Introduction
John Dolan is a shareholder in Fredrikson & Byron’s Intellectual Property Group and is a co-chair of Fredrikson & Byron’s Cleantech Group. He works with corporations to strategically secure and protect domestic and foreign patent rights covering a variety of technologies, including chemical compounds and compositions, industrial processes, films and coatings, biomass and biomaterials, mechanical devices, food products, packaging, recycled and building materials, biofuels, and other renewable energies.
In addition, John advises small to large companies on all aspects of intellectual property asset protection as well as technology and corporate development. Consultations include projects related to technology transfer and licensing; IP due diligence in mergers, acquisitions and investments; product clearance analyses and opinions; business plan development; corporate set-up and structure strategies; and patent litigation. John has also assisted entrepreneurs in the formation and development of new companies and has provided target identification and negotiation services related to venture funding, strategic partnering, licensing, and merger and acquisitions. In addition, John was the founder of a company that commercialized a green technology where he crafted the strategy for the development, protection and utilization of unique IP to raise capital, manufacture and commercialize products and license its technology.
John has served as a patent examiner with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office where he examined patent applications related to organic chemistry and biotechnology. This opportunity, coupled with his legal experience, has given him a unique perspective of the intellectual property field.
Education
- Hamline University School of Law, J.D., 1991
- University of Minnesota, B.S., Chemistry, 1997, with honors
- Southwest State University, B.S., Marketing, 1988
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Academy, 1999
Bar Admissions
- Minnesota, 1992
- Hawaii, 1992
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Registration, 1999
- United States District Court, District of Minnesota, 2001
Practice Areas
- Intellectual Property
- IP Due Diligence, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Strategic Assessments
- Copyrights
- Patents
- Bioscience & Chemical Technology
- Clean Technology
- Algae
Selected Publications & Presentations
- Presenter, “Patents v. Trade Secrets – Which is Right for Your Company's Protection?,” Fredrikson & Byron Non-Competes & Trade Secrets Seminar, March 3, 2011
- “What’s My Strategy? (Trade Secret or Patent?),” co-authored with Matthew Graham, FredALERT: Non-Competes & Trade Secrets, March 2011
- Speaker,
- "Don't Let Your Patent Be A Guinea Pig," co-authored with Daniel J. Maertens and Adonis Neblett, Spring 2002
Professional Activities
- American Intellectual Property Association
- Minnesota Intellectual Property Association
- Minnesota State Bar Association
- Hawaii State Bar Association
- Hennepin County Bar Association
- Society of Cosmetic Chemists
- American Chemical Society, Chair, Membership Committee
- Judge, 2011 Minnesota Cup, Clean Technology & Renewable Energy Division