Patrick M. Arenz

Education

• William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., magna cum laude (2006); William Mitchell Law Review, Assistant Editor (2005-2006), Staff Member (2004-2005); American College of Trial Lawyers Mock Trial Team (2006)
• University of Wisconsin-Madison, B.A., History and Political Science, with distinction in Political Science (2003)

Representative Matters

Selected Trial Results
Lead trial counsel for Willis Electric Co., a manufacturer of artificial Christmas trees, against its largest competitor, in Willis Electric Co., Ltd., v. Polygroup Limited et al, wherein a jury awarded Willis Electric a $42.4 million verdict including a finding that Polygroup's patent infringement was willful, and the district court entered final judgment for over $71.4 million.

Lead trial counsel for Dr. Richard Tholen, a top Twin Cities plastic surgeon who endured an amputated leg after Assist America refused to evacuate him for proper medical care, in Tholen v. Assist America (D. Minn.), wherein a federal jury awarded Dr. Tholen a $27.8 million verdict, including $10 million in punitive damages.

Lead trial counsel for ionLake LLC, Derrick Girard, and Wade Girard in CellTrust v. ionLake (D. Minn.), wherein the jury rejected the patent owner’s multi-million dollar claims in a competitor-v-competitor dispute through its verdict finding the asserted patents both not infringed and invalid as obvious.

Trial counsel for celebrity chef Chloe Coscarelli v. ESquared Hospitality and BCHG, an AAA arbitration in which the Honorable Faith S. Hochberg (ret.) restored Chloe’s business entity as a 50% owner in the “by Chloe” fast-casual vegan restaurant company she founded, enjoined the company from selling retail products using Chloe’s name, and awarded over $2.2 million in attorneys’ fees and costs.

Lead trial counsel for celebrity chef Chloe Coscarelli in In re BCHG, a bankruptcy case in which the Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware rejected the investors of the “by Chloe” company, like Bain Capital and Kitchen Fund, attempt to purchase the “by Chloe” trademark—the company’s “crown jewel asset”—in a Chapter 11 proceeding without Chloe’s consent.

Trial counsel in Covidien v. Esch (D. Mass.) in which a federal jury held the defendant, a former Covidien employee, liable for breaching his contracts with Covidien by disclosing and using confidential information to start his own company. Final judgment exceeded $2 million.

Trial counsel in Megdal Associates LLC v. La-Z-Boy, Inc, (S.D. Fla. 2016), a case in which a federal jury in Fort Lauderdale awarded our client, Megdal Associates, $5.7 million for breach of a technology license agreement. The award was increased to $6 million with the award of prejudgment interest. While the case was pending on appeal, it settled with La-Z-Boy, paying Megdal Associates $13.5 million.

Lead trial counsel in Twin Cities Angels v. Once (AAA Arbitration 2020), following a remote Zoom Final Hearing, the arbitrator granted a six-figure award to an investor in a dispute over calculating an internal rate of return on an investment.

Trial counsel in Personal Audio LLC v. Apple Inc. (E.D. Tex.), a patent infringement case in which a federal jury awarded our client, Personal Audio LLC, $8 million in damages for infringing a patent for an audio player that can download or receive navigable playlists. The jury found that Apple's iPods infringed the patent. The district court then denied Apple's equitable defenses of laches and inequitable conduct following a bench trial, which Mr. Arenz tried as second-chair counsel. The verdict was announced on July 8, 2011, and the district court issued a final judgment in excess of $12 million on August 30, 2011.

Lead trial counsel in Vang v. Prataya (D. Minn. 2017), in which a federal jury found that the defendant had sexually assaulted our client when she was 14 years old in Laos, and awarded $950,000 in damages. This verdict is reported to be the first of its kind in a civil “sex tourism” case—in which an American citizen travels overseas for illicit sexual conduct—brought under the PROTECT Act.

Lead trial counsel in J.H. v. A.I. (D. Minn.), an international Hague convention case venued in federal court. After a multi-day bench trial, the Court denied the father’s request to make a 5-year-old girl living in the United States with her mother leave the country and live with him in Juarez, Mexico.

