Attorney Profile

Albin J. (Jim) Nelson is a registered patent attorney, a senior shareholder (partner) of Schwegman, Lundberg & Woessner and has over 34 years of experience in the intellectual property field. Dr. Nelson's practice focuses on litigation, counseling and opinions in chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device fields with a special emphasis on generic and branded Hatch Waxman and Biosimilar law including counseling, opinion and litigation issues. Dr. Nelson has vast experience handling infringement and validity opinion and litigation matters for the generic and branded pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries throughout the United States, Canada, Europe and India. He also handles complex reissue, reexamination and interference matters. Dr. Nelson has presented seminars on IP prosecution, opinion and litigation practice at generic pharmaceutical conferences and intellectual property organizations and associations throughout the world. Dr. Nelson received his B.S. honors in chemistry, cum laude, University of Iowa (1968), his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the Iowa State University (1972, NASA Fellow, Phi Kappa Phi) and his J.D. from Fordham University (1980; Fordham Law Review). Dr. Nelson is a member of the Minnesota State Bar, 1989; New York State Bar, 1980; U.S. Patent Bar, 1976; and the U.S. District Court Bar, Minnesota, 1994. Dr. Nelson was a patent agent/attorney with Pfizer (1976-1980), an associate/counsel with Kenyon and Kenyon (1980-1988), and equity partner and chairperson of the General IP Practice Group with Merchant & Gould (1988-1999).

Areas of Practice:

• Biotechnology
• Chemical
• Medical Devices
• Nanotechnology
• Pharmaceutical

Bar Admissions:

• Minnesota
• New York
• U.S. District Court District of Minnesota
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Education:

• Fordham University School of Law, New York, NY, 1980
  • J.D.
  • Law Review: Fordham Law Review
• Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, 1972
  • Ph.D.
  • NASA Fellow
  • Phi Kappa Phi
  • Major: Organic and Biochemistry
• University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa, 1968
  • B.S.
  • Cum Laude
  • Honors in Chemistry

Representative Clients:

• Novartis
• Phenomix
• QLT
• Restoragen
• The Scripps Research Institute

Classes/Speaking Engagements:

• Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Pre-Litigation Analysis, Strategic Research Institute
• Advanced Biotechnology and Chemical Patent Practice, American Intellectual Property Lawyers Association
• Freedom to Operate Opinions, American Conference Institute
• IP Prosecution and Opinion Practice, Minnesota Intellectual Property Lawyers Association
• IP Prosecution and Opinion Practice, Minnesota Institute of Legal Education

Past Employment Positions:

• Pfizer, Patent Agent/Attorney, 1976 - 1980
• Kenyon and Kenyon, Associate/Counsel, 1980 - 1988
• Merchant & Gould, 1988 - 1999
• Merchant & Gould, Equity Partner, Chairperson, General IP Practice Group
• Merchant & Gould, Director, NIH Contract

Fraternities/Sororities:

• Phi Kappa Phi