“When I tell potential candidates what I’m looking for and what opportunities are here for litigators, I emphasize what distinguishes this firm from other firms,” Ali says. “Here, we generally work in teams of only two to four lawyers per case. Every lawyer on the file understands every aspect of the case, and that means newer lawyers get experience right away. They get significant experience much more quickly than in a big firm. Where at a big firm, they might work on a case for a Fortune 50 corporation with six to 12 lawyers on a file, we need people going out relatively early in their career working with clients, writing and arguing briefs, taking depositions and going to trial. We look for attorneys who are highly motivated self-starters that want to try cases. They will like this practice, because we get more of the kinds of cases that are going to go to trial. They’ll get more trial experience here. It’s a point of distinction.”

Tom Dickson, Patterson Thuente’s managing partner, is a seasoned litigator and practitioner whose experience includes corporate acquisitions and litigation strategies; business valuation; licensing and agreements; portfolio management; and joint development. He echoes Ali’s view of the firm’s value proposition for attorneys seeking mentoring and advancement. “There is a lot of opportunity for a junior attorney here — the opportunity to shine,” he says. “Instead of getting stuck doing doc reviews, I need a junior who can help with motions and meeting with clients. We have the capability right now to help train those people.”

Patterson Thuente serves clients from individual entrepreneurs to large corporations, whether they are based in Minneapolis or elsewhere in the world. The firm’s flexibility and alternative fee arrangements make it possible for small- to mid-sized companies to manage their budgets and expectations around the cost of litigation, while receiving world-class legal representation.

Although IP practice often means solving problems of an esoteric nature, it is still a people business. Patterson Thuente places importance on hiring attorneys who not only possess excellent credentials, but also demonstrate outstanding communication and interpersonal skills. This combination of attributes contributes to a highly collaborative internal culture, smooth working relationships with clients and greater efficacy in the courtroom.