Myers Bigel Biotechnology, Chemical Practice Groups Active in Industry Events

RALEIGH, N.C.--Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, P.A. (Myers Bigel), the largest independent patent law firm in North Carolina, has started the new year with continuing educational outreach in the life sciences. Attorneys in the firm’s Biotechnology and Chemical practice groups have been actively sharing their industry expertise and best practices with organizations throughout the Research Triangle region. “Myers Bigel continues to encourage our proven legal talent to improve and share their knowledge and skills garnered through their pursuit of undergraduate and graduate scientific degrees, as well as direct experience in the marketplace,” said David Purks, Myers Bigel managing partner. According to Purks, each of the attorneys in his firm’s practice groups have experience and degrees in a particular technology, having graduated from quality engineering and science programs, many with advanced degrees, before earning their J.D.s. This rare perspective helps them deal with the unique technical nuances of every invention and better relate with scientists and academics in order to successfully obtain patents with real world value, he explained.


Recent outreach by Myers Bigel attorneys in the life sciences includes:

- Shawna Lemon, Ph.D. (Biotechnology, Chemical) was named as one of Business North Carolina magazine’s “Legal Elite” and joined the Corporate Advisory Board of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Carolinas Raleigh Chapter; Raleigh Chamber of Commerce Emerging Leaders Program; and the Advisory Board for Triangle Biotech Tuesday;
- Julie Richardson (Biotechnology) was named as one of Business North Carolina magazine’s “Legal Elite”;
- Mike Sajovec (Chemical) was named 2014 Lawyer of the Year by Best Lawyers;
- Rob Schwartzman, Ph.D. (Biotechnology, Chemical) spoke February 11 on “Patent Reform – One Year Later” at a meeting of the Licensing Executives Society RTP Chapter; and
- Ken Sibley (Biotechnology, Chemical) participated as a panelist on Business North Carolina’s 2014 Biotechnology Round Table February 24 at the NC Biotechnology Center. 

The Myers Bigel Biotechnology Practice Group remains active, representing clients in an important industry locally; estimates put biotech’s yearly contribution to North Carolina’s economy at $59 billion, supporting 237,000 jobs. Despite growth, the industry is dealing with economic and political changes, part of the focus of this month’s 2014 Biotechnology Round Table featuring attorney Ken Sibley.

“While the America Invents Act has garnered the most attention, it is decisions by the Federal Circuit and Supreme Court which should have the greatest impact on how the biotech industry approaches patenting in the coming year,” Sibley said.

He added that a major issue is bringing business and management practices concerning patents based on 20-year-old patent law standards current with today’s state of patent law.

Sibley shared his views with fellow panelists Steve Butts, president and COO, Aerial BioPharma LLC; James Hayne, shareholder and technology and life sciences practice leader at accounting and consulting firm Elliott Davis; Phil Hodges, manager, Nano Ventures LLC; Machelle Sanders, vice president and general manager, Biogen Idec’s RTP location; Eric Tomlinson, DSc, PhD, chief innovation officer at Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center; president of Wake Forest Innovation Quarter; professor of physiology and pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine; and Michael Weeks, U.S. registration manager, Bayer CropScience. The Round Table will be covered in the April issue of Business North Carolina.

Myers Bigel is dedicated to providing clients with the fullest protection possible for their intellectual property issues, with attorneys well-versed in prosecution and litigation to enforce or defend patent, trademark, copyright and trademarks. Operating out of the Research Triangle Park area of North Carolina, Myers Bigel represents corporate and university clients located in the Carolinas, throughout the Southeast, across the United States, and in Europe and Asia.

For more information, visit www.myersbigel.com.

About Myers Bigel
Myers Bigel Sibley & Sajovec, P.A. (Myers Bigel) is an intellectual property law firm combining patent law expertise with a stable continuity of counsel to produce quality patents that stand up to scrutiny. We are the largest independent patent law firm in North Carolina, continually ranked among the top national firms by well-respected legal media and industry organizations. Our knowledgeable, vibrant team of attorneys with degreed technical experience successfully acquires, protects, enforces and defends patent assets and intellectual property in a variety of fields including biotechnology, chemistry, electronics and computing, mechanical, and trademark practice groups, as well as in litigation. Headquartered in Raleigh in the Research Triangle Park region of North Carolina, with clients spanning the globe, we remain active in symposia, seminars, and continuing education efforts to further best practices in intellectual property protection and enforcement. For more information on our high quality work visit www.myersbigel.com.