Lead trial counsel in State v. Martin, a pro bono criminal defense matter in Minnesota state court (Ramsey County). The jury issued a split verdict on two felonies.

Lead trial counsel in U.S. v. Indres, a pro bono trial in immigration court. After a contested trial with the federal government, the immigration court denied the government’s request for removal and granted Ms. Indres asylum based on a finding of the political persecution she experienced in Ethiopia.

Selected Appellate Results

Lead appellate counsel in Smits v. Park Nicollet at the Minnesota Court of Appeals and Supreme Court, which remanded the trustee’s wrongful death claim over mental health patient’s wrongful death by suicide.

Lead appellate counsel for Dr. and Mrs. Tholen in Tholen v. Assist America at the Eighth Circuit, which led to a reversal and remand to the district court for the Tholens’ defamation claim.

Lead appellate counsel in Daniels v. Walt Disney Company at the Ninth Circuit in a copyright case over the characters in the blockbuster film Inside Out.

Selected Cases that Settled or Resolved Before Trial

Lead trial counsel for two Hollywood screenwriters in their high-profile copyright case against Disney (Alfred v. Walt Disney Pictures, (C.D. Cal.)) over the multi-billion-dollar blockbuster movie franchise, “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Argued and defeated Walt Disney Pictures’ motion for summary judgment and motion to certify to the Ninth Circuit. Case settled confidentially before trial.

Lead trial counsel in Jacam v. Shepard (D.N.D.) in a case for breach of contract, trade secret misappropriation, and business torts against a former employee with over $6 million at stake. Won summary judgment on all claims. 

Lead trial counsel in ESG Inc. v. Seven Mile Food & Beverage LLC (D. Nev.) in a case for breach of contract, business torts, and fraud. Won motion to dismiss on all claims.

Lead trial counsel in Assurance Drug Testing Labs v. O’Boyle (Wisconsin state court), a breach-of-contract/non-compete enforcement action following a multi-million-dollar purchase agreement. Case settled confidentially before trial.  

Lead trial counsel in Mehlhaff v. Miller (Washington state court), a wrongful death case against a psychologist over a patient’s suicide. Case settled confidentially before trial.

Lead trial counsel for heir to celebrity estate against a financial advisor for breach of fiduciary duty and other business torts. Dispute resolved through a confidential pre-suit agreement.

Trial counsel for Medtronic v. Edwards Lifesciences (D. Minn.) in a patent infringement case over artificial heart valves. Case settled confidentially before trial.

Trial counsel for defendant Draeger Safety Inc. in Sperian Respiratory Protection USA LLC v. Draeger Safety Inc., a patent infringement suit brought by Sperian Respiratory Protection U.S.A. in the Central District of California involving Self Contained Breathing Apparatus for the fire service industry. Following discovery and a Markman hearing, case settled confidentially with no changes made to Draeger Safety’s product.

• Listed in "500 Leading Lawyers in America," Lawdragon (2024)
• Named a "Minnesota Future Star," Benchmark Litigation (2020-2024)
• Named a "Minnesota Super Lawyer," Super Lawyers (2023-2024)
• Listed in The Best Lawyers in America (2023-2025 editions)
• Named to "Top Lawyers List," Minnesota Monthly (2024)
• Named an "Attorney of the Year," Minnesota Lawyer (2022-2023)
• Named a "Notable Partner in Law," Twin Cities Business (2022)
• Named a "Midwest Trailblazer," The American Lawyer (2022)
• Named to "POWER 30" List, Minnesota Lawyer (2021-2022)
• Named to “The 40 Under 40,” List, Bloomberg Law (2021)
• Listed as a “Recommended Individual for Litigation in Minnesota,” IAM 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Professionals (2020-2022, 2024)
• Named to America's Top 100 List for High-Stakes Litigation
• Named Euromoney's Americas Rising Star Winner for Best in Litigation: Trial Lawyer (2019) 
• Named to the “40 & Under Hot List,” Benchmark Litigation (2018-2021)
• Recipient of the "Pro Bono Publico Award," American Bar Association (2018)
• Finalist, "Trial Lawyer of the Year Award," Public Justice (2018)
• Named to "40 Under 40 List," Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (2018, 2023)
• Named "Attorney of the Year," Minnesota Lawyer (2017, 2021)
• Named a “Minnesota Rising Star,” Super Lawyers (2013-2021)
• Named a “North Star Lawyer” by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services (2013, 2015-2016)
• Harry A. Sieben Award, presented by the Minnesota Chapter of the Federal Bar Association for excellence in the study of federal law and practice.

