O. Joseph Balthazor, Jr.

Joey Balthazor is an associate in the firm’s Intellectual Property practice. He counsels clients on a variety of intellectual property-related matters.

Joey is an experienced thought leader in emerging technologies, such as AI, and has authored numerous articles regarding the subject in the World Trademark Review Weekly. He was featured in the Star Tribune and the Indianapolis Business Journal and was recognized by Minnesota Monthly as Top Lawyers 2023 and named to Minnesota Rising Stars 2023.

Aside from industry involvement, Joey is actively involved in multiple committees and programs at Taft focused on diversity and inclusion both in the office and the surrounding communities. He serves as an ally on Taft’s LGBTQ+  subcommittee, where he helps spearhead their inclusion efforts in Minneapolis and is a de facto mentor for incoming associates. Joey is on Taft’s Recruiting Corps committee, where he reviews law student applications, interviews candidates, and attends meet-the-employer fairs. Additionally, he is the co-captain of the firm’s Associate Fundraising Campaign through Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid and helped facilitate a record year of donations in 2022.

• Co-author, “6 best practices for using generative AI in the workplace,” Columbus Business First. (Oct. 23, 2024)
• Featured, “Legalities of artificial intelligence just starting to scratch surface,” Cleveland Jewish News. (Aug. 11, 2024)
• Author, “Six Best Practices for Companies Using Generative AI (like DALL-E or ChatGPT) for Marketing Purposes” Hamilton County Law Library newsletter. (June 2023)
• Co-presenter, “IP Issues Arising from the Use of A.I.-Generated Materials,” Minnesota IP Law Association CLE. (June 7, 2023)
• Featured, “NFTs are creating trademark problems. For these Minnesota lawyers, expertise is a commodity,” Star Tribune. (March 8, 2023)
• Author, “Does the First-Sale Doctrine Apply to NFTs?” World Trademark Review Weekly. (Sept. 1, 2022)
• Author, “What the Data Says About the First Six Months of the Trademark Modernization Act,” World Trademark Review Weekly. (June 30, 2022)
• Author, “Nike Sues Retail Platform Over NFTs in Potentially Precedent-Setting Case,” World Trademark Review Weekly. (May 19, 2022)
• Author, “NFTs, Trademarks and Sneakers: a Nike Story,” World Trademark Review Weekly. (May 12, 2022)
• Co-presenter on the topic of cryptocurrency and NFTs for the Kansas Paralegal Association’s 45th Annual Seminar. (June 17, 2022)
• Moderator, “ESI Best Practices panel,” 2022 Federal Bar Association Minnesota Chapter Annual Seminar. (June 14, 2022)
• Co-presenter on the role of cryptocurrency, NFTs, and other digital assets in divorce for the 2022 Minnesota Family Law Institute. (March 22, 2022)
• Author, “What the Numbers Reveal About the Trademark Modernization Act so Far,” World Trademark Review Weekly. (March 10, 2022)
• Co-presenter on the role of cryptocurrency, NFTs, and other digital assets in divorce for the Johnson County Bar Association. (March 10, 2022)
• Co-presenter, “Everything Family Lawyers Need to Know About Digital Assets: Cryptocurrency, NFTs, and Their Role in Divorce,” Minnesota CLE Advanced Family Law Program. (November 2021)