- William Mitchell College of Law, J.D., 1985,
cum laude
- University of Minnesota, B.S. Electrical Engineering, 1982
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
- Minnesota State Bar
- Washington State Bar
Adjunct Professor, Hamline University School of Law, 1994 – 2002
Courses taught include:
- Selected Topics in Patent Law – Spring 1996, Fall 1997
- Intellectual Property Survey Course – Fall 1995
- Computer Law – Fall 1994, Fall 1996, Spring 1999, Fall 2000
- Selected Topics in Patent and Computer Law – Spring 1994
Carver County (MN) Bar Association
Minnesota State Bar Association
Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association – Board Member and Immediate Past President (2013–2014); President (2012–2013); Board Member and National Representative to the AIPLA (2008–2012)
American Intellectual Property Law Association – President and Board of Directors (2023–present); President-Elect (2021–2022); Second Vice President (2020–2021); Treasurer (2016–2019); Vice Chair, Special Committee on Publications (2015–2016); Chair, Emerging Technologies Committee (2009–2011); Vice Chair, Emerging Technologies Committee (2007–2009); Co-Chair, Reverse Engineering Subcommittee (1997–1999); Chair, Intellectual Property in Latin America Committee (2005–2007); Vice Chair (2003–2005); Co-Chair, Latin American Study Group (1999–2000); Member, Electronic and Computer Law Committee (1992–present); Co-Chair, Licensing Subcommittee (1994–1999)
AIPPI – US
International Trademark Association (INTA)
Licensing Executive’s Society (LES)
Mitchell Hamline School of Law – Board of Trustees (2018–present); IP Advisory Board Chair (2015–2017); Vice Chair (2014–2015); Board Member (2010–2014, 2017–present)
Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers (1998, 2000, 2005–2018)
Recognized in IAM Patent 1000 – The World’s Leading
Patent Practitioners, Minnesota (2016–2018)
Named among Minnesota’s Top Rated Lawyers by ALM (2013)
Recognized by IP Stars by Managing IP (2013–2021)
Selected as one of Minnesota’s Top Intellectual Property Lawyers, Minnesota Law & Politics (June/July 2001)
Judge, Minnesota Inventors Congress (1994–1997)
Commissioner, City of Chanhassen Planning Commission (1988–1993); Chairperson (1992–1993)
Recipient, City of Chanhassen Maple Leaf Awards (1991, 1993)
Brian has presented widely on patent strategy, licensing, and international IP since the early 1990s, including frequent talks for AIPLA, MILE, and the Minnesota Inventors Congress.
Recent highlights:
- Panelist, Drafting Globally Compliant Patent Applications: Dream or Reality?, Patent Law Institute, Practicing Law Institute (New York – April 4, 2019; San Francisco – April 25, 2019)
- Guest Lecturer, The Inner Working of IP in Business Strategy, Management of Technology Master’s Program, University of Minnesota (April 6, 2018)
- Moderator, Leadership Development Seminar: The Forty Thousand Foot View – Leadership and Innovation, AIPLA Mid-Winter Meeting, La Quinta, CA (January 24, 2018)
Brian has authored and contributed to numerous resources on intellectual property law for decades.
Selected works:
Brian Batzli (Editor), A Guide to Intellectual Property Protection, Minnesota Small Business Assistance Office (1996 – 2011)
Quoted
Merchant & Gould Makes Its Mark in Intellectual Property Law, Minneapolis Star Tribune (July 13, 2014)