Civic

• Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid, Board Member
• Compatible Technologies International, Board Member
• FBI Citizens’ Academy Alumni Association

Professional

• U.S. District Court, District of Minnesota Federal Practice Committee (2023)
• American Bar Association
• American Association for Justice
• Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter
  • Treasurer, (2016-2017)
  • Assistant Treasurer, (2015-2016)
  • Co-Vice President, Monthly Meetings (2014-2015)
  • Co-Vice President, Legal Education (2012-2014)
  • Chair, IP Practice Group Committee (2009-2012)
  • Chair, Communications Committee (2008-2009)
• Minnesota State Bar Association
• Eastern District of Texas Bar Association
• Eastern District Bench Bar Conference Planning Committee (2011-2023)
• Lifetime member of the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum, a forum limited to trial attorneys who have achieved multi-million dollar results

Speeches

• Minnesota’s Largest Patent Jury Verdict: The Inside Story
  Minnesota CLE 2024 Midwest IP Institute, Minneapolis, Minnesota (September 27, 2024)
• Where is This Story Going?: Trends in Copyright Litigation in the Ninth Circuit
  USC Gould School of Law 2024 Intellectual Property Institute, Santa Monica, California (March 19, 2024)
• Verdict Alert! 8-Figure Edition
  Panelist, Minnesota Association for Justice, Webinar (February 2, 2022)
• Best Practices & Lessons Learned in Firm-Funder Alliances & Funded Deals
  Panelist, Third Annual LF Dealmakers Forum, Webinar (October 22, 2020)
• From Contract to Courtroom: Lessons Learned In Contract Litigation and Trials
  Moderator, Robins Kaplan LLP CLE Presentation, Webinar (September 30, 2020)
• From Contract to Courtroom: Lessons Learned in Contract Litigation and Trials
  Panelist, ACC-MN, Webinar (June 18, 2020)
• Coping With Issues Arising From Litigation Funding: Does Such Funding Models Play a Role in Encouraging and Rewarding Innovation? 
  Leahy Institute of Advanced Patent Studies, The Naples Roundtable, Naples, Florida (February 17-18, 2020)
• Alice and Section 101 Current Trends and Future Possibilities
  Sedona Conference, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (March 29, 2019)
• Breaking Free Pro Bono Anit Human Trafficking Litigation
  ABA Equal Justice Conference, San Diego, California (May 11, 2018)
• The World After T.C. Heartland: Effective Management of Multidistrict Litigations (MDLs) And "Pseudo - MDLs" From The Court’s And The Parties’ Perspectives
  The Sedona Conference on International Patent Litigation, Reston, Virginia (February 26, 2018)
• Early Patent Damages Contentions
  Leahy Institute of Advanced Patent Studies, Naples, Florida (February 19, 2018)
• Parallel Universes The Intersection of PIRs
  American Intellectual Property Law Association, Webinar (November 8, 2017)
• Best Practices for Managing Parallel Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB) and District Court Proceedings
  American Intellectual Property Law Association, Washington, DC (October 20, 2017)
• Anti-Human Trafficking Webinar Part I: An Introduction
  American Association for Justice, Webinar (October 17, 2017)
• Anti Human Trafficking Webinar Part I An Introduction
  American Association for Justice, Webinar (October 17, 2017)
