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He made me the leader of the Silicon Valley office. This section highlights information about where patent attorneys work. Clients, attorneys say, are among the greatest gatekeepers for helping Black lawyers excel. This chart breaks down the ages of patent attorney employees. But if they dont open the pool to see whats out there, they dont know what theyre missing., Turner notes that the underrepresentation of black attorneys is far from a new issue. The map here shows where patent attorneys earn the highest salaries in the U.S. Protecting And Enforcing Trade Secrets (AIPLA 2016 Spring Meeting), Check, Raise, or Fold: The Risky Business of IP (Chair, F&L 11th Annual IP Conference, 9/15), Trade Secret Protection and Enforcement in the U.S. (NBA Annual Conference, 7/15), Patents/Trade Secrets Overview (Client CLE, 4/15 and 7/15), Whats next? Waldrop was asking himself, Do I really want to do this? CAN I USE MY TRADEMARK ON PROMOTIONAL ITEMS? ABWA - The Association of Black Women Attorneys Home About Us CALENDAR Phone : (212) 695-1000 info@abwanewyork.org 1001 Avenue of the Americas 11th Floor New York, New York 10018 Skip to Content Oops. When you look at that requirement, you must then consider the population of black college students, or post-college grads that have that technical background. She is also frequently quoted by publications such as Law360, Managing Intellectual Property, BNAs Patent Trademark & Copyright Journal, and The Wall Street Journal. Their president, Jefferson Davis, had unsuccessfully tried before to get a U.S. patent on a propeller invented by a man, Benjamin Montgomery, enslaved by his brother, according to research from University of Kentucky law professor Brian Frye. In addition, she is a member of the Chicago and Cook County bar associations, the Bar Association of the District of Columbia and the Illinois State Bar Association. Alexander notes that in patent cases in particular - where . Nelson Madden Black LLP Attorneys Website (212) 382-4300 5 Park Row New York, NY 10038 CLOSED NOW 6. from the John Marshall Law School. Kasowitz Benson Torres partner Jonathan Waldrop credits equal parts luck, hard work and good timing for his success as a patent litigator. Black or african american patent attorneys have the lowest average salary at $82,666. Stan Gibson is a trial lawyer who focuses on high-stakes cases involving technology. Like Turner, Drayton believes that the COVID-19 pandemic has eliminated many of the distractions of day-to-day life, creating something of a captive audience for the injustices that have been unfurling in Minneapolis and elsewhere. Researchers point to the Supreme Courts infamous 1857 Dred Scott ruling that Americans of African descent, whether free or enslaved, were not U.S. citizens. To understand what its like for a black lawyer practicing IP, she said to imagine playing a game of Monopoly where you begin with no money or property and your opponents already have significant amounts of it. Raychelle Tasher Company: U.S.. The rarity of being a Black intellectual property lawyer in the United States hits home for the 1.7% of attorneys who fit that description. Johnson highlights another contributing factor: low numbers of Black intellectual property attorneys. Id been in the department for three years and had seen that professor many times, said Longsworth, who went on to earn a doctorate. Thats hugely important to me, he said. Report: Judicial Diversity Grew in California Courts Last Year, Its Important for All of Us To Lift as We Climb: Black Women Judges Discuss Diversifying the Courts, Skilled in the Art With Scott Graham: I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together, Semiconductor Pioneer Adds Legal Chief With Deep Deal-Making Experience, Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, Law.com Editors and Analysts Offer Top Trends to Watch for 2023. So hes imploring in-house counsel not to turn to the same old network every time a new matter comes in. Ultimately, there might be valid reasons for choosing another lawyer. These are not the inventors that were growing up learning about, said Griffin, who testified to Congress about patent diversity this year. Feeling a personal connection to the enterprise was critical. Another study, from Michigan State University researchers, found that from 1976 to 2008, African American inventors were awarded six patents per 1 million people, compared to 235 patents per 1 million for all U.S. inventors. During law school, she worked in the Law Office of the Cook County Public Defender as a senior law student, representing clients who had been charged with misdemeanors and felonies. At Stinson, our attorneys combine industry knowledge and business acumen to deliver practical legal guidance to clients ranging from individuals to privately-held enterprises to international corporations. After presenting, he was approached by an executive of a large technology company. Firm chairman Marc Kasowitz has provided Waldrop with that connection. I was lucky enough to land in places where people saw something in me, and I was willing to receive it, said Waldrop, who is the head of Kasowitzs Silicon Valley office. Which State Has The Most Patent Attorneys? https://www.law.com/therecorder/2020/06/12/take-that-on-black-patent-attorneys-say-its-time-they-are-recognized/. But that in itself wasnt enough. Her litigation experience has dovetailed into counseling clients on global IP strategy, including work on the division of patent/technology assets for Kraft Foods 2012 split (into Kraft Foods and Mondelz) and leading the IP side of M&A transactions, such as work on potential $4 billion acquisition in power technology space and recent $1.2 billion deal involving the creation on behalf of power technology companies two JV entities (one in the U.S. and one in Switzerland). Companies are coming out with statements they probably never would have thought theyd make 30 days ago, saying Black Lives Matter, Drayton said. The average age of an employed patent attorney is 46 years old. Hollin can help you with patents, trademarks, and infringement issues. She is a member of the firms Management Committee and the Manufacturing Sector Advisory Board. Being laser focused on the opportunities afforded Black lawyers and the outcomes will allow firms to course correct for any potential disparate impact