Overview
Dr. Dave Schmidt’s practice involves global strategic patent procurement, patent portfolio management, intellectual property due diligence, licensing, and general counseling on infringement, including pre-litigation strategy. Dave currently represents clients in a variety of technologies, with an emphasis on medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and materials. In the medical field, Dave has extensive experience in wound care, endoscopy, drug delivery, cardiovascular, and orthopedic technologies.
Dave has an extensive technical background, including a Ph.D. in biomedical engineering and M.S. degrees in both biomedical engineering and pharmaceutical sciences. Dave’s Ph.D thesis focused on host interactions with biomaterials in wound healing, including drug delivery interactions.
Dave has guided the IP strategies for investments and acquisitions valued in excess of several billion dollars, including Acera Surgical (acquired by Solventum), iRhythm Technologies (initial public offering), Tenex Health (acquired by Trice Medical), Seg-Way (acquired by Trice Medical), AVITA Medical (debt financing with OrbiMed), and Paragonix Technologies (acquisition by Getinge)
Dave has been recognized in the IAM Strategy 300 as among the world’s leading IP strategists. Dave has also been recognized in the Best Lawyers guide and the Legal 500 for patent prosecution.
Education
- University of Notre Dame (J.D., 2012)
- University of Wisconsin - Madison (Ph.D. Biomedical Engineering, 2009)
- University of Wisconsin - Madison (M.S. Pharmaceutical Sciences, 2009)
- University of Wisconsin - Madison (M.S. Biomedical Engineering, 2007)
- University of Wisconsin - Madison (B.S. Biomedical Engineering, 2003)
Recognition
Awards & Honors
- Named to IAM Strategy 300: The World’s Leading IP Strategists, which “identifies the individuals who are leading the way in the development and implementation of strategies that maximize the value of IP portfolios” (2025)
- Recognized by The Legal 500 “United States” for Patent Prosecution (2024-2025)
- Recognized in the “Best Lawyers 2025 Guide: Ones to Watch” for Intellectual Property Law in Best Lawyers in America (2024)
- Society for Biomaterials – Best Abstract in Category, Wisconsin School of Pharmacy – Travel Award in Drug Delivery
Affiliations
Society for Biomaterials
Wound Healing Society
News & Insights
Articles
7 Expert Insights on Packaging IP and Patents, published by Plastics Today & Packaging Digest (July 2021)
D.R. Schmidt, E.J. Joyce & W.J. Kao, Fetal bovine serum xenoproteins modulate human monocyte adhesion and protein release on biomaterials in vitro, 7(2) Acta. Biomater. 515 (2011).
X. Wang, D.R. Schmidt, E.J. Joyce & W.J. Kao, Application of MS-based proteomics to study serum protein adsorption/absorption and complement C3 activation on polyethylene glycol hydrogels, 22(10) J. Biomater. Sci., Polym. Ed. 1343 (2011).
D.R. Schmidt, H. Waldeck & W.J. Kao, Protein Adsorption to Biomaterials in BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS ON MATERIAL SURFACES: UNDERSTANDING AND CONTROLLING PROTEIN, CELL, AND TISSUE RESPONSES 1 (R. Bizios & D. Puleo eds., 2009).
A.S. Chung, H. Waldeck, D.R. Schmidt & W.J. Kao, Monocyte inflammatory and matrix remodeling response modulated by grafted ECM-derived ligand identity and concentration, 91A(3) J. Biomedical Materials Res., Part A 742 (2009).
D.R. Schmidt & W.J. Kao, Monocyte activation in response to PEG hydrogels grafted with RGD and PHSRN separated by interpositional spacers of various lengths, 83A J. Biomedical Materials Res., Part A 617 (2007).
D.R. Schmidt & W.J. Kao, The interrelated role of fibronectin and interleukin-1 in biomaterial-modulated macrophage function, 28(3) Biomaterials 371 (2007).
Contributor, Knobbe Martens PTAB Blog
Speeches & Seminars
H. Waldeck, D.R. Schmidt, X. Wang, E.J. Joyce, W. Kao. Modulation of Human Monocyte Phenotypic Polarization by Biomaterials and Xenoproteins. Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting, Orlando. April 2011.
W.J. Kao, D.R. Schmidt, E.J. Joyce & X. Wang. Monocyte phenotypic polarization on PEG hydrogels, polydimethylsiloxane, and TCPS mediated by exogenous serum and surface-associated proteins including complement C3, fibrinogen, thrombin, and vitronectin.. Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting, Seattle. April 2010.
D.R. Schmidt, Protein adsorption to biomaterials. University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Pharmacy Drug Delivery Seminar Series. February 2009.
W.J. Kao, X. Wang, S. Zuckerman, D.R. Schmidt, A.S. Chung, H. Waldeck, K. Kleinbeck & Y. Fu, Multifunctional Biomaterials for Drug Delivery, Tissue Engineering, and Biomedical Applications. School of Pharmacy, University of Wisconsin-Madison, February 2005 – February 2009.
D.R. Schmidt, Long-term comparison of human peripheral blood monocytes differentiated in FBS versus autologous serum and the further influence of IL-1 beta. World Biomaterials Congress, Amsterdam. May 2008.
D.R. Schmidt, Human peripheral blood monocytes differentiated in FBS versus autologous serum and in the presence of IL-1 beta. University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Pharmacy Drug Delivery Seminar Series. February 2008.
D.R. Schmidt, Monocyte adhesion and secretion in response to PEG hydrogels grafted with RGD and PHSRN separated by interpositional spacers of various lengths. Society for Biomaterials Annual Meeting, Chicago. April 2007.
D.R. Schmidt, Monocyte adhesion and secretion in response to PEG hydrogels grafted with RGD and PHSRN separated by interpositional spacers of various lengths. University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Pharmacy Drug Delivery Seminar Series. May 2007.
D.R. Schmidt, Integrated Mouth Splint for the Prevention of Bruxism. School of Dentistry, Marquette University. August 2003.