• With Millions of Dollars at Stake: A Trial Lawyer’s Perspective on Litigating and Trying IP License Disputes to Juries and Arbitrators
  Licensing Executives Society, Palo Alto, California (June 21, 2017)
• Declining Right to Trial by Jury in Patent Cases
  The Future of IP and Technology Law Forum, Seattle, Washington (June 7, 2017)
• Effective Management of Multidistrict Litigation and Pseudo MDLs
  The Sedona Conference, Houston, Texas (February 27, 2017)
• Representing the Inventor in the Garage Megdal Associates LLC v La Z Boy
  University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota (November 16, 2016)
• Effective Management of Multidistrict Litigations MDLs and PseudoMDLs
  Sedona Conference on Patent Litigation, Washington, D.C. (October 24, 2016)
• Revisiting No Challenge Clauses and Assessing At risk Licenses
  Intellectual Property Owners Association, Subcommittee on IP Licensing, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 13, 2016)
• Patent Litigation: Practice Tips
  American Intellectual Property Law Association, Washington, D.C. (October 22, 2015)
• Abusive Discovery Must Be Curbed
  The Sedona Conference, Reston, Virginia (October 19, 2015)
• Impact of Octane Fitness Highmark proposed best practices
  The Sedona Conference, Miami, Florida (May 18, 2015)
• What is an Exceptional Case
  All Voices Sedona Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana (November 6, 2014)
• Case Management in Patent Litigation
  All Voices Sedona Conference, New Orleans, Louisiana (November 5, 2014)
• What Civil Lawyers Can Learn From Criminal Lawyers, and Vice-Versa (Panel)
  The 40th Annual Federal Practice Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 26, 2014)
• Case Management Issues from the Judicial Perspective
  The Sedona Conference Working Group 10 Midyear Meeting, San Francisco, California (April 10, 2014)
• Appellate Practice: Intellectual Property
  Understanding Minnesota Appellate Practice and Procedure Series, Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota (December 13, 2013)
• Case Management from a Judicial Perspective
  WG10: Patent Litigation Best Practices, The Sedona Conference, Washington, District of Columbia (September 19, 2013)
• Trends Inside the Courtroom
  2012 Intellectual Property Institute, Kansas Bar Association, Overland Park, Kansas (May 4, 2012)
• Don’t Mess with Texas: The Eastern District of Texas and its Unique Role in Patent Litigation
  The University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 18, 2011)
• Introduction to Patent Law - A Practical Perspective
  Federal Bar Association, Minnesota Chapter, Judicial Law Clerk Patent Law Training, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 13, 2011)
• Teaming Up to Handle Criminal Defense Cases for the Indigent
  Minnesota State Bar Association, Minneapolis, Minnesota (October 26, 2010)
• How the New Local Rules and Federal Rule of Evidence 502 Will Impact Your Practice (Panel)
  36th Annual Federal Court Practice Seminar, Minneapolis, Minnesota (June 22, 2010)
• Hot Topics in Patent Law
  Federal Bar Association (Minnesota Chapter) Judicial Law Clerk Patent Law Training, St. Paul, Minnesota (October 29, 2009)
• Using FRE 502 to Maintain a Delicate Balance: Reducing Ediscovery Costs While Still Protecting Privilege (Panel)
  Minnesota CLE, Minneapolis, Minnesota (August 24, 2009)

Media Mentions

Quoted in:

