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GUARDING THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH WE LIVE

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At Merchant &amp; Gould we possess the skills that empower us to make a difference in the communities in which we live and serve. The need for legal representation for individuals of limited means and public interest organizations is greater than ever. The commitment to pro bono services at M&amp;G is part of our values, principles, and of course our history. It makes us who we are and makes us better people.

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Our attorneys, patent agents, technical advisors, paralegals and staff provide pro bono legal services in both the intellectual property field and in other legal areas for diverse groups such as consumers, veterans, children, arts organizations, and immigrants. Merchant &amp; Gould sponsors scholarships through pro bono service organizations such as the Minnesota Justice Foundation, while many of our attorneys serve on boards and committees of community and legal organizations.

Knoxville

Partner

Ian  G. McFarland

Merchant &amp; Gould is pleased to announce that Minnesota Lawyer recognized Minneapolis litigation associate <a href="https://www.merchantgould.com/people/joseph-w-dubis/">Joseph Dubis, Ph.D.</a>, as an “Up &amp; Coming Attorney,” chosen for his professional accomplishments, leadership in the community, and commitment to the legal profession.



Each year, Minnesota Lawyer recognizes a group of new attorneys who are off to a fast start in their first decade of practice, already making an impact within their firms and community. The nominations were reviewed and judged by an outside panel and the Minnesota Lawyer team.



Joe has extensive experience in complex patent, copyright, trademark, and trade secret matters, as well as work in appellate and post grant proceedings. He focuses on identifying the critical aspects of the case that may drive a favorable settlement or be persuasive to a trial fact finder.



“Joe applies his technical, scientific background and Ph.D. in biology and biomedical science to help clients push the envelope with their cutting-edge technologies. As a proponent for all areas of science and technology, he is always learning new things and helping clients expand and protect their ideas. The combination of his tool box of scientific skills and attention-focused background distinguish his proficiency and advance his approach with multidimensional litigation cases,” said Rachel Zimmerman Scobie, partner at Merchant &amp; Gould, who nominated Joe.



In addition to his client work, Joe co-manages Litigation Paralegals across Merchant &amp; Gould’s seven offices and oversees their work – combining his litigation knowledge, attention to detail, and management skills. He coordinates the firm’s legal writing and legal research training efforts for new associates and summer associates. Joe is also responsible for coordinating activities for Merchant &amp; Gould&#8217;s Minneapolis-based summer associates, striving to identify unique activities to show off the firm and the Twin Cities. In the community, he volunteers with the Volunteer Lawyers Network in the Hennepin County Housing Court, providing pro bono legal assistance and protection for evicted tenants and helping ensure they get the housing they need. In addition, Joe volunteers and helps advance opportunities for youth through his long-time involvement with Scouts BSA (formerly Boy Scouts of America). As an Eagle Scout, he is also active in coordinating activities for the local Eagle Scout Network, a professional organization for Eagle Scouts of all ages, occupations, and experiences.



“He is already making a difference in advancing business and legal industries, a tribute to how he is trailblazing, leading, mentoring, and empowering with his knowledgeable and caring approach,” Rachel added.



View the Minnesota Lawyer <a href="https://minnlawyer.com/2023/07/24/up-coming-unsung-legal-heroes-announced/">announcement here</a>.&nbsp; Congratulations, Joe!

Minnesota Lawyer Recognizes Litigation Associate Joe Dubis as “Up & Coming Attorney”

Merchant &amp; Gould’s Pro Bono Committee announced the firm’s 2022 Pro Bono Awards to attorneys who have dedicated their time to helping their communities through pro bono legal services and their deep commitment.



A special congratulations goes to Bill Hughet (D.C.) who performed a total of 97 pro bono hours in 2022, spread out over multiple clients.&nbsp;He is the recipient of Merchant &amp; Gould’s 2022 Pro Bono Award.



In addition, Merchant &amp; Gould recognizes a few other people who went above and beyond in pro bono this year. Tom Johnson (Minneapolis) and Michael Erbele (Minneapolis) both recorded over 80 pro bono hours in 2022; and several other professionals recorded more than 40 pro bono hours, including Joe Gess (D.C.), Samuel Scholz (Minneapolis), Peter Gergely (New York), Rob Lyksett (Minneapolis), and Rachel Scobie (Minneapolis). In total, M&amp;G professionals recorded more than 1,100 pro bono hours last year, making an immense impact in several states around the country.



