intellectual property Archives

Jun 17, 2021

Dr. Judy de León Jarecki-Black Joins SGR IP Dept. to Lead Biotech/Chemistry Patent Team

Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce that Dr. Judy de León Jarecki-Black has joined the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Department, to lead the firm’s significant and growing Biotech/Chemistry Patent Team. Dr. Jarecki-Black is a seasoned and accomplished patent and IP attorney, with more than twenty years of experience, including in both private and corporate practice. Prior to joining the firm, Dr. Jarecki-Black was the Global Head of IP for Merial Limited (now Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health), a leading global animal health biotech and pharmaceutical company, for 18 years. While at Merial, Dr. Jarecki-Black was responsible for developing and implementing… Read more

Mar 25, 2020

Impact of COVID-19 on Intellectual Property

The reach of COVID-19 has been felt across all facets of life. Travel bans have been enacted. Primary schools have canceled classes, and colleges have turned to full time online education. Supplies of toilet paper and hand sanitizer are scarce. The world of intellectual property has not been spared either, but COVID-19 has not brought it to a halt. IP right enforcement means have been impacted. Trademarks, trade secrets, patents, and copyrights fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. federal court system, the latter two exclusively. Many federal district courts have issued orders greatly reducing physical access. For example, the… Read more

Feb 12, 2020

Patagonia Sues Apparel Company Over Pro-Oil and Gas Industry “Petrogonia” Line

Patagonia Inc., an outdoor apparel company known for its commitment to conservation efforts, filed suit on Monday against a Colorado-based retailer for trademark and copyright infringement claims over its pro-oil and gas industry “Petrogonia” apparel. Patagonia alleges that OC Media LLC is selling apparel with a logo that closely mimics Patagonia’s mountain silhouette logo. OC Media has replaced the mountain silhouette imagery with oil field imagery: specifically, machinery associated with oil wells. The word “Petrogonia” also appears on the clothing in a font nearly identical to Patagonia’s word trademark. According to the complaint, which was filed in California federal court,… Read more

May 10, 2018

SGR Partners, Kirsch and Long, Recognized in Georgia by Chambers USA for Intellectual Property

SGR is pleased to announce that two of its Intellectual Property attorneys were selected for inclusion in the 2018 edition of Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers for Business. The prestigious legal guide, published annually by London-based Chambers & Partners, identifies leading lawyers and law firm practices based on interviews conducted by Chambers researchers with thousands of attorneys and their clients. Chambers USA recognized SGR in Georgia in the area of Intellectual Property. Gregory J. Kirsch was recognized for Intellectual Property (Georgia) (Band 3). Mr. Kirsch is a Partner and the Head of the Intellectual Property Practice of SGR. Mr. Kirsch serves as patent… Read more

Mar 8, 2018

Dr. Madhavi Sriram Joins SGR’s IP Department as Patent Science Advisor

SGR is pleased to announce that Dr. Madhavi Sriram recently joined the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Department as a Patent Science Advisor. Working with the firm’s patent attorneys, Dr. Sriram will assist the firm’s clients with respect to patent application preparation and filing, and other patent-related matters. Dr. Sriram has a Ph.D. in Chemistry, a Masters in Pharmaceutical Sciences, as well as extensive research experience. She assists SGR’s patent attorneys with preparing and pursuing patent applications at the US Patent and Trademark Office, as well as foreign patent offices, in a wide variety of chemical, life sciences and medical technology fields. Before… Read more

Dec 14, 2017

Kirsch and Warenzak Continue Teaching As Adjunct Law Professors

SGR attorneys have a long-standing tradition of teaching at colleges and universities across the country, and SGR’s intellectual property (IP) attorneys are no exception. SGR IP partner Gregory J. Kirsch has served as an adjunct professor of IP law at Emory University School of Law for over 20 years, most recently co-teaching a Patent Practice and Procedure class for the last 16 years. Kirsch will next teach this class at Emory Law during the Spring of 2018. The class is tailored to second and third-year law students who are interested in pursuing a career in patent law and teaches them… Read more

Dec 7, 2017

Dr. Sarah Sharman Joins SGR IP Dept. as Patent Science Advisor

SGR is pleased to announce that Dr. Sarah Sharman recently joined the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Department as a Science Advisor. Working with the firm’s patent attorneys, Dr. Sharman will assist the firm’s clients with respect to patent application preparation and filing, and other patent-related matters. Dr. Sharman is a recent graduate of Augusta University, where she received her Ph.D. in biochemistry and molecular biology. While pursuing her degree, her research focused on increasing cGMP signaling in the colon mucosa through the use of PDE-5 inhibitors and GC-C agonists as a prevention and treatment strategy for various gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. … Read more

Nov 6, 2017

U.S. News – Best Lawyers Recognizes SGR’s IP Practices Among Best in the US, Both Nationally and Regionally

Various intellectual property (IP) practice groups of Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) have once again been named among the best IP practices at law firms in the United States for 2018, both nationally and regionally, by U.S. News – Best Lawyers®. Specifically, SGR’s Patent Law, Trademark Law, Biotechnology Law, and IP Litigation practices were ranked among the top tiers on the national level, while SGR’s IP Litigation, Patent Law, and Trademark Law practices were ranked in the top tier for Atlanta, and SGR’s Biotechnology Law practice was ranked among the top tiers for Washington, DC. The rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that… Read more

Apr 6, 2017

SGR to Sponsor IP Think Tank and Hot Topics Event on May 10, 2017

SGR is proud to be sponsoring the IP Think Tank program and the IP Hot Topics Luncheon on May 10th, 2017, taking place at Georgia State University College of Law. The only event of its kind in the Southeast, IP Hot Topics is targeted to technology professionals and entrepreneurs reliant on the business of intellectual property, in-house and outside intellectual property counsel, licensing & tech transfer managers, IP strategists and academics involved in the study of IP law and economics. The IP Think Tank’s goal is to engage Southeast thought leaders to contribute to the global discussion on the future of IP… Read more

Apr 23, 2015

USPTO Patent Quality Assurance Practices – Quality Not Quantity

In a report issued on April 10, 2015, the United States Department of Congress, Office of Inspector General, provided its final report on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s (USPTO’s) patent quality assurance practices. The audit was conducted to (1) determine the sufficiency of the USPTO’s quality assurance program’s processes to prevent the issuance of low-quality patents and (2) assess the additional quality reviews performed to measure examiner performance and ensure that examiners are fully qualified to issue patent determinations without supervisory review. It identified four areas of concern: 1. USPTO’s performance appraisal plan and related policies are ineffective at… Read more