• "An Obscure Patent Court Has Issued The Biggest Verdict In Its History," IAM (March 18, 2024)
• "Patent Infringement Lawsuit in Minneapolis Federal Courtroom Had an Unlikely Star: Fake Christmas Trees," Star Tribune (January 28, 2024)
• "Patent Verdict Yields $42.4M Robins Kaplan Team Scores Win for Pre-lit Christmas Tree Maker," Minnesota Lawyer (January 26, 2024)
• "Behind the Case: $42M Patent Win Brings Late Christmas Cheer to Robins Kaplan," ManagingIP (January 23, 2024)
• "Christmas Tree Lights Co. Lands $42M Patent Verdict In Minn," Law360 (January 19, 2024)
• "Protecting Your Creative IP: Patrick Arenz Of Robins Kaplan On How to Successfully Protect Your IP in the Entertainment Industry," Medium (October 23, 2023)
• "Plaintiffs Firms Up the Ante on Trial Prep, Mock Juries," The National Law Journal (June 23, 2023)
• "Tech Co. Pushes For New Trial After Text-Tracking Patent Loss," Law360 (June 13, 2023)
• "How Two Advisor Tech Companies Battled It out in Patent Court," InvestmentNews (June 5, 2023)
• "Minnesota Jury Finds CellTrust Text-Tracking Patents Are Obvious," Law360 (May 5, 2023)
• "2022 Attorneys of the Year: Patrick Arenz," Minnesota Lawyer (February 16, 2023)
• "Disney Settles ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ Suit After Remand (2)," Bloomberg Law (September 28, 2022)
• "Justices Remand Wrongful-death Action in Murder-suicide," Minnesota Lawyer (September 15, 2022)
• "Disney Can't Sink Writers' Claim 'Pirates' Franchise Looted IP," Law360 (December 17, 2021)
• "How Robins Kaplan Secured $28M In Zip Lining Injury Verdict," Law360 (December 8, 2021)
• "Medical Service Co. Hit With $27M Verdict Over Amputated Leg," Law360 (November 22, 2021)
• "Jury awards $24.8M to Twin Cities doctor who had leg amputated after zipline injury in Mexico," Star Tribune (November 22, 2021)
• "Jurors Award Man Nearly $25 Million in Amputation Lawsuit," U.S. News & World Report (November 22, 2021)
• "Disney Says It Didn't Plunder 'Pirates' Franchise From Writers," Law360 (October 19, 2021)
• “Teen Artist Wins Round Against Target,” Minnesota Lawyer (April 13, 2021)
• “Investors Agree to Acquire 'By Chloe' Vegan Restaurant Chain from Bankruptcy,” Nation’s Restaurant News (March 12, 2021)
• “'By Chloe' Will Continue Operations, but Under a Different Name,” QSR (March 11, 2021)
• “'By Chloe' Restaurant Investors Win Bankruptcy Auction, But Not the Brand Name,” The Wall Street Journal (March 10, 2021)
• “Appeals Court Reverses Ruling in Murder-suicide,” Minnesota Lawyer (February 23, 2021)
• “‘Inside Out’ Case Shows Gray Area Between Inspired, Swiped (1),” Bloomberg Law (February 16, 2021)
• “Court of Appeals: Lake Minnetonka Murder-Suicide Liability Case Against Park Nicollet Should be Tried Before a Jury,” Star Tribune (February 16, 2021)
• “'By Chloe' Co-Founder Fights Over Trademark for Bankrupt Vegan Chain,” The Wall Street Journal (February 3, 2021)
• “Bankrupt Vegan Chain By Chloe’s Co-Founder Chef Wins Another Legal Battle,” WSJ Pro Bankruptcy (January 29, 2021)
• “Celeb Chef Wins Ruling In Battle Over ‘By Chloe’ Brand,” Law360 (January 29, 2021)
• "The Next Generation of IP and Technology Trial Lawyers," Attorney at Law (October 5, 2020) 
• "Atty Group Urges Justices To Take 'Inside Out' Copyright Case," Law360 (September 10, 2020)
• "Godzilla, Bond, Batmobile: Moodsters Ask SCOTUS to Review Character Copyrights in Disney Scrap," Westlaw News (August 5, 2020) 
• “Physician’s Amputation Defamation Suit Reinstated,” Business Insurance (August 3, 2020)
• “8th Circ. Revives Surgeon's Suit Over Travel Magazine Story,” Law360 (July 31, 2020)
• “Breaking the Ice: Competitive spirit fuels range of trial work,” Minnesota Lawyer (June 24, 2020)
• “Why Gilstrap Is Getting Ready for Trial — And Not On Zoom,” Law360 (May 15, 2020)
