Portland – Global law firm K&L Gates LLP has added Brenna K. Legaard as a partner in the intellectual property practice. She joins K&L Gates’ Portland office from Schwabe, Williamson & Wyatt PC.

Legaard focuses her intellectual property practice on both transactional and litigation matters. She asserts patents, trademarks, and other IP against infringers as well as defends clients accused of infringement. Legaard also assists clients with protecting innovations, licensing or acquiring technology, and developing intellectual property positions. She has extensive experience counseling clients on patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright litigation, as well as intellectual property portfolio management, including patent and trademark prosecution. Legaard advises both established and emerging companies in the medical, software, high-tech manufacturing, and sporting goods industries on intellectual property strategies, supporting long-term business goals. 

“Portland was one of the few venues in the U.S. where we did not have a full service IP team; we just couldn’t find the right person to lead such a group,” said Bob Barrett, co-leader of K&L Gates’ global intellectual property practice area. “That was until we convinced Brenna to join our team. Brenna not only brings an incredible IP skillset, but she has the leadership skills to help us develop an IP team in Portland that can compete with any regional IP group.”

Legaard’s arrival follows the addition of four other intellectual property partners last year, including Orange County partner Mincheol Kim, Chicago partners Patrick Richards and James Shimota, and San Francisco partner Tom Anderton. K&L Gates has welcomed more than 35 new partners and of counsel since January 2020, including in the firm’s corporate; health care; tax; commercial litigation; environment, land and natural resources; asset management and investment funds; IP procurement and portfolio management; IP litigation; real estate; government contracts; and investigations, enforcement and white collar practices.

“We are thrilled that Brenna has joined our Portland office,” said Shiau Yen Chin-Dennis, managing partner of K&L Gates’ Portland office. “With Brenna’s stellar reputation, skills, and client base, she is a great addition to our top-tier global intellectual property group. I am confident that Brenna will achieve much success at our firm and that both she and her clients will benefit from the many opportunities K&L Gates’ platform offers for lawyers with Brenna’s talents.”   

K&L Gates’ intellectual property procurement and portfolio management practice has more than 200 lawyers, including approximately 100 registered patent lawyers, agents, and technology specialists with technical or advanced science degrees, who devote their practices to helping clients establish, enforce, and leverage their intellectual property rights worldwide. Together, these lawyers seamlessly work for clients in creating, developing, and leveraging patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and other rights to protect intellectual property assets as valuable business assets.