Rachel C. Hughey
by Michael Krieger
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Born: Sept. 9, 1978; Columbus, Ohio
Education: University of Minnesota, J.D., 2003; University of Wisconsin, B.S., 2000
Employment: Carlson, Caspers, Vandenburgh & Lindquist, associate, 2006-present; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, law clerk to Judge Alvin A. Schall, 2005-06; Merchant & Gould, associate, 2003-05
Professional Associations: American Intellectual Property Law Association, Federal Bar Association, Federal Circuit Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyers
Community Activities: Advocates for Human Rights, University of Minnesota Law School writing instructor
Hobbies/Interests: Crafts, swimming, travel
Personal: Husband, Michael
Carlson, Caspers, Vandenburgh & Lindquist
Education: University of Minnesota, J.D., 2003; University of Wisconsin, B.S., 2000
Employment: Carlson, Caspers, Vandenburgh & Lindquist, associate, 2006-present; U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, law clerk to Judge Alvin A. Schall, 2005-06; Merchant & Gould, associate, 2003-05
Professional Associations: American Intellectual Property Law Association, Federal Bar Association, Federal Circuit Bar Association, Hennepin County Bar Association, Minnesota State Bar Association Lawyers
Community Activities: Advocates for Human Rights, University of Minnesota Law School writing instructor
Hobbies/Interests: Crafts, swimming, travel
Personal: Husband, Michael
Rachel C. Hughey is a patent attorney.
She also runs, swims, knits and quilts. She’s the center of several social circles. She balances pro bono appellate work with her regular practice, and always seems to be penning a legal article or two. She even organized a lawyers’ kickball team called the Bad News Barristers. Yet, “I don’t think of myself as high energy,” she says.
Whatever you want to call it, Hughey is fast becoming a recognized name in intellectual property law.
Hughey comes from a family of engineers and lawyers. She spent the early part of her career with Merchant & Gould in Minneapolis. In 2005 she accepted a clerkship with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which by any measure, “is an awesome court,” Hughey says.
Based in Washington, D.C., the court deals extensively with patent and trademark issues. Hughey says she enjoyed working closely with the staff, and, as a clerk for Judge Alvin A. Schall, gained tremendous insight into judges’ expectations while hearing cases.
She would have stayed in D.C., but ties to the Twin Cities tugged her back here a year later.
One of those connections is the intellectual property moot court team at the University of Minnesota Law School. Hughey coached the team during the 2003-04 and 2004-05 school years, each time taking it to national competitions hosted by the American Intellectual Property Law Association.
Hughey also teaches legal writing at the U of M, and keeps in touch with many of her former students.
“I really enjoy reading about the law and thinking about the law,” Hughey says. Perhaps it’s no surprise, then, that she also enjoys writing about the law.
Putting her experiences in the Federal Circuit to use, Hughey is currently working on an article about effective appellate arguments. She has a particular interest in patent issues involving third-party repairs, and has been closely monitoring the LG Electronics v. Quanta Computer patent infringement case, now before the U.S. Supreme Court, for an upcoming essay.
Hughey also offers her help on asylum cases — especially those before the 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals — through the Advocates for Human Rights in Minneapolis “It’s a good way to make a huge impact in someone’s life,” she says.
Another topic on Hughey’s radar screen is the Patent Reform Act that has been making rounds in Congress.
Patent law is a complex and changing field, she says, and the backlog at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office needs to be addressed. While the bill isn’t a cure-all, “I think everyone agrees that something needs to change,” she says.
