Erik Swenson is an Intellectual Property (IP) Partner in 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 a top-25 Am law global firm, serving as Partner-in-Charge of its Minneapolis office and a long-standing role in its Munich office. There, 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 US for in-house counsel. Erik regularly lectures in the US and Europe on cross-border litigation, settlement and licensing issues (including lecturing and publishing at the national ACC) 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 § 101 decisions, and 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 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.”