Introduction

Kara is a shareholder in Fredrikson & Byron’s Intellectual Property Group. She practices in the areas of foreign and domestic patent preparation and prosecution, patent litigation, patent opinions, intellectual property licensing, intellectual property due diligence and acquisitions, and client counseling and portfolio management. Her practice relates to a broad range of technical fields but she has a focus working in biotechnology, medical devices, biochemistry, drug delivery, plant genetics, vaccines, blood controls, biotherapeutic agents, diagnostics, nutritional supplements, and pharmaceutical fields.

Kara also has a focus working in agriculture fields. Kara’s family has extensive roots in the agriculture industry.  Her great-grandfather, grandfather, and father all had successful careers in the beef cattle industry. Because of Kara’s strong roots and understanding in agriculture, she enjoys working with clients in this industry.

Additionally, Kara has a focus in design patents and has represented several clients in obtaining design patents on clothes, accessories, footware, and other ornamental items.

Education

• University of Nebraska School of Law, J.D., 2001
• Franklin Pierce Center for IP, University of New Hampshire School of Law, IP Summer Institute, 2000
• Pepperdine University, Bachelor’s in Biology, 1999

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 2002
• U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, 2001

Practice Areas

• Intellectual Property
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Patents
• Bioscience & Chemical Technology
• Life Sciences
• Agribusiness & Cooperatives
• Clean Technology

Selected Publications & Presentations

• Speaker, 5th Annual LifeScience Alley Conference and Expo, St. Paul, Minnesota, December 6, 2006
• “Are Your Poster Presentations Jeopardizing Your Patent Rights,” Fredrikson & Byron’s Intellectual Property Focus Newsletter, March 2005
• “Intellectual Property Holding Companies Can Create Significant Tax Savings and Protect Valuable Assets,” co-authored with Duane Schroeder, Fredrikson & Byron’s Intellectual Property Focus Newsletter, April 2003

Professional Activities

• LifeScience Alley Organization
• American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association

Community Involvement

• Former board member for Hearing and Service Dogs of Minnesota