
John W. Provo
Partner
f612.642.8331
john.provo@maslon.com
3300 Wells Fargo Center
90 South Seventh Street
Minneapolis, MN 55402
John Provo is a partner and head of Maslon's Intellectual Property and Technology Counseling Group. He counsels information-based and interactive technology companies with respect to the acquisition, sale, and licensing of creative works, and advises on trademark selection, registration, licensing and enforcement strategies. John also has represented media and distribution companies in a broad range of transactions involving the distribution of intellectual property, software, and other creative properties outside the United States.
As a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel since 1994, John also advises business owners, executives, and individuals with respect to estate planning, wealth preservation, and succession planning strategies.
- Intellectual Property Counseling
- Technology and Licensing
- Trademark and Brand Management
- E-commerce, Internet and Advertising Law
- Biotechnology and Healthcare
- Entertainment and Media
- Estate Planning
- Business Succession Planning
- Charitable Giving and Foundations
- Estate and Gift Tax Controversies
- Probate and Trust Administration
- Probate and Trust Litigation
- University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, Minnesota,
1983
J.D.
Honors: magna cum laude
Law Journal: Journal of Law and Inequality, Editor, 1982 - 1983 - Stanford University, Palo Alto, California,
1980
B.A.
Honors: summa cum laude
Honors: with distinction
- Minnesota, 1983
- U.S. District Court District of Minnesota, 1983
- U.S. Tax Court, 1990
- American Intellectual Property Law Association - Member
- American Bar Association - Member; Special Committee concerned with the development of intellectual property law and policy in relation to sales of traditional and knowledge-based products embodying intellectual property - Member; Forum Committee on Sales of Products Embodying Intellectual Property - Featured Speaker; Regional Communications Forum - Editor
- Minnesota State Bar Association - Member; Broadcast, Film & Video Committee - Chair; Probate & Trust Law Education Committee - Co-Chair, 1990 – 1992; Probate & Trust Law Council - Member, 1992 – 1997; Probate & Trust & Estate Counsel Business Planning - Editor, 1996 – 2000; Probate and Trust Law Section Newsletter - Editor, 1988 - 1990
- University of St. Thomas School of Law - Adjunct Faculty, 2004 - 2006
- Notes and Trends - Editor
- Minnesota Planned Giving Counsel - Member
- Catholic Charities Community Law Center, Board Member, 1998 - 1999
- Maternity of Mary/St. Andrews School; Board Member, 1998 – 2005; Board Chair, 2002 - 2004
- Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights, Liberian Truth and Justice Commission Statement Taker
- “Death, Taxes and Senior Executives”, 19th Annual National Association of Stock Plan Professionals Conference, San Francisco, 2011
- “Copyright Fair Use Considerations in Multimedia Works of Art”, (panelist), Minnesota Artist Exhibit Program, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, 2011
- “Death, Taxes and CEOs: Planning Perils, Pratfalls and Pointers in Executive Compensation”, 37th Annual Probate & Trust Law Section Conference, Minnesota CLE, 2011
- “Intellectual Asset Management: How to Manage and Profit from Your Intellectual Property Portfolio", Minnesota State Bar Association
- “Charitable Gifts of Intellectual Property”, Minnesota CLE, 2006
- “Advising Clients and Fiduciaries with Respect to Significant IP Interests”, 36th Annual Probate & Trust Law Conference, Minnesota CLE
- “Copyrighted Fair Use of Images”, The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
- “Legal Implications of the Digital Future”, University of Minnesota Symposium
- “The Electronic Transformation of Text and Image”, University of Minnesota
- “Legal Issues for Online Services”, Minnesota CLE
- “Intellectual Property and Confidential Information”
- “Privacy and Publicity Rights Arising Out of Film/Video Footage”, Minnesota State Bar Association
- “Trading talent without trading secrets: How to manage the risks involved in hiring while protecting intellectual property rights”, Maslon Speaker Series, 2006
- “Public Figures and the Lanham Act: A New ‘Brand’ of Prior Restraint?”, Minnesota State Bar Association
- “Delivery of Audio/Visual Programming in the Digital Era”, Minnesota CLE
- “Independent Contractor Guidelines”, Minnesota State Bar Association Broadcast, Film & Video Committee
- “How the Estate Tax Affects Transfers of Family Business Ownership”, University of St. Thomas’ Center for Family Enterprise, 2008
- “Transitional Strategies for Family Business Owners”, Society of Financial Service Professionals’ Annual Meeting, 2008
- “Closely Held Assets: Unlocking Their Charitable Potential”, The Minneapolis Foundation, 2008
- “Transitions in Family Business Enterprises”, University of St. Thomas’ Center for Family Enterprise and Law Schools, 2008
- The Right of Privacy in Minnesota: Global Legal Update for Business, Commercial Law Affiliates
- Minnesota Probate Deskbook, (co-author with Susan J. Link), Vol. 24, Minnesota Practice Series, West, 2004 - 2009 Editions
- An Estate Planner’s Manual for Evaluating Appraisals and Appraisers, (co-author), American College of Trust and Estate Counsel
- Drafting Wills and Trust Agreements in Minnesota, 6th ed., (co-author), Minnesota State Bar Association, 1998 - 2008
- Fellow, American College of Trust and Estate Counsel; Business Planning Committee, Member, 1996-2008; Family Dynamics Subcommittee, Member, 2007 – 2008; International/Estate Planning Committee, Member, 2007 - 2008
- Minnesota Law and Leading Attorneys, 1994 - 1998
- Recognized on Minnesota Super Lawyers® list, 2006 - 2011 (Minnesota Super Lawyers® is a designation given to only 5 percent of Minnesota attorneys each year.)
- AV Rating, Martindale-Hubbell (AV, BV, and CV are registered certification marks of Reed Elsevier Properties, Inc., used in accordance with the Martindale-Hubbell certification procedures, standards and policies)