MATR Roundtable a patentable success thanks to patent attorney Devan V. Padmanabhan of Dorsey & Whitney LLP

How fast is the clock ticking on that new idea you have for a billion dollar widget?

How easy is it to protect your idea?

Is your recipe for the best sauce in the world safe?

Dorsey & Whitney LLP Partner, Devan V. Padmanabhan http://www.dorsey.com/people/detail.aspx?attorney=404 helped a group of entrepreneurs realize that early stage discussions with a highly experienced patent attorney can end up saving an entrepreneur or researcher millions if not their company itself. As the patent world continues to evolve, the challenges of keeping up with the new rulings and strategies is a truly daunting and full time occupation. It’s not something that you can pick up easily or hope that your regular attorney can learn when the need arises. I know a great heart surgeon but I’d really be hesitant to have him operate on my hand.

Once again, the MATR Roundtable provided a great networking opportunity for a group of entrepreneurs who are looking to grow their next "new new thing" to global success. Getting to connect with others on the same path is an invaluable requirement for any entrepreneur, researcher or business professional. This message was repeated several times and recently the focus of the Missoulian’s InBusiness publication: Western Montana InBusiness March 2009 http://matr.net/article-33247.html

Devan V. Padmanabhan, who is from Minneapolis, joined us to talk about his extensive knowledge as a patent attorney dealing with IP litigation, EE, medical device and many other areas of patent law.

Some of his discussion included answers to questions such as: At what stage of the development or research process do you need to start interviewing patent attorneys?
Does everyone need a patent attorney at some stage of their business development or research cycle?

What questions should you ask a patent attorney before you hire them?

How do you get your patent attorney to work with your startup attorney?

What are some of the horror stories you’ve heard for companies that get the advice regarding their patentable material or research?

I’d like to thank Jack Manning of the Missoula Dorsey Whitney office http://www.matr.net/click.php?id=&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.dorsey.com%2Flocations%2FOffice.aspx%3Foffice%3D22 for bringing Devan to Missoula to help explain this very intricate but important aspect of R&D and starting a company. And thanks to those of you who attended. We all learned a lot about some exciting Montana businesses.

If you know of someone who could help inform entrepreneurs about a crucial area or help them increase their ability to compete in the global workplace, please let me know. I’m always looking for great speakers and an excuse to organize a Roundtable to encourage more networking.

Russ [email protected]

Devan V. Padmanabhan

Partner

http://www.matr.net/files/PadmanabhanBio.pdf

Devan V. Padmanabhan received both his electrical engineering and law degrees from Northwestern University. Having practiced in the firm’s Intellectual Property group since 1993, Devan focuses on patent litigation and patent prosecution, as well as other intellectual property litigation and counseling. Devan’s practice includes analyzing the strength and weaknesses of patent positions, advising clients on using IP as a business asset and on avoidance of IP rights of others and developing portfolios.