Firm Spotlight: David Friedman
Where did you go to school; what did you study and how did you make your way into IP Law?
I attended Baldwin Wallace University (then known as Baldwin Wallace College), earning a BA in Organizational Leadership. I began at Renner Otto simply by answering a wanted ad for a position of part-time office clerk, for the assignment of standard office-clerical duties. I have been with the firm ever since, and eventually moved to a full-time role.
Early career: What did you do; what brought you to Renner Otto?
The legal office environment traditionally teems with task activity, endless details attended within an office, as well as those attended throughout the city at the clerk of courts, libraries, fellow law offices, restaurants, and other venues. Once I was able to establish myself as reliable, consistent, and at least somewhat capable, there was generally no end to tasks assigned and responsibilities meted out.
What do you think makes Renner Otto unique or a better place to work than the other competitors/firms?
Offices and workplaces are about people, both those one works with, and those one works for (from an employee point of view, at any rate.) I have gathered that competitor firms have somewhat more challenging work environments as a consequence of the challenges of interactions between people. Renner Otto is unique in that a level of respect and personal responsibility are paired with genuinely reasonable and cooperative interaction between people. This does not mean that friction does not exist, but I believe at a manageable level and, I have gathered, at a consistently lower level than at many competitor firms.
What do you love most about working in IP Law? Any particularly exciting clients or products you’ve worked on?
I have always appreciated the unique pairing within intellectual property law between science and the law. Renner Otto has adopted the tag line of “Advancing Innovation” and it is apt, as that phrase truly reflects the role of an intellectual property law firm. As well, I have had the good fortune to meet and interact with people from across the planet. It is unquestionably a period of great activism and change with IP, which I appreciate. When I began with Renner Otto, the law was practiced and procedures followed much as they had been for decades. As we know so well, in our present environment, procedures change quite routinely, which I believe, for the most part, is entirely positive.
Life outside work: What are your hobbies? Where do you live? Family life? Tell us a little more about your personal life.
As a confirmed bachelor, I have for the past number of years concentrated outside of work on a passion for creative writing. Invariably, much of my time away from work is spent on my unpaid position of screenwriting. I have set a goal for myself to one day make a sale of a screenplay – a goal admittedly as elusive as ever. However, I have not given up hope, and continue to improve my skills within this endeavor, as well as to simply enjoy the creative outlet of writing. Perhaps one day I will have the opportunity to see a single line byline at the outset of film, ‘screenplay by David A. Friedman’. I make use of the “A” as I have a quite common proper name, one in fact already made us of by other authors and writers. Oh well. I do not intend to adopt a nom de plume anytime soon!
David with the Baldwin Wallace University President