Congratulations to Bill and all the attorneys who continue to make our communities even better by providing pro bono legal services!

Merchant & Gould Congratulates Bill Hughet as the Firm’s 2022 Pro Bono Award Winner

Other Attorneys Recognized for Pro Bono Hours and CLC Distinction



Merchant &amp; Gould’s Pro Bono Committee announced the firm’s 2021 Pro Bono Awards to attorneys who have dedicated their time to helping their communities through pro bono legal services and their deep commitment.&nbsp;



A special congratulations goes to Sheila Niaz (Minneapolis) who performed more than 300 hours of pro bono legal work this year. &nbsp;Sheila’s pro bono work included preparing several patent applications in connection with LegalCORPS and assisting on the appeal of a criminal conviction. &nbsp;She is the sole recipient of Merchant &amp; Gould’s 2021 Pro Bono Award.



In addition, we want to recognize Rachel Hughey (Minneapolis) who has since been appointed as a District Court Judge in Minnesota’s Fourth Judicial District; Bill Hughet (D.C.); Mike Erbele (Minneapolis); Joe Gess (D.C.); Rachel Scobie (Minneapolis); and Ben Tramm (Minneapolis) for dedicating more than 40 hours of pro bono work this year.



We also want to applaud our Minneapolis team of attorneys who received Children’s Law Center (CLC) of Minnesota’s “Distinguished Service Award” this year: &nbsp; Karen Beckman, Eric Chad, Julie Daulton, Lindsay Hartman, Rachel Hughey, Bradley Kuxhausen, Anneliese Mayer, Elisabeth “Bette” Muirhead, Ryan Smith and Rachel Zimmerman Scobie, Tracey Skjeveland and Tony Zeuli (CLC board member). &nbsp;Merchant &amp; Gould was recognized for its “dedication and commitment to representing children and youth in foster care,” as well as the firm’s “immense impact on Minnesota children in need.”



Congratulations to Sheila and all the attorneys who continue to help make our communities even better!

Merchant & Gould Congratulates Sheila Niaz as the Firm’s Pro Bono Award Winner

Merchant &amp; Gould is pleased to announce that Minnesota Lawyer recognized Minneapolis trademark associate <a href="https://www.merchantgould.com/people/lindsay-jones/">Lindsay Jones</a> as an “Up &amp; Coming Attorney,” chosen for her &nbsp;professional accomplishments, leadership in the community, and commitment to the legal profession.



Each year, Minnesota Lawyer recognizes a group of new attorneys who are off to a fast start in their first decade of practice, already making an impact within their firms and community. The nominations were reviewed and judged by an outside panel and the Minnesota Lawyer team.



“Lindsay is the perfect picture of the future of law and is ‘wise for her years of practice,’ according to every attorney, client, and community member who works with her. As an associate for Merchant &amp; Gould’s Trademark group, she has been up and coming from day one with the right mix of knowledge, skills, confidence, innovation, drive, work ethic, attention to detail, and wit to help every-size brand with trademark work,” said Chris Schulte, partner at Merchant &amp; Gould, who nominated Lindsay.



Lindsay focuses her practice on trademark work, helping companies protect their highly cherished IP assets through both strategy and litigation. In addition to her client work, she is involved in the professional community in many roles. Lindsay is a speaker with multiple engagements under her belt, including with the Colorado and Tennessee Chapters of the Association of Corporate Counsel, and leads numerous CLEs per year focusing on advertising, marketing, and brand protection strategies &#8212; which is unusual for an associate. She is also a member of the International Trademark Association (INTA) and Minnesota Women Lawyers.



Lindsay recently joined the 2022 class of the Leadership Council on Legal Diversity (LCLD) as a Pathfinder, part of the essential dialog on diversity and inclusion that is important across the legal profession. She also volunteers her time promoting the University of Minnesota Law School and its Minnesota Pre-Law Scholars Program to share resources and help diverse applicants move through barriers to law school. Lindsay is a member of Merchant &amp; Gould’s Pro Bono Committee, taking on trademark and copyright infringement issues on a pro bono basis for individuals (especially musicians and artists) who cannot afford an attorney. Her community commitment helps her be a better lawyer and better advocate for others.



“Lindsay shines with her outstanding capabilities, strategic roles, deep roots in the community, and early leadership. While serious about her work and client outcomes, she also adds a sense of humor that energizes and humanizes everything she does,” said Chris.&nbsp;



View the Minnesota Lawyer <a href="https://minnlawyer.com/2023/07/24/up-coming-unsung-legal-heroes-announced/">announcement here</a>.&nbsp; Congratulations, Lindsay!

