IP, People and M&A: Protecting Critical Assets in Every Deal

Randy Fisher is a Private Capital Development Senior Manager at Insperity, where he plays an instrumental role helping to lead Insperity's efforts into the venture capital, private equity, and startup ecosystems. His contributions have directly accelerated brand growth, spread Insperity's mission, and standardized a marketing strategy across the outsourced HR industry.

Randy received his BS in Marketing, Master's in Business Administration (MBA), and a Strategic Marketing Management Certificate from University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In 2021, he completed ACG's (Association for Corporate Growth) Middle Market Professional Certification Program and NVCA's (National Venture Capital Association) VC University LIVE at UNC.

Scott McBride’s practice focuses primarily on the litigation and trial of patent and complex technology cases in federal courts and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and reexamination proceedings before the Patent Office. Scott has a proven ability to help clients procure or acquire valuable intellectual property to protect their business, reach advantageous arrangements for solving intellectual property disputes where appropriate, and aggressively litigate patents when necessary.

Scott has worked with a wide array of businesses and technologies, and has been particularly successful representing medical device and pharmaceutical companies, both with and without jury trials. Some of the specific technologies with which he has experience include drug-eluting stents, angioplasty, diagnostics, surgical tools, pharmaceuticals, imaging tools, hard and soft-tissue implants, welding, unmanned aerial vehicles, gaming, electronics, satellites, telecommunications, foods, semiconductor chips, hard drives, surgical irrigation devices, electronic automation tools, operating room automation, and surgical robotics.

Over the past 20+ years, I have had the good fortune to have been involved in building some extremely successful businesses, working with amazingly talented people, and working with some of the world’s largest companies.

On this journey, we have gone from startup, funding, growth, and exit five times (Imaginet Inc, Spot Buy Spot, Imaginet LLC, Magnet 360 & Lucy). In that time, we have received a number of honors & awards, including E&Y Entrepreneur of the Year, Titan of Technology, University of Minnesota Outstanding Achievement, Smart Business Dealmakers Hall of Fame, Twin Cities Business 100 People to Know / Watch (3 times), The (Real) Power 50, and 40 Under 40. Along the way, we have experienced being #1 in The Business Journals Fast 50, made the Inc 500, and have worked with over 25% of the Fortune 500.

Proud of the many alumni of these ventures that have gone on and founded so many successful start-ups, including enStratus, Smart Things, Code 42, InStereo, Relationship One, Authentic, and more. These companies have generated over $2.5B in raised capital and exits.

Along the way, I founded the Minnesota Cup (www.mncup.org), the largest statewide business plan competition in the US, and am on the advisory board for the Holmes Center of Entrepreneurship at the Carlson School - University of Minnesota.

Kristin Nordling is the Founder & CEO of Lakeside HR Group, a fast-growing Minnesota firm providing recruiting and HR consulting for small to midsize businesses. A former CHRO with 25+ years of leadership experience, Kristin is recognized for scaling organizations, building trusted partnerships, and creating people-first strategies that drive lasting growth.