Merchant & Gould is pleased to announce that Andrew J. Lagatta and William D. Schultz, both Minneapolis partners, have been elected to the firm’s Executive Committee for three-year terms, effective Jan. 1, 2023. They replace Christopher J. Leonard and George C. Lewis, P.E., who completed their service on the Executive Committee at the end of 2022 and who greatly contributed to the committee for several years.
The Executive Committee manages the business operations of the firm, leads the partnership, and provides direction for long-range planning and growth. The firm leadership represents the values that emerged from Merchant & Gould’s founder John D. Gould, as well as the core group of attorneys who built the firm into a full-service intellectual property law practice nearly 123 years ago. Today, those same values and business principles guide seven Merchant & Gould offices and approximately 90 attorneys.
“Andy and Will personify the values and vision of Merchant & Gould with their deep roots in the firm and extensive involvement in the industry. Through their combined leadership and individual focus areas, each brings his distinctive perspective to help guide the firm from every angle – marketing and strategy to practice-group expansion,” said Heather Kliebenstein, managing partner and member of the firm’s Executive Committee. “Together, Andy and Will’s insight and experience will strengthen the committee, while helping steer the business goals for the firm and our clients.”
Andy focuses on a wide range of patent matters, working with large companies to help develop strong and enforceable patent portfolios, as well as start-up companies and individual inventors. He provides intellectual property counseling, analyzes patentability and clearance issues, and drafts and prosecutes patent applications. Prior to joining the Executive Committee, Andy chaired Merchant & Gould’s largest practice group, Electrical and Software.
Will specializes in Internet and Technology law and co-chairs Merchant & Gould’s Internet, Cybersecurity, and E-Commerce Practice Group. He navigates companies through legal issues related to online marketplaces, online search, website development and content, domain names, and the decentralized web (the metaverse and NFTs). Leading up to his role on the Executive Committee, Will chaired Merchant & Gould’s Strategic Planning Committee and is the Marketing Partner for the firm.
Congratulations, Andy and Will!
