Merchant & Gould and William Mitchell College of Law are pleased to announce that they are accepting nominations for the first annual Merchant & Gould Paul A. Welter Award for Excellence in Trademark Law. The award honors distinguished in-house trademark counsel who has distinguished himself or herself by their career accomplishments and service to the community. The recipient will be presented with a plaque and a $5,000 honorarium for the charity of his or her choice. The deadline for award submissions is January 31, 2007. The recipient will be announced at the 2007 International Trademark Association Annual Meeting in Chicago.

"During his 40-year tenure with Merchant & Gould, Paul A. Welter made a profound impact in the area of trademark law and was greatly respected by his peers and clients," said Scott A. Johnston, partner, Merchant & Gould. "His passing has left a void within the firm and legal community but it is his legacy of integrity and veracity that we wish to honor by creating this very special award in his name."

About Paul A. Welter
A graduate of the William Mitchell College of Law, Paul joined Merchant & Gould in 1965 and during his 40-year career with the firm, he served as treasurer, administrative vice president, president, a member of the board of directors, and as managing partner. Paul was known by his clients, colleagues and within the legal community as a man of unwavering integrity. Paul was extremely active with civic and industry organizations including the Minneapolis Rotary, The Fund for the Legal Aid Society, The Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association, The American Intellectual Property Law Association, and most notably, The United Way. Paul passed away on Friday, January 6, 2006.