Member of a global intellectual property (IP) team committed to securing the company’s investments in R&D, primarily by conducting extensive freedom-to-operate and IP due diligence investigations and handling all aspects of invention protection (harvesting ideas, evaluation, registration of rights, etc.). Includes both management of outside counsel and drafting, filing, and prosecuting patent applications directly with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and European Patent Office. Also involved in negotiating IP provisions in legal agreements with external parties.

Counseled clients on a variety of intellectual property matters, including issues with other parties, protection of patent and trademark rights, and potential third party conflicts. Extensive patent preparation and prosecution; representative technical areas included: medical devices, surgical instruments, liquid dispensing equipment, pneumatic tires, and various other mechanical technologies.

Drafted patent applications and responses to office actions from USPTO examiners. Also performed legal research and prepared memorandums to support attorneys in both transactional and litigation matters.

Spent spring and fall semesters assisting engineers with design and analysis projects involving gas turbine components. Assignments involved using CAD software, performing finite element analyses, and working with statistical data tools..