David Ruder is co-lead of the Intellectual Property Practice of VALE Insurance Partners. VALE is a managing general agency that focuses on writing specialty property & casualty insurance and placing the risk with sponsoring insurance carriers. Mr. Ruder has broad intellectual property experience and works closely with investors and insurers as they understand opportunities and risks associated with IP finance.

He is an experienced IP executive who was part of the original team at RPX Corporation, having joined the company at its launch in 2008 to 2016. At RPX, Mr. Ruder was part of the business development and corporate development teams and worked with dozens of RPX clients on various matters. While there, he was also a part of the team that led to the creation of RPX Insurance Services.

Mr. Ruder began his career working as an investment banker for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and practiced IP law for Kirkland & Ellis. As co-founder and CEO of River West Brands LLC, he pioneered the business of acquiring and licensing dormant trademarks. He was one of the earliest employees at Ocean Tomo and sourced investments for patent investment firm Altitude Capital Partners.

Mr. Ruder received his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management, his JD from the Northwestern University School of Law, and his BA from Williams College.