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Karl Klassen
- Seattle
- San Diego
With more than 20 years of experience, Karl helps companies and inventors procure, monetize, and enforce their patents.
Karl Klassen regularly counsels corporations in patent strategies in both the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions and handles freedom to operate analyses and other intellectual property (IP) due diligence and patent licensing matters. He has extensive experience advising clients on mechanical technologies, consumer products, interconnected devices, and Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystems.
Medical technology matters are a substantial part of Karl’s practice. He conducts both investor-side and company-side IP due diligence, procuring patents for medical companies and managing patent portfolios. His work has involved spinal implants, aesthetic treatments, energy emitting catheters (e.g., radiofrequency catheters, light emitting catheters, etc.), artificial intelligence (AI), respiratory technology (e.g., intrabronchial valves and intrabronchial catheters, etc.), photodynamic therapy, cardiac technology, and tissue processing and imaging equipment. Many of the companies Karl works with emanated from practicing physicians, medical device incubators, and academic institutions. He also co-authored a book published by the American Bar Association regarding IP strategies to help medical device entrepreneurs protect and launch medical products.
Karl regularly advises entrepreneurs on IP strategies for successful exits or commercialization across a range of industries and technologies, including medical devices, mobile applications, AI and machine learning, connected devices, and consumer products. He implements strategies tailored for each early-stage venture to further that venture’s business goals. Many of the companies Karl advised have been backed by venture capitalists and ultimately acquired by publicly traded companies.
At the forefront of IP-backed financing, Karl cultivates and utilizes IP portfolios as assets for lending. His patent monetization practice encompasses value-driven portfolio management, mining mature patent families, and partnering with patent litigation counsel for enforcement.
Prior to becoming a patent lawyer, Karl gained industry experience as an engineer at a CAD/FEA software company, working on medical technologies, automotive technology, aerospace technology, injection molding systems, semiconductor processing equipment, and micro-electromechanical systems.
Areas of focus
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, J.D., 2003
- Stanford University, M.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2000
- California State University, Fullerton, B.S., Mechanical Engineering; Minor Mathematics, high honors, 1998
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
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California
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U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Related Employment
- Seed IP Law Group PLLC, Seattle, WA, Associate, 2006-2011
- Knobbe Martens Olson and Bear, LLP, Irvine, CA, Associate, 2002; 2003-2006
- Townsend and Townsend and Crew, LLP, (now Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP), Palo Alto, CA, Summer Associate, 2001
- Unigraphics Solutions Inc., Cypress, CA, Applications Engineer, 1999-2000
Professional Recognition
Listed in Washington Law and Politics, “Rising Stars of Washington Law,” 2012
Insights
Professional Experience
Connected Devices and IoT Technology
Prodea
Provided patent portfolio planning for IP monetization, including marketplace studies, patent preparation, and prosecution in the fields of IoT devices, remote patient monitoring, and streaming technology.
Smartvue
Advised on patent portfolio planning for IP monetization, including patent preparation, prosecution, evaluation and analysis for IoT company in the fields of end-to-end cloud surveillance and IoT video solutions and services. Served as Smartvue’s patent counsel through acquisition by Johnson Controls.
Sensormatic
Provided patent preparation, prosecution and strategic counseling for surveillance technology and IoT devices.
Medical
Amplify Surgical Inc
Provided strategic counseling, patent preparation, and prosecution for expandable interbody fusion devices for spinal procedures.
CARLSMED, Inc.
Provided strategic counseling, patent preparation, and prosecution for patent-specific surgical plans and spinal devices.
Zeltiq Aesthetics, Inc.
Provided patent preparation, prosecution and strategic counseling for aesthetic devices before and after acquisition by Allergan.
Vertiflex, Inc.
Provided patent portfolio planning, development and counseling, including patent preparation and prosecution for spinal technologies. Served as Vertiflex’s patent counsel for several financing rounds.
Ventana Medical Systems, Inc.
Provided patent portfolio planning, development and counseling, including patent preparation, prosecution, evaluation and analysis for medical device company in the fields of automate tissue processing and slide staining for cancer diagnostics and digital pathology. Served as IP counsel prior to and after Roche’s acquisition of Ventana in 2008.
Light Sciences Oncology
Represented Light Sciences Oncology in patent prosecution matters, freedom to operate studies and portfolio development related to photodynamic therapies, energy emitting catheters and implantable devices.
Twelve
Provided patent preparation, prosecution and strategic counseling for heart valve delivery systems.
Innovative Pulmonary Solutions (now Holaira)*
Counseled IPS on strategic analysis, developed patent portfolio and preparation and prosecution of patent applications generally directed to lung minimally invasive lung denervation technology.
*Prior experience
Semiconductor Technology
Micron Technology, Inc.
Advised on patent preparation and prosecution in the fields of semiconductor packaging, LED manufacturing and wafer processing.
Mechanical Devices
InkBed, Inc.
Provided comprehensive patent counseling, patent preparation, and prosecution for tattoo furniture, motorized tattoo beds and tattooing accessories. Provided patent counsel for enforcement actions, including patent litigation relating to tattoo furniture.
Private Company
Provided comprehensive patent counseling, patent preparation and prosecution for articulating television mounts and motorized television mounts. Provided patent counsel for enforcement actions, including district court litigation.
American Rifle Company
Provided patent preparation, prosecution and strategic counseling for rifles and firearm accessories, such as accessory rails and scope rings.