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 and 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 has worked with several leading companies in the intellectual property industry. He was part of the original team at RPX Corporation, having joined the company at its launch in 2008. At RPX, Mr Ruder was part of the original business development and corporate development teams and worked with dozens of RPX clients on various matters. While there he also led the creation of RPX Insurance Services and the RPX Risk Retention Group. Mr Ruder began his career working as an investment banker for Morgan Stanley Dean Witter and practised IP law for Kirkland & Ellis. As co-founder and chief executive officer 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.