Introduction

Adonis is a shareholder of Fredrikson & Byron’s Intellectual Property Group and is one of the co-leaders of our Cleantech Group. His practice focuses on U.S. and international patent protection and strategies for major or established companies, start-ups, and individuals in a variety of technologies, including chemical, environmental, food compositions and processing, aerospace, films, coatings, alternative energy (solar, wind, and biofuels), biomass, biomaterials, and mechanical. Adonis advises clients on all aspects of intellectual property assets protection as well as technology development and transfer agreements, including licensing and joint venture. His practice includes product clearance/freedom-to-operate and due diligence analyses, and related opinion work. From 2004 to 2006, Adonis served as Chair of the Intellectual Property Group.

Prior to joining Fredrikson & Byron, he practiced environmental law and intellectual property law in both the private and public sector and served most recently in the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office. He has litigated in state and federal courts at both the trial and appellate levels.

Education

• University of Washington, School of Law, J.D., 1982
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology, S.B., Chemical Engineering, 1979

Bar Admissions

• Minnesota, 1988
• Colorado, 1983
• 10^th Circuit Court of Appeals, 1984
• U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, 1986
• Washington, 1990

Practice Areas

• Intellectual Property
• IP Due Diligence, Mergers & Acquisitions, and Strategic Assessments
• Patents
• Bioscience & Chemical Technology
• Renewable Energy
• Clean Technology
• Algae
• Commercial Law

Selected Publications & Presentations

• Speaker, “Creating Value: IP Position in Competitive Investment Environment,” EERC 2011 Biomass Workshop, July 26, 2011
• Moderator, International BIOMASS Conference & Expo, May 2-5, 2011
• Speaker, “CO2 Capture and Recycling,” 4th Annual Algae Biomass Summit, Phoenix, AZ, September 28-30, 2010
• “USPTO Fast Tracks Green Patent Applications,” co-authored with Thomas Hipkins, FredALERT: Cleantech, December 2009
• Moderator, “What can we learn from renewable energy leaders in other countries?,” E3 2009: The Midwest’s Premier Energy, Economic and Environmental Conference, November 17, 2009
• “Protecting Your Technology Overseas,” co-authored with Richard Weiner, FredNEWS: International, September 2009
• Presenter, “IP Protection,” Fredrikson & Byron’s Midwest Algae Commercialization Workshop, August 18, 2009
• “Don’t Give Away the Farm: Key steps to protect and profit from your IP,” co-authored with Todd Taylor, FredNEWS: Energy, February 2009
• Panel Moderator, “Solar Energy - From Next-Gen to Solar-Powered Biomass Gasification,” Midwest’s Premier Energy, Economic and Environmental Conference, November 18, 2008
• Panel Moderator, “4 Perspectives on IP in Business Transactions,” 2008 Midwest Intellectual Property Institute, September 25-26, 2008
• “Applying Patents in the Developing Biomass Industry,” co-authored with Todd Taylor, Biomass Magazine, September 2008
• “Protecting Biodiesel Trade Secrets Overseas,” co-authored with Rich Weiner, Biodiesel Magazine, June 2008
• “U.S. Patent Law Implications of: Transnational Production,” co-authored with Thomas Hipkins, Fredrikson & Byron’s Intellectual Property Focus Newsletter, July 2006
• “Don’t Let Your Patent Be A Guinea Pig,” co-authored with Daniel J. Maertens and John F. Dolan, Fredrikson & Byron’s Intellectual Property Focus Newsletter, Spring 2002

Professional Activities

• Minnesota State Bar Association
• American Bar Association
• National Bar Association
• National Hispanic Bar Association
• Minnesota Association of Black Lawyers
• Algal Biomass Organization, Technical Standards Committee Member
• Fredrikson & Byron Foundation Board of Directors
• Diversity Committee, Fredrikson & Byron, 2004 to present

Honors & Distinctions

• Adjunct Professor, William Mitchell College of Law; Fall 2000