ATLANTA (July 12, 2021) – Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP (SGR) is pleased to announce the addition of Judy de León Jarecki-Black, Ph.D. to the firm’s Intellectual Property (IP) Practice based in Atlanta. Dr. Jarecki-Black will lead the firm’s growing biotech/chemistry patent team. She joins SGR from Merial Limited (now Boehringer-Ingelheim Animal Health), a leading global animal health biotech and pharmaceutical company, where she was the Global Head of IP.
With more than 20 years of experience, Dr. Jarecki-Black is a seasoned and accomplished patent and IP attorney, including in both private and corporate practice. During her 18-year tenure with Merial, Dr. Jarecki-Black was responsible for developing and implementing a global patent strategy, and she supervised a patent group that conducted worldwide patent procurement and led patent litigation activities. Among her most notable accomplishments were the successful patent portfolio development and patent litigation efforts related to Merial’s FRONTLINE Plus and NexGard products, including highly successful global patent enforcement campaigns.
“We are thrilled that Judy has joined our large and growing IP Department” commented Greg Kirsch, Head of the SGR IP Department. “Judy is well-known and well-connected in the biotechnology and chemistry patent fields, and she brings a wealth of proven patent law experience to SGR, developed over many years leading the patent activities of a major biotechnology and life sciences company. She will be a tremendous resource to our clients.”
Dr. Jarecki-Black received undergraduate degrees in Biology and History, with Honors, from the College of Charleston, graduating magna cum laude. She received a doctoral degree in Molecular and Cellular Biology & Pathobiology from the Medical University of South Carolina and worked developing human and animal vaccines against infectious diseases, including the recombinant Lyme (OspA) vaccine. Dr. Jarecki-Black subsequently received her law degree from Georgia State University College of Law.
SGR’s IP Department includes more than 30 IP attorneys, patent agents, and science advisors practicing across the full range of IP disciplines, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, as well as associated licensing, due diligence, IP portfolio development, and IP litigation. SGR’s patent team includes 17 professionals with scientific and engineering backgrounds across a full range of disciplines, including biotechnology, chemistry, pharmaceuticals, electrical engineering, computer engineering, mechanical engineering, and physics – including seven with doctorates and/or master’s in their respective fields.
About Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP
SGR is a full service, international law firm that advises regional, national and global businesses on a wide range of legal matters. The firm’s more than 250 attorneys provide legal counsel in more than 45 specialized practice areas, including aviation, corporate transactions, litigation, intellectual property, banking, real estate, construction, employment law, and employee benefits and executive compensation. Founded in 1893, SGR has offices in Atlanta, Austin, Jacksonville, London, Los Angeles, Miami, Munich, New York, Southampton, and Washington, D.C.