• “Cisco’s ‘Unprecedented’ Patent Trial to Test Video Capabilities,” Bloomberg Law (April 30, 2020)
• "A Pro at Pro Bono," Mitchell Hamline Alumni Magazine (Winter 2019)
• "Discovery Violations Prompt Adverse Inference Order," Minnesota Lawyer (June 13, 2019)
• '' 'Lawsuit for Chloe' is for High Stakes," Minnesota Lawyer (April 11, 2019)
• "The 2018 Recipients of The ABA Pro Bono Publico Award," American Bar Association (August 27, 2018) 
• "Pro Bono Publico Award Winners: Patrick Arenz, Robins Kaplan LLP," Center for Pro Bono (August 15, 2018) 
• “Punitive Damage Count Added to Zip-Lining Doctor’s Breach-of-Duty Claim,” Minnesota Lawyer (August 17, 2018)
• “2018 Trial Lawyer of the Year Finalist – Vang v. Prataya,” Public Justice (July 11, 2018)
• "Bar Buzz: Pro Bono Publico Award Goes to Patrick Arenz," Minnesota Lawyer (May 31, 2018)
• "Public Justice Announces Finalists for 2018 Trial Lawyer of the Year Award," Public Justice (May 29, 2018)
• "40 Under 40: Patrick Arenz," Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (March 23, 2018)
• "First Round of 40 Under 40 Honorees for 2018 Revealed," Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal (January 23, 2018)
• "Covidien Nears OK For Stay Of California IP Suit," Law360 (January 5, 2018)
• "Did the Walt Disney Company and Pixar Steal the Movie Inside Out?" IPWatchdog, (October 2, 2017)
• "Amended Suit Alleging Misappropriation of Blockbuster Inside Out Filed Against Disney," Animation Digital Digest (September 21, 2017)
• "Jury Awards $950K to Former 'Child Bride,'" Minnesota Lawyer (May 18, 2017)
• "Robins Kaplan LLP Secures Landmark Civil Jury Verdict in Sex Tourism Case," Lawdragon (May 16, 2017)
• "Nearly $1 Million Verdict in Sexual Assault of Girl in Laos," The New York Times/Associated Press (May 12, 2017)
• "Minnesota woman wins $1 million in lawsuit against married man who 'raped and impregnated her when she was 14 then trafficked her from Laos'," The Daily Mail (May 12, 2017)
• "Sex tourism victim wins unprecedented civil judgment of nearly $1M," The Star Tribune (May 11, 2017)
• "Pro Bono Happy Hour Podcast," Pro Bono Institute (March 23, 2017)
• "La-Z-Boy Can't Duck $5.8M Royalty Verdict, Fla. Court Says," Law360 (January 6, 2017)
• "La-Z-Boy Failed to Pay Royalties for Electronic Footrest," VerdictSearch National Vol. 15 (November 2016)
• "High Court Won't Rehear Commil's $74M Patent Win Reversal," Law360 (November 28, 2016)
• "Halo – Is it Clarity You’re Looking For?" Managing Intellectual Property (August 17, 2016)
• "Patent Jury Trials At Risk, High Court Told In Cisco Case," Law360 (July 20, 2016)
• "Jury Slaps La-Z-Boy With $5.8M Verdict In Royalty Suit," Law360 (March 16, 2016)
• "Pro Bono Firm of 2015: Robins Kaplan," Law360 (September 17, 2015)
• "Make Sure Your License Agreements Don't Unwittingly Jeopardize Your Standing in Court," Tech Transfer eNews Blog (November 19, 2014)
• "Federal Summary Judgment Practice Changes," Minnesota Lawyer (November 15, 2010)
• "Little Known Rule 502 a Safe Haven for Attorneys," Minnesota Lawyer (August 23, 2010)

Mentioned in:

• "Mitchell Hamline Professor and Alums Honored with Attorney of the Year Awards," Mitchell Hamline School of Law (January 11, 2024)
• "Minnesota Lawyer Announces Attorneys of the Year," Minnesota Lawyer (December 21, 2023)
• "A New Era of Copyright Litigation in Hollywood: Revisiting Pirates of the Caribbean One Year Later," IPWatchdog (November 27, 2023)
• "Disney Settles Screenwriters' Claim It Stole 'Pirates' IP," Law360 (September 1, 2022)
• “Stepping into the Shoes of the Department of Justice: The Unusual, Necessary, and Hopeful Path the Illinois Attorney General Took to Require Police Reform in Chicago,” Northwestern Law Journal of Law and Social Policy (Winter 2020)