Aaron M. Johnson

 612.336.4754  |  Email  |  vCard  |  Biography

Minneapolis Office
3200 IDS Center
80 South Eighth Street
Minneapolis, MN
55402 USA

ph: 612.332.5300
fax: 612.332.9081

Assistant:

Amy Reuter
areuter@merchantgould.com
612.336.4784

Legal Background and Experience

Education

Bar Admissions

Other

Aaron Johnson's practice focuses on intellectual property litigation with an emphasis on patent infringement actions. Aaron's practice extends to copyright, trademark, trade secret, rights of publicity, and unfair competition cases as well. Aaron's experience spans all stages of litigation, including: Markman hearings, depositions, pretrial investigation, discovery, pre- and post-trial motions, appellate work, and most importantly, trial-including his participation as second chair for a two-week patent infringement jury trial. Aaron's prior representation of clients covers a broad spectrum of technological areas, including: pharmaceuticals, medical devices, construction materials, business methods, pet care products, and telecommunications.

Aaron is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and holds a masters degree in chemistry. His technical background in synthetic organic chemistry greatly assists him in counseling clients in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries, and in particular, those involved in ANDA litigation.

Aaron is admitted to practice before the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and Minnesota Law & Politics recently named him as a 2010 "Rising Star." Aaron has also participated in several commercial litigation matters beyond those implicating intellectual property rights, as well as several AAA and FINRA arbitrations.

Prior to his legal career, Aaron's professional interests concentrated on the synthesis and characterization of large natural products and related analogs with pharmaceutical activity, in both academic and industrial settings. While attending law school, he clerked with the IP department of a Fortune 500 corporation's pharmaceutical division.

Legal Background and Experience

• 2002-2005 - University of Minnesota Law School. Graduated with honors and was a managing editor on the Minnesota Law Review.
• 2005-2007 - Aaron clerked for the Honorable Raymond L. Erickson, Chief Magistrate Judge, United States District Court for the District of Minnesota.
• In 2007, Aaron joined the Minneapolis office of Merchant & Gould as an associate.
• Aaron's pro bono activity includes working with the Hennepin County Housing Court Project in Minneapolis, as well as appealing the administrative denial of disability benefits in Social Security cases.

Education

B.A., summa cum laude, Chemistry

University of Minnesota
M.S., Chemistry
J.D.,cum laude

Bar Admissions

Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
United States Patent and Trademark Office
Minnesota

Other

• Professional Associations: Federal Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association, Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association
• Personal interests: film, literature, major league baseball.