Larina Alton
Partner
Overview
Larina Alton, a registered patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, is a dedicated and versatile intellectual property and business trial attorney with experience in every phase of litigation practice, from pre-suit evaluation of potential patent infringement and counterclaim risk through trial and appeals. Her practice is distinguished by superior experience and repeated success prosecuting and defending inter partes review proceedings, a contested patent proceeding before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, which plays a vital role in any patent litigation. To date, Larina has appeared in more than twenty such proceedings without a loss, representing both clients who own patents and those challenging a patent's validity.
Larina's practice is informed by her close work with sophisticated clients and in-house counsel on matters vital to their business goals. Her considerable experience includes advising and representing her clients with respect to all aspects of intellectual property. Across all, she leverages particular skill in a broad range of technologies, including mechanical and electrical inventions (such as consumer products and medical devices), and those involving software, user interface, barcode scanning, imaging technology, and combustion control technology.
Prior to joining Maslon, Larina gained valued early experience as a law clerk to the Honorable David Minge of the Minnesota Court of Appeals followed by developing her vibrant private practice at AM Law 100 and boutique IP firms. She has maintained a well-earned reputation for providing fast, efficient, and thorough client service throughout.
Experience
- Served as counsel in more than 20 inter partes review proceedings before the USPTO.
- Successfully won 10 Final Decisions in inter partes review proceedings before the Patent Trials and Appeals Board regarding eight different electrical and mechanical patents. The decisions in her client's favor are on both the offensive and defensive side. These trailblazing victories related to rarely considered arguments and procedural motions in the developing inter partes review patent forum.
- Authored one of the first Complaints and motion for Temporary Restraining Order under the Defend Trade Secrets Act, leading to the advantageous resolution of the underlying matter in her client’s favor.
- Lead counsel in several medical device and consumer product intellectual property disputes in Federal District Court and the Federal Circuit.
Honors
Recognized on Benchmark 40 & Under Hot List, 2018-19 (The annual 40 & Under Hot List recognizes practitioners who are among the top young talent in their respective litigation communities in the U.S. & Canada.)
Recognized on Minnesota Rising Stars list as part of the Super Lawyers® selection process, 2017-2019 (Minnesota Rising Stars is a designation given to only 2.5 percent of Minnesota attorneys each year, based on a selection process that includes the recommendation of peers in the legal profession.)
Top Women Attorneys in Minnesota® list, 2018-2019 (The annual edition of the Top Women Attorneys in Minnesota list features attorneys who received the highest point totals in the previous year's Minnesota Super Lawyers® and Rising Stars balloting, research, and blue ribbon review process.)
North Star Lawyer, Minnesota State Bar Association, 2014 (North Star Lawyer is a designation that recognizes members who provide 50 hours or more of pro bono legal services in a calendar year.)