Eric R. Chad

Eric R. Chad is a Minneapolis intellectual property lawyer and partner who handles intellectual property litigation and data privacy and security matters. His litigation practice covers patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, publicity rights, and unfair competition. He represents clients from pre-filing investigations through post-trial briefing and appeals, while also counseling businesses on privacy compliance, incident response planning, vendor management, website terms, privacy notices, and regulatory requirements. He works to align legal strategy with business objectives and budgets.

Eric earned a J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Law School, where he served as Lead Managing Editor of the Minnesota Journal of Law, Science & Technology. He received a B.S. in Biology, summa cum laude, from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities. He later completed the Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Law Certificate Program at Mitchell Hamline School of Law, graduating summa cum laude.

Eric has litigated complex intellectual property disputes involving software, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, healthcare technologies, sporting goods, HVAC equipment, infection prevention, and lubrication technologies. He has appeared in federal district courts across the country and before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. His privacy work includes counseling clients on the GDPR, California Consumer Privacy Act, FCRA, FERPA, COPPA, and other sector-specific requirements, along with developing policies and incident response plans.

Eric R. Chad is a Certified Information Privacy Professional for the US private sector through the International Association of Privacy Professionals. He is a member of the American Bar Association and Minnesota State Bar Association and serves on the Children’s Law Center of Minnesota board and as Finance Committee Chair. He previously taught Intellectual Property Moot Court as an adjunct professor at the University of Minnesota Law School.

Law Office Affiliations

• Partner, Merchant & Gould P.C.
• Member, International Association of Privacy Professional
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, Minnesota State Bar Association

Licensed State

• Minnesota

Education

• University of Minnesota Law School
  Juris Doctor (JD) Magna Cum Laude
• University of Minnesota
  BS in Biology, Summa Cum Laude

Awards & Badges