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Lora Friedemann
Shareholder
Email: lfriedemann@fredlaw.com
Office: 612.492.7185
Assistant: Katheryn Hanson, 612.492.7651
PRIMARY SERVICES
“Federal court judges are repeatedly impressed by the ease and eloquence with which [Lora] builds her arguments around complex theoretical concepts.”
– World Trademark Review 1000, 2018
Overview
Lora Friedemann is a trial lawyer focusing on intellectual property cases in federal courts. Clients and colleagues recognize Lora for her extraordinary range of experience and her effective advocacy in trademark, copyright and patent litigation. Lora’s decades-long dedication to federal court practice started when she served as a federal law clerk and continued with service on the Federal Practice Committee, appointment to the Merit Selection Panels that recommend federal magistrate judges, and leadership roles in the Federal Bar Association. Lora uses her extensive knowledge of federal courts to help her clients achieve successful outcomes. Lora is dedicated to client needs and is known for practical, business-focused advice. Lora leads the Intellectual Property Division at the firm.
Learn More About Intellectual Property:
Experience
REPRESENTATIVE EXPERIENCE
- Lora serves as lead counsel for the Estate of Prince Rogers Nelson in litigation concerning the late superstar’s intellectual property assets. In one of the cases she is handling for the Prince Estate, Lora obtained a TRO and preliminary injunction preventing the release of unauthorized music.
- Often retained to protect important brands, Lora defended a large manufacturer in a trademark infringement lawsuit involving the company’s top-selling product. After obtaining a decision dismissing the damages claim, Lora and her team negotiated a settlement that secured her client’s rights in the mark.
- Lora represents an international clothing conglomerate in a trade dress lawsuit filed by a prominent artist. Lora first transferred the case to a more convenient forum and then won dismissal of all claims asserted against her clients. The case is currently on appeal.
- Lora defended a Fortune 500 company in a copyright infringement lawsuit in Indiana. After Lora identified numerous obstacles to the plaintiff’s claim, the plaintiff agreed to dismiss the case.
- Lora represented the world’s leading medical products provider in a patent infringement suit against a new market entrant. In the case, Lora and her colleagues protected a patented technology representing $125 million in annual revenue. The case ended in a settlement that prevents the competitor from selling the accused product.
- Lora was a member of the winning trial team in a patent case in the Eastern District of Texas. Our client, a manufacturer of display stands, faced an opponent seeking $65 million in damages. Lora tried the damages portion of the case and convinced the jury to reject the exorbitant amount sought by the plaintiffs.
- Lora served as lead counsel in a lawsuit against a knock-off of the iconic SPAM® brand. Lora and her team achieved a favorable settlement that required the opponent to change the design of the accused product.
Articles & Presentations
Using Email Service to Fight Counterfeiters
May 8, 2017
Malicious counterfeiters often hide their identities, making it impossible to serve them through traditional means.
Read MoreCivil Procedure Quiz: What Rule Applies to Motions to Amend Pleadings?
January 18, 2017
If you read past the title, you are a civil procedure nerd. The answer for you is as easy as two plus two. Rule 15! You can recite the standard in your sleep: “freely given when justice so requires.”
Read MoreIs Amazon Liable for Counterfeits?
December 9, 2016
The maker of the popular Snuggie blanket, Allstar Marketing Group, LLC, sued Amazon for trademark infringement earlier this week, alleging that the online retailer enabled the importation and sale of counterfeit Snuggie blankets.
Read MoreAccused Infringer Prevails on Laches Defense
October 6, 2015
If you sit on your rights as a patent owner, you may lose your claims against infringers. Patent owner Dane Technologies recently learned that lesson the hard way.
Read MorePatent Infringement Case Stayed Pending IPR on Some (But Not All) Asserted Claims
August 17, 2015
Should a patent infringement lawsuit be stayed where an IPR challenges some, but not all, of the asserted claims? Magistrate Judge Hildy Bowbeer grappled with that issue in Oticon A/S v. GN Resound A/S, Case No. 15-cv-2066. Oticon, the patent holder, accused GN Resound of infringing 22 claims in a single patent. GN Resound petitioned for inter partes review. The PTAB instituted review on eighteen claims, but declined to institute review on the remaining four claims.
