Daidre L. Bourgess started her legal career in 2005 as a law clerk at Patterson Thuente IP. In August 2022 she was promoted to principal. Burgess is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion in order to deliver innovative legal solutions. She has developed a successful practice that focuses on patent prosecution and preparation for domestic and international clients within the chemical, biotech, and mechanical technology areas. Her technology expertise includes agriculture-related compositions as well as click chemistry, CO2 abatement and fuel cell technology. She also has experience in medical devices, consumer goods and printing, packaging, and lenticular technology.
Burgess is a chemical engineer and her early talents won her a job as a development engineer at 3M’s Coated Abrasives Lab. She graduated college from the University of Minnesota. Burgess, the youngest member of her team, was named co-inventor to two U.S. Patents — US6758734 & US6846232.
She recalls, “During that period, I had a really Patent-savvy manager.” “I learned a lot about patent laws through her. When she offered me the job at 3M, it was a dream come true.
Burgess claims that Patterson Thuente has kept her job because she was able to work on real projects from the beginning. “I was able work with Jim Patterson right from the beginning. Amy Salmela, a few years ahead, took the time to train me along with a few other people who are still around. When I became an attorney, there was a lot of work. I just got to the point where I could start running.
Patterson and Salmela join Burgess as principals of the Minneapolis law firm. Burgess describes the firm’s culture and values as family-oriented. “Many of our lawyers have been here nearly their entire legal careers. This speaks volumes about a place.
Burgess also was named HR principal. She says this was because she enjoys understanding what makes people stay at the firm. “I am always available to help and talk through any situation. To help them navigate their problems, I’d like to share my experience.
IP firms are faced with huge recruiting challenges in a field that is dominated by STEM professionals. Patterson Thuente makes it a top priority to recruit, hire and retain diverse lawyers. Retention is what I want to concentrate on. It can be very hard to find the right balance when women make the decision to have children. It can be very stressful to practice law privately. Part-time and job sharing are difficult, so many women quit within that period of seven to ten years. As a newly-minted principal, my goal is to be able show women who follow me the path to leadership positions, even if they choose to have children.
Burgess was able to find ways to balance work and family with the help of the firm. It means being flexible with my work schedule and being available at other times, such late in the evening. It has been a success for me to set boundaries and keep them. This doesn’t mean that I am less dedicated or care less. Respect is earned as long as I do the right thing.
Burgess’s husband was offered a job at Los Angeles six years ago. Burgess had to work remotely in order to accept the job. “I raised the topic without knowing the answer but the management of the firm was open to the idea. From 2016 to my recent return from Minnesota, I had plenty of work to do for my clients.
Burgess has had success in building relationships with clients who are in similar situations in their lives and careers. She recommends this strategy for women who are starting practices. “A lot my clients are similar in age and have children, so we understand the importance of flexibility when moving meetings. This has worked for me personally and professionally.
Burgess has worked with many domestic clients with large foreign portfolios. He also works with international clients in the U.K., Denmark, Sweden, and the U.K. I enjoy working with clients who allow me to be part of their team as if they were my own employees. One client has been my employer for fifteen years and I am the most senior person on the team. I enjoy gaining that knowledge as well as understanding their business needs.
Burgess has been doing a lot more portfolio strategy work in recent years. She was able help multiple startups secure significant financing by demonstrating how an IP portfolio can increase a startup’s value. An inventor friend and she helped patent a wine stopper, which she then sold through Amazon.
Daidre L. Burgess says it’s a great time to be a female lawyer. “In this transitional time at the firm, in the profession, as we see a new generation decision makers, it’s important for attorneys to show that we are making real changes. We’re not going to just pull the ladder behind us. It is important that junior and senior attorneys, as well as female attorneys, recognize the value of hard work. It is a warm and welcoming environment with many rewarding opportunities.
The post DaidreL. Burgess: Clear Path to Leadership was first published on Attorney At Law Magazine.