Careers

At M&G, we dedicate ourselves to finding the best solutions to our clients’ challenges, no matter where it takes us.

Case Studies

Industries

Offices

About Merchant & Gould

Pages

People

News Room

Practices

Staff

Home - Merchant & Gould P.C.

Steve Bruess enjoys working with companies that value intellectual property as a strategic asset, committing budget dollars on research, development, and product invention. He sees his role as giving his clients a competitive advantage in the global marketplace with both detail-oriented and big picture focus on their intellectual property goals.

contentpilot/introduction

Steve practices intellectual property law with an emphasis on mechanical patents. His practice includes all phases of patent portfolio management, including U.S. and foreign patent prosecution, patent searches, validity and infringement opinions, technology transfers, and licensing. On behalf of his clients, Steve has handled patent appeals, reexaminations, and reissue applications at the U.S. Patent &amp; Trademark Office. He has extensive experience in strategic planning and managing large U.S. and foreign patent portfolios.

core/paragraph

Steve Bruess is a member of Merchant &amp; Gould's Foreign Filing Department, which files and oversees all foreign patent applications for the firm's clients, including applications filed under the Patent Cooperation Treaty. Previously, he served as Chair of the Mechanical Group.

Indiana University - Maurer School of Law, J.D., 

University of Michigan, B.S. Mechanical Engineering

Steve Bruess, Intellectual Property Attorney

Manufacturing

Medical Devices

Telecommunications

Sports & Fitness

Minneapolis

Anthony R. Zeuli Named Among Top 100 Super Lawyers in Minnesota



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Merchant &amp; Gould, an intellectual property law firm, today announced that the following attorneys in its Minneapolis office have been named 2012 Super Lawyers.



Recognized excellence in intellectual property law:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Brian H. Batzli</li>



<li>Steven C. Bruess</li>



<li>John A. Clifford</li>



<li>Brent E. Routman</li>



<li>David G. Schmaltz</li>
</ul>



Recognized for excellence in IP litigation:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Allen W. Hinderaker</li>



<li>Scott W. Johnston</li>



<li>Alan Kowalchyk</li>



<li>Daniel W. McDonald</li>



<li>Anthony R. Zeuli </li>
</ul>



Anthony R. Zeuli is also named one of the Top 100 Super Lawyers in Minnesota.



In addition, Merchant &amp; Gould is proud to announce the following attorneys are recognized as Rising Stars.



Recognized under the category of intellectual property law:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Robert A. Kalinsky</li>



<li>Andrew J. Lagatta</li>
</ul>



Recognized under the category of intellectual property litigation:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Rachel C. Hughey</li>



<li>Heather J. Kliebenstein</li>



<li>Tom Leach</li>



<li>William D. Schultz</li>



<li>Rachel K. Zimmerman</li>
</ul>



Rising Stars are attorneys 40 and under who have been practicing law for 10 years or less. They are selected annually based on nominations from other attorneys and an independent review board. No more than 2.5 percent of attorneys are selected for Rising Stars in any state.



The rigorous selection process includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area and a good-standing and disciplinary check. Each year, no more than five percent of lawyers are selected for Super Lawyers in each state.



Super Lawyers is a service of the Thomson Reuters Legal Division. Due to the rigorous and transparent methodology used by Super Lawyers, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Super Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

Merchant & Gould Announces 2012 Super Lawyers in Minnesota

Firm Also Recognizes Nine Rising Stars



<hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/>



Merchant &amp; Gould, an intellectual property law firm, today announced that 16 of the firm&#8217;s attorneys are named Super Lawyers in 2011. The attorneys are recognized for excellence in intellectual property law and IP litigation. Each year, no more than five percent of lawyers are selected in each state.



The rigorous selection process includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area and a good-standing and disciplinary check. In addition, Merchant &amp; Gould also announced that nine of the firm&#8217;s attorneys were recognized as Rising Stars by their peers according to the Super Lawyers® organization.



Rising Stars are attorneys 40 and under who have been practicing law for 10 years or less. They are selected annually based on nominations from other attorneys and an independent review board. No more than 2.5 percent of attorneys are selected for this prestigious honor in any state.



