Intellectual property law firm Merchant & Gould is pleased to announce that it has promoted Thomas Johnson and Andrew Ehard of the Minneapolis office as partners at the firm.

Thomas Johnson's practice emphasizes patent and trademark litigation. He has more than a decade of litigation experience and has represented clients with an emphasis on the mechanical arts. Tom has tried numerous cases in front of both judges and juries and has argued before the Appellate Courts in Minnesota. He counsels clients on tactics and trial issues with an eye toward effective business solutions.

Andrew Ehard practices general intellectual property law with an emphasis on trademark law. He represents and counsels significant brand holders in the management of their global trademark portfolios and the selection, clearance and registration of new brands. Andrew also represents clients involved in domestic and foreign trademark oppositions and cancellation proceedings. Prior to joining Merchant & Gould, Andrew served as a member of the senior management team and Director of Intellectual Property Services with the trademark research and brand protection company, NameProtect Inc. and also previously practiced as a Trademark Examining Attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.

"Tom and Andy represent the client commitment and strategic experience that have enabled us to successfully defend our clients' intellectual property assets for over a century," said Randy King, CEO and managing director of Merchant & Gould. "On behalf of the entire firm, I would like to congratulate them on this accomplishment."