Erik Swenson is an Intellectual Property lawyer and the managing partner of Stradling’s Austin office, representing global technology companies in complex IP matters across the United States and Europe. His practice spans a broad range of technologies, including artificial intelligence, software, computer hardware, electrical and mechanical systems.
Before joining Stradling, Erik held senior leadership roles at Norton Rose Fulbright, a top-25 Am Law global firm, serving as Partner-in-Charge of its Minneapolis office and a long-standing role as a leader in its Munich office over the course of nearly a decade. At Norton Rose Fulbright, he developed deep experience navigating U.S. and European legal and privacy regimes and led the creation of an automotive symposium focused on cross-border legal issues between Europe and the United States for in-house counsel. Erik regularly lectures in the United States and Europe on cross-border litigation, settlement and licensing issues (including lecturing and publishing at the national Association of Corporate Counsel alongside leaders globally, including Shell) and prosecuting patents and litigating under 35 USC § 101. Erik was lead counsel in DDR Holdings, LLC v. Hotels.com, L.P, one of the earliest and most influential 35 USC §101 decisions. He is widely recognized as a pioneer in this area of law.
Erik holds an advanced degree in computer engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied in MIT’s Intelligent Engineering Systems Lab and worked at the forefront of early intelligent computing systems. He developed the first intelligence-based system for scheduling large, complex construction projects such as refineries and skyscrapers. He pairs deep technical expertise with seasoned trial advocacy to help clients resolve sophisticated IP challenges. Erik has served as lead counsel in more than 250 contested matters, handling all phases of litigation, trial, appeal, and administrative proceedings.
Erik’s practice includes high-stakes international patent litigation, Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings, opinion work, transactional matters, and strategic patent portfolio management. As a registered U.S. patent attorney, he also brings valuable in-house experience, having served as Chief Technology Officer for a major company, where he developed intelligence-based systems and managed technology-driven operations.
Erik has received many awards, including “The Best Lawyers in America,” “Rising Stars,” and “Super Lawyers.”