Laura Lydigsen
Brinks Gilson & Lione
Appellate and Hatch-Waxmanpharmaceutical litigation

Laura Lydigsen has already developed a reputation for her appellate expertise in the field of intellectual property law. This isn’t surprising: Lydigsen has a string of appellate victories that would be the envy of lawyers with far more experience.

A good example is Lydigsen’s work in the 2017 case Leak Surveys, Inc. v. FLIR Systems, Inc. In this case, Lydigsen obtained an affirmance for her client of an obviousness decision from the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in a case that involved an uncharacteristically large amount of discovery on secondary considerations. In all, 18 depositions were taken. There were also numerous declarations from uncompensated third parties who applauded the purported invention. Despite the sheer volume of secondary considerations, the Federal Circuit agreed that the patents were invalid and issued an affirmation in favor of Lydigsen’s client.

These results are not unusual for Lydigsen. Rachel Hughey, with Minneapolis’ Merchant & Gould, said that few attorneys work as diligently to represent their clients. Hughey would know. She and Lydigsen both worked at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in 2005-2006 as co-clerks for Judge Alvin Schall.

Hughey, then, saw firsthand just how talented Lydigsen is.

“She immediately impressed me with her intellect, work ethic, kindness and humility,” Hughey said.

Another example of Lydigsen’s appellate expertise is the case Wasica Finance GmbH et al. v. Continental Automotive Systems. In this case, Lydigsen represented Continental, persuading the Federal Circuit to issue a rare reversal-in-part in favor of her client.

Lydigsen has also given copious amounts of her time to her profession. James Brookshire, executive director of the Federal Circuit Bar Association, has worked with Lydigsen for a decade on association projects. He said that few attorneys have ever donated as much time to the association’s work.

“I have the privilege of interacting professionally with thousands of lawyers at hundreds of firms throughout the United States and the globe,” Brookshire said. “Ms. Lydigsen stands in a distinguished group reflecting the best of the profession in the next generation. Her commitments to the law, to the justice system, to the profession and to service are extraordinary.”

Lydigsen has played a key role with the Bench and Bar conference and the Federal Circuit Bar Association’s Rules Committee. Each of these jobs is a key leadership position, Brookshire said. And Lydigsen has thrived while taking on both.

Brookshire said that the bar association’s Rules Committee has matured significantly.

Lydigsen has also made an impact on her field of law with her written work. Lydigsen has written dozens of briefs that have been submitted to the Federal Circuit in cases involving a range of technologies, including pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, medical devices, automotive technology and insurance.