Will Ely focuses on litigation involving patents, copyrights, trademarks, and trade secrets. He leverages his past experience as a trial-focused paralegal and his technical background in computer science, energy regulation, and environmental law to find successful results.
Will has assisted clients with patent drafting, transactions, and litigation involving medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and telecommunications technologies. Will is a resourceful researcher and gained valuable insight into the judicial mindset as a judicial law clerk at the Minnesota Court of Appeals.
Before attending law school, Will was a highly regarded paralegal at a New York City law firm, where he confirmed his desire to pursue a law degree. His active litigation experience included extensive work involving motion practice at every stage of litigation, including brief drafting, exhibit management, and significant trial experience. He regularly summarized briefs and court decisions for partners, worked several trials, including a nine-week jury trial, and supervised paralegal teams working on complex matters, including an insurance dispute involving events and documents from the 1890s through the early 2000s. During his time as a paralegal, Will often worked with the patent team and gained valuable experience with Hatch-Waxman litigation.
He is an author for the firm’s award-winning “Inventor Spotlight,” which highlights inventors who have impacted our society with their innovations. When not working, Will enjoys climbing at his local bouldering gym, enthusiastically (if not skillfully) playing chess, and reading science fiction. He also enjoys Formula 1 racing and is a lifelong Buffalo Bills fan.
University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, MN, JD cum laude
Minnesota Law Review, Managing Editor
Law in Practice, Student Instructor
Environmental and Energy Law Clinic, Student Instructor
Colgate University, Hamilton, NY, BA cum laude
Computer Science major, Philosophy minor,
Consumer Bankruptcy Law Project, Student Paralegal
Minnesota Supreme Court
University of Minnesota Law School, Minneapolis, MN, Adjunct Professor
Will currently coaches the University of Minnesota Law School’s Media and Entertainment Law Moot Court Competition Team, which competes in the Cardozo FAME Center Intellectual Property Law Moot Court Competition each year.
Minnesota Court of Appeals, St. Paul, MN, Judicial Law Clerk
Will served as a judicial law clerk to the Honorable Elise L. Larson at the Minnesota Court of Appeals, gaining valuable insight into the judicial process and persuasive advocacy.
Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, St. Paul, MN, Summer Law Clerk
At MCEA, Will researched questions of appellate procedure, administrative law issues, and questions of statutory interpretation. He also drafted memoranda that summarized parties and amici’s arguments. Will contributed to the drafting of a brief to the Minnesota Supreme Court and was trusted with cite checking another brief submitted to Minnesota Supreme Court. Additionally, Will analyzed contract law and statutory authorization issues implicated by a proposed energy efficiency inclusive financing tariff.
O’Melveny & Myers LLP, New York, NY, Paralegal
Will’s paralegal experience includes case management and courtroom trial responsibilities, including exhibit management, brief drafting, and cite checking. He regularly summarized motion briefs and decisions for partner review. Additionally, he supervised multiple paralegals concerning complex insurance disputes involving events and documents from the 1890s through the early 2000s.
Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York, Utica, NY, Student Paralegal
Will prepared Chapter 7 bankruptcy cases for referral to pro bono counsel. After contacting clients, he summarized their financial situations and reason for bankruptcy in referral memos to attorneys. He contributed to teams devoted to unemployment benefits disputes and mortgage modifications.
