Carlson Caspers

Carlson Caspers is an American intellectual property law firm headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Founded in 2003, the firm has built a national reputation as a trial and strategy practice focused exclusively on intellectual property — particularly sophisticated patent disputes and related matters for Fortune 500 companies, global innovators, and high-growth technology businesses. Its attorneys include engineers, scientists, chemists, and technologists, a technical fluency the firm markets as a core differentiator in technically complex litigation. The firm's practice areas include patent litigation, patent counseling, Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical strategy and litigation, trade secret protection and enforcement, trademark, advertising and unfair competition, copyright infringement litigation, and post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Carlson Caspers litigates cases across the United States, argues appeals before the Federal Circuit and other appellate courts, and represents clients before the USPTO. Its client work spans industries where innovation is central, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, telecommunications, software, data privacy, and advanced manufacturing. Carlson Caspers positions itself as "The Go-To Firm for Tech-Savvy Companies," serving both large portfolio holders and individual inventors. The firm has received recognition in legal directories including Chambers USA and Best Law Firms. In the 2026 Chambers USA Guide, the firm and founding partners Alan Carlson and Derek Vandenburgh, along with attorney Tara C. Norgard, received high rankings. Carlson Caspers was also named a Best Law Firm 2026, with Metropolitan Tier 1 recognition in Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, and Patent Law, and Metropolitan Tier 2 recognition in Trademark Law. The firm is privately held and operates as a professional legal practice rather than a publicly traded company. It remains active and continues to focus on high-stakes, technically complex IP matters for clients ranging from lone scientists with a single revolutionary idea to Fortune 500 companies with comprehensive patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright portfolios.

Carlson Caspers was founded in 2003 as an intellectual property law firm based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. From its inception, the firm focused exclusively on IP matters, distinguishing itself from general practice firms by building a team that combined legal trial experience with technical backgrounds in engineering, science, chemistry, and technology. This dual expertise allowed the firm to handle sophisticated patent disputes and related IP matters for Fortune 500 companies, global innovators, and high-growth businesses. Over the years, Carlson Caspers developed a national practice, litigating cases across the United States, arguing appeals before the Federal Circuit and other appellate courts, and representing clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The firm's practice areas expanded to cover patent litigation, patent counseling, Hatch-Waxman pharmaceutical strategy and litigation, trade secret protection, trademark and unfair competition, copyright infringement litigation, and post-grant proceedings. Its client work spans industries such as medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, telecommunications, software, data privacy, and advanced manufacturing. The firm has received recognition from legal directories. In the 2026 Chambers USA Guide, Carlson Caspers and founding partners Alan Carlson and Derek Vandenburgh, along with attorney Tara C. Norgard, received high rankings. The firm was also named a Best Law Firm 2026, with Metropolitan Tier 1 rankings in Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, and Patent Law, and Metropolitan Tier 2 in Trademark Law. These accolades reflect the firm's continued reputation for delivering strategic, high-impact legal counsel in intellectual property. As of the latest available information, Carlson Caspers remains an active, privately held law firm headquartered in Minneapolis, serving a national client base from lone inventors to large corporations.

• 2026

  Firm and attorneys Alan Carlson, Derek Vandenburgh, and Tara C. Norgard ranked in Chambers USA 2026 Guide.

• 2026

  Recognized as a Best Law Firm 2026 with Metropolitan Tier 1 rankings in Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Litigation – Intellectual Property, Litigation – Patent, and Patent Law, and Tier 2 in Trademark Law.

• 2003

  Carlson Caspers founded in Minneapolis, Minnesota, as an intellectual property law firm.

The Go-To Firm for Tech-Savvy Companies — an IP trial and strategy firm combining trial experience with true technical fluency.

• Patent Litigation

  Strategic patent counseling and litigation to protect and maximize intellectual property across complex industries.

• Patent Counseling

  Helps innovative companies make confident, informed decisions about their intellectual property, aligning patent strategy with business goals.

• Hatch-Waxman

  Guides pharmaceutical companies through Hatch-Waxman strategy, compliance, and litigation to secure and protect market opportunities.

• Trade Secret

  Helps companies protect and enforce trade secrets through strategic counseling and litigation focused on preserving valuable confidential information.

• Trademark, Advertising, & Unfair Competition

  Helps companies protect and enforce trademarks, brand identity, and marketplace position through strategic counseling and dispute resolution.

• Copyright Infringement Litigation

  Represents companies and creators in copyright litigation, protecting original works through strategic enforcement and trial-ready advocacy.

• Post-Grant Proceedings

  Represents clients in post-grant proceedings, using strategic advocacy to challenge and defend patent validity before the PTAB.

1. 1Carlson Caspers | Intellectual Property Litigation & Counselingcarlsoncaspers.com
2. 2About Us | Carlson Caspers IP Litigation & Counselingcarlsoncaspers.com
3. 3Accolades | Carlson Caspers IP Litigation & Counselingcarlsoncaspers.com
4. 4Patent Counseling | Carlson Caspers IP Litigation & Counselingcarlsoncaspers.com
5. 5Carlson Caspers (United States) - Wikidatawikidata.org