Skip to main content
Professional background
Biography image

William E.Manske

Partnermoc.eniHnospmohT@eksnaM.mailliW
Minneapolis

O 612.605.5903

William E.Manske

Partner

Focus Areas

Examples of Will’s experience include:

  • National Presto Industries v. U.S. Merchants – Served as trial counsel for U.S. Merchants in successful defense of trade dress infringement claims brought by National Presto Industries. Also served as appellate counsel in successful defense of trial verdict before the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
  • Stevenson v. WWE Advised on a groundbreaking Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deal between a U.S. Olympian wrestler and World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. (WWE)—the first of its kind for WWE.
  • Club Car v. Yamaha Represented Club Car, a manufacturer of utility vehicles, in a patent case involving GPS technology used to manage and control vehicle usage on golf courses. After defeating four inter partes review (IPR) challenges, the case settled confidentially, and Yamaha modified its accused product offering.
  • IWCO Direct Holdings Inc. v. Nahan Printing, Inc. Represented a leading provider of direct marketing services in a trade secret suit against former executives and their new employer. Case settled on confidential terms after a hearing on cross-motions for summary judgment.
  • Covidien v. Esch Served as trial counsel for a healthcare company in a trade secret and breach of contract case against former employee. Following trial in the federal court for the District of Massachusetts, the jury found in the client’s favor on claims for breach of contract stemming from disclosure and use of confidential information to establish a competing business.
  • MTD Products Co. v. The Toro Company – Represented defendant Toro, a manufacturer of outdoor power equipment, in a multi-patent dispute involving transmission technology for zero-turn-radius vehicles. The case settled on confidential terms after the Patent Trial and Appeal Board invalidated two of the asserted patents following successful inter partes review (IPR) challenges, and the plaintiff withdrew its preliminary injunction motion after reexamination challenges were initiated on the third patent.
  • Genovis AB v. Promega Defended biotechnology company Genovis AB in a patent infringement suit in the Western District of Wisconsin involving protease sequencing technology. The case settled on confidential terms after filing of summary judgment motions.
  • Virtual Radiologic Corp. v. Tandem Represented plaintiffs Virtual Radiologic Corporation and Nighthawk Radiology Services in patent infringement, copyright, and trade secret action relating to radiologic viewing technology. Obtained permanent injunctions in favor of clients, including a finding of patent infringement.
  • “SCOTUS Hears Warner Chappell’s Challenge To Copyright Law,” World Intellectual Property Review, February 22, 2024
  • “High Court Makes It Harder To Stop Foreign Counterfeit Goods,” Law360, June 29, 2023
  • “Apple Music Trademark Ruling Leaves ‘Tacking’ Standard Unclear,” Bloomberg Law, April 17, 2023
  • “Global Trademark Spat Before Supreme Court Leaves Attorneys Conflicted,” Westlaw IP, March 23, 2023
  • “Justices Seek Abitron Parties’ Help in Articulating Bounds of Extraterritorial Application of Lanham Act,” IPWatchdog, March 21, 2023
  • Co-author, “Trade Dress Through a Trial Lens: Six Strategy Tips For Litigants,” Managing IP, September 2, 2022
  • “The Halo Effect: More Jury Trials On Willfulness,” Law360, August 1, 2016
  • “Digital Media and the New US Copyright Office Practices,” Corporate Counsel, October 8, 2014
  • Panelist, “Strategy Considerations to Maximize Value in IP Transactions,” IP Leadership Executive Summit, San Jose, California, April 24, 2024
  • Panelist, “Unlocking the Enigma: Generative AI, Regulatory IP Concerns and Views from the In-House,” Global IP Strategy Hub, Minneapolis, Minnesota, January 30, 2024
  • Panelist, “Ethics Check-In: USPTO Insight and Practical Implications of AI,” Connecticut Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section, Hartford, CT, December 12, 2023
  • Panelist, “Digital Disruption: How to Protect Your Brands in a Virtual World,” Managing IP’s Intellectual Property and Innovation Summit, New York, May 24, 2022
  • Selected for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2025 for Intellectual Property Litigation
  • Selected to the Minnesota Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list, 2016-2025
  • World Trademark Review 1000The World’s Leading Trademark Professionals, 2023-2025
  • Named a North Star Lawyer by the Minnesota State Bar Association for providing at least 50 hours of pro bono legal services, 2016, 2024

Professional Associations

  • Minnesota State Bar Association
  • Federal Bar Association

Community Activities

  • The Advocates for Human Rights, Board Member

Education

  • University of Minnesota Law School, J.D.,
    cum laude
  • George Washington University, B.A.,
    cum laude

Bar Admissions

  • Minnesota

Court Admissions

  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
  • U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota
  • U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois