First Intellectual Property Lawyer to Head Organization of 16,000 Attorneys

Merchant & Gould, an intellectual property law firm, today announced that Brent E. Routman has been named president-elect for the Minnesota State Bar Association (MSBA). He is the first known intellectual property lawyer to serve in this role. Routman's term will be effective on July 1, 2010 when he becomes president-elect. He will begin his term as president of the organization on July 1, 2011 for a one-year term. He is currently a partner in the firm's Minneapolis office and specializes in trademark, copyright, internet and advertising law.

"I am extremely honored and excited to embark upon this leadership role within the MSBA," said Routman. "The Association contributes so much to the profession and the community and I look forward to continuing that legacy during my term by working with such distinguished legal professionals."

In addition to being named president-elect, Routman is also chairman of the MSBA's LawPAC, a member of the Governance Committee, a representative to the ABA House of Delegates, and co-chair of the Hennepin County Bar Association Nominating Committee. He is also a member of the Florida Bar Association.

Routman was also recently elected to be president of the Coalition for Impartial Justice, a group formed to implement the recommendations of the Quie Commission and to support the passage of a state constitutional amendment to create a system of merit selection and retention of state court judges to replace the system of contested elections currently used in the state.