product development manager, where he gained hands-on experience in leading international multi-functional teams in developing commercial products using a wide range of manufacturing technologies such as additive manufacturing, 3D printing, high precision machining, and high-volume manufacturing technologies. He is also an inventor on 37 U.S. patents related to medical devices and electrical distribution equipment.

Dave is active in thought leadership, particularly related to how technology is changing both manufacturing and legal business operations. He is the Chair and Editor-In-Chief for the Editorial Review Board of the American Bar Association’s Law Practice Magazine, where he helps set the direction of the magazine’s content, guest edits, and contributes articles. He regularly presents at webinars and authors articles on a variety of law practice management and intellectual property topics. Dave is also a past member and chair of the Board of Directors of MakerspaceCT, a nonprofit dedicated to positively impact lives by enabling access, innovation, and education in manufacturing skills to the under-served in the Hartford area.

Represented a client, in the industrial cleaning products market, enforce a design patent involving window cleaning cloths. When the manufacturer discovered a major European client had a product very similar to theirs, we assisted in investigating the infringement in the US and obtained jurisdiction over the competitor. The litigation was settled prior to trial and the competitor withdrew their product from the US market.

Represented a water purification technology company in a matter involving a competitor selling replacement parts for the client’s system. Assisted the client in managing the litigation in multiple European venues involving utility patents, European Community Designs and German utility models. This action included infringement proceedings in German courts, and invalidity proceedings before the German Patent Office and European Union Intellectual Property Office. Validity proceedings were appealed to the European Union General Court which clarified European law regarding features that are solely dictated by technical function.

Represented a client who developed a new pneumatic valve with broad applicability in a variety of applications. Developed and managed patent portfolio resulting in granted patents across multiple jurisdictions allowing the client to attract a leading European tire manufacturer interested in the technology. Drafted and negotiated license agreements with the European manufacturer. Assisted the client in developing a global multi-tier licensing strategy allowing for widespread adoption of the technology.

Represented a client in the defense and aerospace field in managing the patent portfolio for a robotic and space systems division. Developed and executed domestic and international patent filing strategies related to robotics, autonomous systems for extraterrestrial vehicles, and flight systems. Assisted the client with preparing the division for divestiture and supported due diligence activities with the acquiring company.

Advised a multinational company on patent-related matters, including freedom to operate, noninfringement, and invalidity matters. Developed and executed domestic and international patent filing strategies and management of portfolios related to high precision mechanical systems, optical and laser based non-contact scanning equipment, and software for processing and visualizing terabyte-scale measurement data using distributed and cloud computing technologies.