Charlie A. Damschen

As an Intellectual Property (IP) attorney at BrownWinick, I strive to combine my entire range of personal skills, technical expertise, business insight, and legal experience to create value for my clients. With a background spanning engineering, business strategy, and law, I not only understand the complexities of a wide range of technologies but also the business and intellectual property strategies that drive innovation and sustainable growth. I find great fulfillment in understanding every aspect of my clients’ innovations and enjoy getting to know my clients personally–their motivations, goals, and vision for the future. Simply put, my education and experience as an engineer, entrepreneur, and attorney have positioned me to serve my clients as both a legal advisor and strategic partner. Known for setting high standards in both work and life, you can be assured that I bring the same level of dedication and integrity to all of my efforts at BrownWinick.   

My Approach

To provide the strongest and most comprehensive protection of your IP, the details matter. That is why I focus on asking thoughtful questions, listening carefully to your responses, and explaining your options in clear, understandable terms. I often use analogies to simplify complex legal concepts, ensuring you always understand your risk exposure and best courses of action. Throughout my career as an attorney, I have guided ideas successfully from conception to commercialization and every stage in between. I highly regard efficiency and value, so my approach is mindful of your time and resources. I enjoy combining my expertise with genuine curiosity to protect what you have created. Whether you need patent, trademark, trade secret, copyright, or IP-related agreement work, I approach all projects with curiosity, enthusiasm, and dedication.       

More About Me

I grew up on a family farm in North Dakota, and I began my career as an engineer at a large bio-processing company in Iowa after earning undergraduate degrees in Chemistry and Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota in 2003. I attended the University of Iowa College of Law, graduating with high distinction in 2007. Upon graduation, I worked at a boutique IP firm in Davenport for 16 years (10 as partner), helping all manner of clients and technologies. In 2023, I transitioned to an in-house position with an Illinois company specializing in plant-based materials where I managed all aspects of their international patent, trademark, and trade secret portfolios and developed IP strategies to align with business goals.  

I am licensed in Iowa and Illinois, in addition to being licensed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. I’m a ten-year member of the Iowa Intellectual Property Law Association, serving as president in 2024 and have been selected as a Great Plains Super Lawyer in Intellectual Property from 2020 through 2022. I remain active in the University of Iowa College of Law as a former adjunct professor and participate in the John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center at Iowa through mentorship and volunteer time with entrepreneurs and early-stage businesses.  

My Specialties

• Intellectual Property
• Intellectual Property Litigation
• Patent 
• Trademarks & Copyright
• Technology
• Licensing
• Food & Agribusiness
• Manufacturing 
• Mergers & Acquisitions