Ben Armitage

Shareholder/CEO

Ben Armitage is a shareholder and CEO of Billion & Armitage. He advises clients across the full spectrum of intellectual property law, with particular depth in patents and trademarks, and he is increasingly active in the firm’s growing litigation practice following the addition of experienced trial counsel.

Ben’s practice spans transactional and strategic counseling—guiding clients on patent procurement, portfolio management, licensing, and infringement matters—while also supporting litigation strategy as the firm expands into contested IP proceedings.

He has extensive technical experience in the medical device, cleantech, and chemical industries, as well as instrumentation, biofuels, biomass conversion, fuel cells, batteries, polymers, catalysts, nanotechnology, sensors, animal health, crop science, and sporting goods technologies. His background in chemistry and device development allows him to work seamlessly across disciplines, including mechanical and process engineering.

In addition to his legal practice, Ben is a recognized leader in the field of artificial intelligence. He counsels clients on patenting AI technologies and has presented on the intersection of AI, intellectual property, and law.

Ben earned his B.A. in Chemistry (magna cum laude) from Central College, his M.S. in Analytical Chemistry from the University of Iowa—where he conducted interdisciplinary research on non-invasive medical detection devices—and his J.D. from the University of Minnesota.

Presentations & Publications

  • “AI Strategies for Intellectual Property”- Brewing the Future CLE Series, hosted by Cloud Court, Minneapolis, MN January 2025.
  • “Intellectual Property: Start to Finish,” National Business Institute™  Video Webcast, Eau Claire, WI, January 2018.
  • “Trademark Law for Paralegals,” Institute for Paralegal Education™ Video Webcast, Eau Claire, WI, January 2015.
  • “Challenges and Experiences in Commercializing Materials-Based Technologies,” Licensing Executives Society 2014 Annual Meeting, San Francisco, CA, October 2014.
  • “Attorney’s Guide to the Valuation of Intellectual Property,” National Business Institute™ Live Teleconference, Edina, MN, July 2014.
  • “Save Money While Navigating Your Competitors’ Intellectual Property,” CleanTech Open, Minneapolis, MN, June 2014.
  • “Getting Things Done at the Patent Office and Post-AIA Strategies,” LifeScience Alley® presentation, St. Louis Park, MN, September 2013.
  • “Intellectual Property Issues for Start-Ups,” Midwest Cleantech Open, Minneapolis, MN, August 2013.
  • “Tips and Tricks in Getting Things Done at the Patent Office: How to Save Time and Money with the Current State of the USPTO,” Industry-University-Government Interface (IUGI) Sector of the Licensing Executives Society (LES), June 2013.
  • “Buying and Selling Intellectual Property,” National Business Institute™ Webinar, December 2012.
  • “What Patent Reform Means to University Inventors,” University of Missouri-St. Louis, America Invents Act Workshop, October 2011.
  • “Creating Licensable Patents and Software Protection,” presented to multi-campus technology transfer office meeting, February 2011.
  • “Top 10 Considerations in Commercializing Greentech,” Greentech Patent Seminar, Chaska, MN, July 2009.
  • “U.S. Patent Protection for Pharmaceutical Inventions,” (half day seminar; two day workshop), Academy of Intellectual Property Studies (AIPS), Mumbai, India, September 11 and 13-14, 2007.
  • “Process Claims: Patentability and Infringement Issues,” and, “Contributory Infringement, and Inducement to Infringe,” Strategies for Indian R&D Teleseminar Series, June & November 2007.
  • “Online Measurement of Urea Concentration in Spent Dialysate During Hemodialysis,” Proceedings of the SPIE, 2002.

Professional Organizations

  • Served as Co-Chair for CEEM (Chemicals, Energy, Environmental and Materials) sector of LES
  • Served as Programming Lead of IUGI (Industry-University-Governemnt Interface) sector of LES
  • Served on Content Committee for CEEM (Chemicals, Energy, Environmental and Materials) sector of LES
  • Served as Chapter Liaison for CEEM sector of LES
  • Served as Council Member for the MSBA Practice Management and Marketing Section
  • Serves on Mentorship Committee of Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM)
  1. Ben Armitage

    Shareholder/CEO

  2. Michael A. Collins

    Shareholder

  3. Mark Burns

    Shareholder

  4. Robert Ray

    Patent Attorney

  5. Nicholas Boebel

    Trial Lawyer and Strategic Problem Solver

  6. Niall MacLeod

    Trial Attorney

  7. Robert Myers

    Patent Agent

  8. Jennifer Buss

    Patent Attorney

  9. Ben Williams

    Patent Attorney

  10. Jonathan Wolff

    Patent Attorney

  11. Emerald Seeling

    Attorney (pending bar approval)

  12. Wendy Skelly

    Paralegal

  13. Julie A. Shea

    Practice Administrator

  14. Stacey Dickinson

    Administrative Assistant

  15. Rebecca Krueger

    Paralegal

  16. Scarlett Figueroa

    Accounting Assistant

  17. Tyler Jensen

    Paralegal

  18. Sean Anderson

    Paralegal