Minnesota Lawyer Recognizes Trademark Associate Lindsay Jones as “Up & Coming Attorney”

Merchant &amp; Gould partner Tony Zeuli says volunteering with Children’s Law Center (CLC) to represent foster children in court is a rewarding experience for him and Minneapolis colleagues.



Zeuli, a CLC board member, accepted the nonprofit’s Distinguished Service Award on the firm’s behalf earlier this month.



Read the rest of the article <a href="https://minnlawyer.com/2021/10/21/breaking-the-ice-ip-attorney-colleagues-earn-pro-bono-recognition/">here.</a>

Breaking the Ice: IP attorney, colleagues earn pro bono recognition

Congratulations to Merchant &amp; Gould’s pro bono team &#8212; Paige Stradley, attorney; Michael Erbele, attorney; Kristin Drieman, litigation paralegal; and Anne-Marie Larkin, legal assistant &#8212;&nbsp;for their&nbsp;work around environmental issues and pollution.&nbsp; This is a win for the Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy (MCEA), as well as for Minnesota’s rivers.



With their help, on March 31, MCEA won a court case upholding the “River Eutrophication Standard,” a 2014 rule limiting phosphorus pollution in Minnesota. Phosphorus discharges are a key component of nutrient pollution that causes dangerous algae blooms in our waterways. MCEA’s petition to the EPA in 2009 asking for stronger state standards led to the rulemaking process that resulted in the River Eutrophication Standard.



Paige and Michael acted as pro bono counsel for the MCEA, with support from Kristin and Anne-Marie, defending the River Eutrophication Standard in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Center for Regulatory Reasonableness v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency challenged the EPA’s approval of water quality standards that MCEA sought to protect rivers and streams from nutrient pollution. MCEA intervened in this case, alongside EPA and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. It was the latest in a series of legal cases filed by opponents of strong water quality standards. Once again, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia upheld the phosphorus protections, concluding “[n]othing in the administrative record before me suggests that EPA’s decisions … were arbitrary, capricious, or contrary to law. Quite the opposite, the record here reflects precisely the sort of cooperative federalism that the Clean Water Act envisions.”



Paige and Michael’s work was recognized by Megan Jekot of the MCEA as a key element in the successful defense of this water quality standard.&nbsp; Dr. Michael Overend, DVM, and MCEA supporter, also added, “The collective Merchant &amp; Gould team is our environmental hero, and we are grateful for their contribution to this important work.”



“Congratulations and thank you to Paige, Michael, Kristin and Anne-Marie for their work and for helping protect our Minnesota rivers,” said Patrick Johnson, P.E., pro bono chair and partner, Merchant &amp; Gould.&nbsp; “Merchant &amp; Gould is proud to provide bro bono services that make a difference in our community and for our environment.”&nbsp;

Merchant & Gould’s Minneapolis Team Wins Pro Bono Case, Protecting Minnesota Rivers from Phosphorus Pollution

Merchant &amp; Gould’s Pro Bono Committee is pleased to announce the recipients of the firm’s 2024 Pro Bono Awards, celebrating the exceptional commitment of our attorneys to providing vital legal services to those in need.



Katherine Mares has been awarded the firm’s 2024 Pro Bono Award for her outstanding dedication, recording over 65 pro bono hours this year. Kate’s work primarily focused on pro bono patent cases, and she has also remained deeply involved in a long-running asylum matter, contributing her expertise to make a meaningful difference in her clients&#8217; lives.



Additionally, Bill Hughet deserves special recognition for his remarkable contribution of nearly 230 pro bono hours, reflecting his continued legacy of service and unwavering dedication to supporting underserved communities.



Several other dedicated professionals surpassed 40 pro bono hours in 2024, including Greg Golla, Scott Johnston, Joe Guess, and John Winemiller. Each of these individuals has demonstrated a strong commitment to the firm’s pro bono mission, embodying Merchant &amp; Gould’s values through their impactful work.



In total, Merchant &amp; Gould professionals recorded more than 950 pro bono hours across several states this year, furthering the firm’s mission to make a positive impact on our communities.



Congratulations to Kate, Bill, and all our attorneys who go above and beyond, using their talents to strengthen and support those around us!

Pro Bono

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