In the highly innovative chemical industry, U.S. companies spend nearly $60 billion per year on research and development, with chemistry-related patents comprising 20 percent of all U.S. patents. Although large, multinational corporations lead much of this innovation, more than half of all companies in the chemical industry have fewer than 20 employees. These small, nimble players continue to push the boundaries in new chemical developments and technologies.

In-Depth Chemical Industry Experience

Our partners have worked with chemical companies for decades, securing hundreds of chemical-related patents and providing a full range of intellectual property support. In addition to our academic training as chemists and chemical engineers, several of our attorneys have deep experience within the industry at companies such as Monsanto, Shell, ExxonMobil, and Applied Materials prior to joining the firm.

Range of Chemical Expertise

We are extremely well versed in the complexities of chemical patents, including those containing Markush claims and generic structures. Our expertise covers a range of chemical compounds, production methods, proprietary formulations, product compositions, and other innovations, including:

● Additive and subtractive manufacturing

● Additives and processing aids

● Catalysts

● Chemical processes and engineering

● Chemical and physical vapor deposition

● Cryogenic products

● Complex chemical systems (such as agricultural
mixtures and therapeutic delivery systems)

● Fine chemical products

● Fuels, lubricants, and solvents

● Industrial and medical gases

● Polymer compounding

● Polymer synthesis

● Synthesis intermediates

Working Closely With Pharmaceutical Chemists

We also have extensive knowledge of engineered polymers and polymerization technology, which are used to create plastics, adhesives, coatings, medical devices, and packaging materials.

Our attorneys have degrees in chemical engineering, chemistry, genetics and pharmacology and have drawn on those backgrounds to draft numerous pharmaceutical patents, including those for antipsychotic drugs, antiviral drugs (including HIV protease inhibitors), anti-hypertension agents, anti-inflammatory drugs (including COX-2 inhibitors), and theranostic delivery systems. One attorney has nearly five years of experience in a lab working on small molecule inhibitors, allowing him to work closely with clients producing gene therapy drugs.

The technical background and work experience of our attorneys makes the patent prosecution process more efficient for our clients, eliminating the need for lengthy explanations of the drug compound and their clinical trials.

Serving the Agriculture Industry

Patents for agricultural materials—such as insecticides, herbicides, pesticides and additives—can involve complex chemical formulas and processes. This is another area where our background in chemistry can save our clients valuable time during the preparation and prosecution of patents.

International Scope

The global chemistry industry continues to advance, with growth in emerging markets such as China, India, Africa, and the Middle East. The law of IP also continues to change all over the world. To support our clients’ increasingly international scope, we work with our network of specialist IP firms around the world to secure international patent protection and to advise on global patent portfolio strategies.


Related Team:

Jordan Brown

Associate

Grant Buchanan, Ph.D.

Associate

Kyrie Cameron

Partner

John-Paul F. Cherry, Ph.D.

Patent Agent

Chad Dougherty

Partner

Jordyn Dougherty

Associate

Michael Henn

Associate

Jessie D. Herrera, Jr.

Partner

Jason C. Huang

Partner

Thomas D. Kiselak

Associate

Paul Klecha

Associate

Jessica Kostyo

Technical Advisor

Daniel McGovern

Associate

Daniel McManus

Of Counsel

Neil Morrissette

Of Counsel

B. Todd Patterson

Practice Head, Managing Partner

Reese Sloan

Technical Advisor

Charles E. Smith

Of Counsel

Nicholas Smith, Ph.D.

Partner

Joe Stevens

Partner

Keith Tackett

Retired Partner

Brooks Tueting

Partner

Veronica Verplancken

Patent Agent

Steve VerSteeg

Partner

Jay Yates

Partner

Valerie Yu

Associate

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