David
L.
De Bruin
Dave De Bruin is a partner in our IP Litigation Practice Group who practices in both our Chicago and Milwaukee offices. His practice is devoted to patent litigation at both the trial and appellate levels and intellectual property opinions and counseling. He has also served as an arbitrator. He is a member of the bars of the States of Illinois and Wisconsin, the U.S. Supreme Court, the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit, of federal district courts and of the Patent and Trademark Office. He has argued numerous patent cases before the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. While rooted in the Midwest, Mr. De Bruin has litigated cases on both coasts and represented clients from around the country and abroad. Mr. De Bruin has frequently represented clients in the rocket docket of the Western District of Wisconsin.
Prior Work Experience
Before entering private practice, Mr. De Bruin clerked for the late Chief Judge John W. Reynolds, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of Wisconsin. During his his first decade in practice, Mr. De Bruin did a variety of business litigation, including securities fraud and and cases under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, and led a five-week long accountant liability trial that became a leading case in the Supreme Court of Wisconsin. Shortly thereafter, he decided to apply his large-case experience to patent cases, an area where his physics background from M.I.T. could be readily applied.
Professional Activities
- Co-Chair, ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Committee 803 - Resolutions (2006-present)
- Co-Chair, ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Committee 606 – Experts (2004-2005)
- Chair, ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Committee 602 – Arbitration and other Alternative Procedures (2002-2004)
- Chair, ABA Intellectual Property Law Section Committee 651 – Special Committee on Attorney Opinions (2000-2002)
- Wisconsin Intellectual Property Law Association (Past Board)
- State Bar of Wisconsin (Patent Law, Litigation Sections)
- Milwaukee Bar Association (Former Co-Chair, Intellectual Property Law Section)
- American Intellectual Property Law Association
- Federal Circuit Bar Association
- Bar Association of the Seventh Federal Circuit
Honors and Recognitions
Mr. De Bruin is listed in Who’s Who in America, Who’s Who in American Law and Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business. He was also named a "Wisconsin Super Lawyer" by Super Lawyers Magazine in the area of Intellectual Property Litigation.
Community Involvement
- Board of Directors, Milwaukee Youth Symphony Orchestra, Inc.
- Board of Directors, Legal Aid of Milwaukee, Inc.
- Board of Directors, Past Member, Milwaukee Public Schools
- Member, Public Policy Forum Education Committee
- Board of Directors, MIT Club of Wisconsin
- Member, MIT Education Council
- Board of Directors, Past Member, Future Milwaukee, Institute for Local Leaders
- Advisory Board, Wisconsin Consumer Anti-Fraud Fund
- Executives Committee, Hunger Task Force of Milwaukee, Inc.
- Democratic Party of Wisconsin