&#8220;We take great pride in congratulating the attorneys who have been selected for these considerable honors,&#8221; said Brian H. Batzli, CEO and managing director of Merchant &amp; Gould. &#8220;The firm is lucky to have them as part of our team.&#8221;



The following Merchant &amp; Gould attorneys have been named Super Lawyers and Rising Stars in 2011:



Denver



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Gregg I. Anderson</li>



<li>Peter A. Gergely</li>
</ul>



Knoxville



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>John T. Winemiller</li>
</ul>



Minneapolis



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Brian H. Batzli</li>



<li>Steven C. Bruess</li>



<li>John A. Clifford</li>



<li>Karen A. Fitzsimmons</li>



<li>Allen W. Hinderaker</li>



<li>Gregory C. Golla</li>



<li>Rachel C. Hughey (RS)</li>



<li>Scott W. Johnston</li>



<li>Robert A. Kalinsky (RS)</li>



<li>Alan W. Kowalchyk</li>



<li>Thomas J. Leach (RS)</li>



<li>Daniel W. McDonald</li>



<li>Brent E. Routman</li>



<li>David G. Schmaltz</li>



<li>William D. Schultz (RS)</li>



<li>Anthony R. Zeuli</li>



<li>Rachel K. Zimmerman (RS)</li>
</ul>



Super Lawyers is a service of the Thomson Reuters Legal Division based in Eagan, Minn. Due to the rigorous and transparent methodology used by Super Lawyers, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Super Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

16 Merchant & Gould Attorneys Named 2011 Super Lawyers

Merchant &amp; Gould, an intellectual property law firm, today announced that several of the firm&#8217;s attorneys are named Super Lawyers in 2010. The attorneys are recognized for excellence in intellectual property law and IP litigation. Each year, no more than five percent of lawyers are selected in each state.



The rigorous selection process includes a statewide survey of lawyers, independent evaluation of candidates by the attorney-led research staff, a peer review of candidates by practice area and a good-standing and disciplinary check.



&#8220;In four years, we have more than doubled the number of Merchant &amp; Gould attorneys selected for this honor,&#8221; said Randy King, CEO and managing director of Merchant &amp; Gould. &#8220;We are very proud to have these outstanding individuals as part of our team.&#8221;



The following Merchant &amp; Gould attorneys have been named Super Lawyers in 2010:



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Brian H. Batzli</li>



<li>Steven C. Bruess</li>



<li>John A. Clifford</li>



<li>Karen A. Fitzsimmons</li>



<li>Allen W. Hinderaker</li>



<li>Rachel C. Hughey</li>



<li>Scott W. Johnston</li>



<li>Robert A. Kalinsky</li>



<li>Alan Kowalchyk</li>



<li>Tom Leach</li>



<li>Daniel W. McDonald</li>



<li>David G. Schmaltz</li>



<li>Christopher J. Schulte</li>



<li>William D. Schultz</li>



<li>Christopher J. Sorenson</li>



<li>Anthony R. Zeuli</li>



<li>Rachel K. Zimmerman</li>
</ul>



Super Lawyers is a service of the Thomson Reuters Legal Division based in Eagan, Minn. Due to the rigorous and transparent methodology used by Super Lawyers, and because lawyers are not required or allowed to pay a fee to be listed, inclusion in Super Lawyers is considered a singular honor.

Merchant & Gould Attorneys Named 2010 Super Lawyers

Merchant &amp; Gould, an intellectual property and litigation law firm, announced the following attorneys were recognized as Super Lawyers in the August/September issue of&nbsp;Minnesota Law &amp; Politics&nbsp;magazine.



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Brian H. Batzli</li>



<li>Steven C. Bruess</li>



<li>John A. Clifford</li>



<li>Charles E. Golla</li>



<li>Allen W. Hinderaker</li>



<li>Daniel W. McDonald</li>



<li>Brent E. Routman</li>



<li>Christopher J. Schulte</li>



<li>Gregory A. Sebald</li>



<li>Anthony R. Zeuli</li>
</ul>



&#8220;These are&nbsp;outstanding attorneys who continuously exceed our clients&#8217; expectations,&#8221; says CEO and managing director Randy King. &#8220;We congratulate them.&#8221;



Super Lawyers are selected annually based on nominations from other attorneys, a judging panel, and independent research on behalf of the magazine.

Merchant & Gould Attorneys Named 2006 Super Lawyers by Minnesota Law & Politics magazine

Mechanical

Post Grant Proceedings

Christina Caudle

Partner

Steven C. Bruess

Selected for inclusion in IAM Patent 1000 &#8211; The World&#8217;s Leading Patent Professionals, Minnesota, 2017 
Selected for inclusion in Minnesota Super Lawyers, 2005-2018

Awards & Recognition

American Intellectual Property Law Association 
Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association 
Minnesota State Bar Association

Steven C. Bruess

Practices

Industries

Education

Admissions

Awards & Recognition

Professional Affiliations