Read More3M Sued for “Sham” Patent Infringement Lawsuit
July 31, 2015
A small rival of 3M, Moldex-Metric, Inc. (Moldex), claims that 3M brought baseless patent infringement claims to stifle competition. Moldex sued 3M for malicious prosecution, antitrust violations and unfair competition.
Read MoreFees Will Be Awarded In Exceptional Patent Case
July 29, 2015
Octane Fitness, the winner in a six year patent infringement lawsuit, will receive an award of attorney’s fees. In 2014, the case resulted in a change in the legal standard that applies when a prevailing party seeks a finding that a patent case is “exceptional,” allowing the party to seek an award of attorney’s fees.
Read MoreHow Much Detail is Required in a Claim Chart?
July 8, 2015
Magistrate Judge Leung considered this question in Stratasys, Inc. v. Microboards Technology, LLC. In the case, Stratasys claims that the H-Series 3D printer sold by Microboards Technology (“Afinia”) infringes various patents.
Read MoreBusy, Busy, Busy! Minnesota Handles Heavy and Varied Patent Docket
May 21, 2015
The District of Minnesota is one of the busiest courts in the nation. The District also carries a greater than average load of patent cases. The Senior Status Judges in the District take a full case load, but do not handle patent cases.
Read MoreMN Judge Orders Recall of Accused Products
May 19, 2015
When should a company facing charges of patent infringement be required to recall the accused products? A recent District of Minnesota decision noted the absence of controlling authority on that question, but ordered a recall nonetheless.
Read MorePUBLICATIONS & PRESENTATIONS
- Presenter, “The Year in Review for Minnesota IP Litigation,” MIPLA Stampede, May 2018
- Quoted in “Atty Who Missed Deposition in Prince TM Spat Told To Comply,” Law360, February 22, 2018
- Moderator, “Fake vs. Real: Anti-Counterfeiting Strategies to Protect Your Brand,” Fredrikson & Byron Anti-Counterfeiting Seminar, November 30, 2017
- Quoted in “Lengthy Legal Battle Continues Over Five Unreleased Prince Songs,” Star Tribune, July 28, 2017
- Quoted in "Judge Blocks Release of Unpublished Prince Songs," MPR News, April 20, 2017
- Presenter, “Year in Review for Minnesota IP Litigation,” MIPLA Stampede, June 2016
- Presenter, “Legal Project Management: A New Way of Managing Matters,” MNACCA Lunch and Learn, October 2014
- Quoted in “Small tech firm wins a round in lawsuit against Microsoft,” Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, January 28, 2014
- Panelist, “Project Management for Law Firms 2014: Tools and Approaches to Implement Legal Project Management,” PLI, January 23, 2014
Honors & Education
EDUCATION
- University of Minnesota Law School, J.D., 1995, magna cum laude
- University of Minnesota, B.A., Journalism, 1991, summa cum laude
BAR ADMISSIONS
- Minnesota, 1995
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1995
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, 1997
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, 2000
HONORS
- The Best Lawyers in America, Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2018
- Fellow, Litigation Counsel of America (membership by invitation only)
- IAM Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals, 2015-2018
- World Trademark Review 1000 – Ranked as a leading trademark attorney, 2014 and 2016-2018
- Minnesota State Bar Association, North Star Lawyer, 2016
- Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, 2010
Professional Activities
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- Magistrate Judge Merit Selection Panels, 2010, 2013 and 2018
- Implementation and Leadership for Federal Pro Se Project, 2011
- President, Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, 2009-2010
- Board of Directors, Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, 2001-2012
- Federal Practice Committee, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 2006-2009
- Founder and Chair, IP Litigation Group, Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, 2005
- Clerk, Judge John R. Tunheim, U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota, 1998