Tara C. Norgard Receives Federal Bar Association Kintner Lifetime Contribution Award

Carlson Caspers, a leading Minneapolis-based intellectual property firm, is pleased to announce IP Attorney and Board Member Tara C. Norgard was the presented with the prestigious Earl W. Kintner Award for Distinguished Service at the 2022 FBA Annual Meeting & Convention in Charleston, SC.

The Kintner Award is presented as a lifetime contribution award to an FBA member who has displayed outstanding long-term achievement, distinguished leadership, and participation in the activities of the association’s chapters, sections, and divisions throughout the nation over a career of service.

In her remarks to the attendees, Tara, who has held several leadership roles within the national and Minnesota FBA Chapter, shared the following thoughts:

“The Kintner Award is, at its heart, about service and leadership. That is why I accept this award today not on behalf of myself, but on behalf of the countless people from around the country who have long and tirelessly been leading and serving this organization to ensure the FBA—and our entire federal legal community—reflects, embraces, and grows forward with the rich diversity of the nation we serve.”

About Tara C. Norgard

Drawing on her extensive experience in complex litigation, technology, and business, Tara helps her clients leverage and defend their intellectual property inside and outside the courtroom. Ranking Tara among Minnesota’s top IP attorneys, Chambers USA 2022 states, “Tara is a fierce and highly skilled advocate.”

Tara focuses on high-stakes patent, trade secret, trademark and business litigation with a keen strategic view and relentless attention to details that matter. She has secured victories in district and appellate courts and arbitrations across the country and negotiated licenses and multimillion-dollar agreements in matters involving a wide spectrum of technologies, including medical devices, financial systems, radiation therapy systems, dental treatments, glass coatings, and consumer goods, among others.

In addition to her primary IP practice, Tara served as general counsel for the Receiver in the $160 million Trevor Cook Ponzi scheme, the second-largest fraud in Minnesota history, where she led the effort to repatriate assets from around the globe that were stolen under the guise of an international investment program, as well as in the inter-Mark receivership, where she oversaw the return of $26 million to individuals around the world. Her work on behalf of the Court and with the SEC, CFTC, and US Department of Justice in these matters has earned her high regard around the country for her work on sophisticated fraud and financial matters.

Tara brings first-hand business experience to every matter she handles, having worked for a global consulting firm before becoming a lawyer. Prior to joining Carlson Caspers, Tara clerked for the Honorable Donald P. Lay of the United States Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit and practiced with Sidley, an international law firm headquartered in Chicago. Tara is a member of the firm’s Management Committee. She also is the firm’s chief marketing partner and co-founder and co-chair of its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee, which leads the firm’s actions in fulfillment of its commitment to ensuring that all people, regardless of color, creed, sexual orientation, disability, or other unique human characteristics can excel and thrive in the firm, the profession, and the community.

Beyond the firm, Tara is a widely recognized national leader advancing DE&I in the legal profession and is a frequent speaker on these topics. She served as President of the Federal Bar Association’s Minnesota Chapter in 2016-17 and has led numerous initiatives with the Chapter and the District Court during over a decade of service on the Board. At the national level, she founded and chairs the FBAs DE&I Committee, which developed and is now implementing a multi-year DE&I Action Plan for the organization and its 100+ chapters around the nation.

She is routinely named among the top IP lawyers in Minnesota and has been honored twice as an Attorney of the Year by Minnesota Lawyer. She also was featured on the cover of the Women in Law 2017 Minnesota Edition, Attorney at Law Magazine, celebrating women attorneys who exemplify excellence in the Minnesota legal profession. Tara has also chaired and served on several Merit Selection Panels for the United States District Court for the District of Minnesota and the Court’s Markman Study Group.

Outside of her law practice, Tara works with Friends of FANA, Minnesota, a non-profit organization established to unite Colombian children of all ages with adoptive families. She also has served on the Board of Trustees for Sunny Hollow Montessori.

Read Tara’s full bio here.

About the Earl W. Kintner Award

The Earl W. Kintner Award for Distinguished Service is presented as a lifetime contribution award to an FBA member who has displayed long-term outstanding achievement, distinguished leadership, and participation in the activities of the association’s chapters, sections, and divisions throughout the nation over a career of service. The prestigious award honors the late National President Earl W. Kintner, whose two terms (1956-57 and 1958-59) and continued service to the association and its affiliated organizations (president of the Foundation of the FBA and the Federal Bar Building Corporation) serves as the highest standard of dedicated service.