associated with long standing practices, Drayton said. The same goes for the privilege and willingness to take advantage of systemic racism that we all witnessed in the recent video from Central Park, he said, referring to a viral video of Amy Cooper calling the cops on Christian Cooper, a black man who asked that she leash her dog. As we celebrate Woman's month, founder of Mashabela IP Attorneys, Tumelo Mashabela, first black female patent attorney in South Africa, is determined to make a difference in local and international businesses by providing world class patent counsel through her boutique law firm which is situated in Pretoria. The underrepresentation of Black inventors, and documented disparities in numbers of women and Hispanic inventors, was acknowledged in a patent office report to Congress last fall. Janet Emerson Bashen was issued U.S. Patent #6,985,922 on January 10, 2006 for "Method, Apparatus and System for Processing Compliance Actions over a Wide Area Network. The professional industry is the highest-paying for patent attorneys. An active participant in several professional organizations, Ms. Allgaier is a lifetime member of the Black Women Lawyers Association of Greater Chicago, Inc., and she also belongs to the National Association of Patent Practitioners and the American Intellectual Property Law Association. In 2021, women earned 93% of what men earned. Patent records therefore provide invaluable objective information that shed light on the actual rather than invented experiences of underrepresented groups. That support is a difference maker as Waldrop is now the one with responsibility for building and integrating trial teams. In addition, she regularly presents seminars, and publishes on a variety of IP topics, including: Jeanne has previously served on the firms Strategic Planning, Diversity, and Recruiting Committees and was the former chair and founder of the firms African-American Attorneys Affinity Group. Fax: 847-626-9610 High Rewards (Chair, F&L 8th Annual IP Conference, 10/12), Hot Topics in IP (in light of Apple v. Samsung & AIA) (BWLA Presentation, 10/12), IP Law Update (covering recent Trade Dress/Patent Decisions & AIA) (Client CLE, 9/12), An Overview of US Patent Reform (The America Invents Act) (Client CLE, 11/11), Patent Wars: The Game Show-Prosecutors vs. Litigators and author In Drafting A Joint Development Agreement, Who Should Own The Jointly Developed IP? (AIPLA Annual Meeting, 10/11), The Exponential Speed of Innovation: Is IP Driving Your Business? (Chair, F&L 7th Annual IP Conference, 9/11), Winning a Game of Inches: Gaining Momentum Through IP (Chair, F&L 6th Annual IP Conference, 10/10), Patenting Business Methods and Other Recent Developments (Client CLE, 1/10), Being A Partner (F&L Presentation, 1/10), What IP Issues Keep General Counsel Up At Night? (Chair/Panelist, F&L 5th Annual IP Conference, 10/09), Extracting Value from IP in the Reform Era: What It Takes to Build and Protect Your Core Assets in Uncertain Times (Argyle Corporate Leadership Forum, 9/09), Networking For Success (F&L Mentor/Mentee Seminar, 6/09), Emerging Legal Trends In Patent Law (MCCA CLE Expo, 3/09), IP Gone Wild? (Moderator and Panelist, F&L 4th Annual IP Conference, 9/08), Strategic Patent LitigationVenue Selection, Use of IP Injunctions & Defenses (IP Section Mtg. He counts Kasowitz as a friend. The ramifications go beyond individual inventors. After speaking with a new partner from another office for 15 minutes, he said to her, Well, it was good chatting with you, but Ive really got to meet members of the management committee. We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire patent attorneys. Well seek to provide greater mentorship opportunities. Organizations like the National Bar Association, the largest national network of predominantly African American attorneys and judges, or the Chicago Black Partners Alliance can provide lists. Claims that black inventors filed patents under the names of white attorneys seem absurd: under U.S. patent laws, any such patents would be invalid, as even the most incompetent lawyer would know; and there was no reason at all to do so, since all applications were submitted in writing and it was impossible for anyone at the patent office to identify the inventors race. Hes supported me. At OC Patent Lawyer, we serve clients throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County, California from our office in Irvine, California. Sarah E. Goode is thought to be one of the first Black women to receive a patent, in 1885, for inventing a folding bed that could be made into a desk when not in use. She was similarly the attorney of record, when her younger brother, Edgar P. Benjamin (18691972), received U.S. patent no. Patent Office documents instead suggest Benjamin has a stronger claim to priority as a black patent attorney. Jamaals IP expertise relates to both the mechanical and electrical arts and covers a broad range of inventions and patents including medical devices, electrical support systems, construction fasteners, seismic construction, air handling systems, metal fabrication, LED lighting systems, footwear, fabrics, and organic compositions. For more information, please see our Cookie Policy. She was named among the 2015 Most Influential Black Lawyers by Savoy.*. Miriam Benjamin was actively involved in the patenting process, as an inventor and assignee. Segregation laws also made it harder for Blacks to patent their inventions. Well be inviting experts to discuss ways to have meaningful conversations in our respective companies and organizations. You could start there, she said. With her electronics background and given her attorney registration to practice before the USPTO, Jeannes broad-based IP experience also includes: counseling related to product configuration trade dress and use of color as a trademark; handling TTAB and UDRP matters; resolving copyright ownership disputes, particularly in the areas of computer software and associated documentation; handling contractual disputes concerning IP rights and the theft or use of IP by a companys former employees, business partners and/or independent contractors; counseling clients on IP holding companies, including how to maximize value from an IP portfolio when certain assets are likely to be the subject of IP litigation; handling cases involving the intersection of trade dress, design patent, and utility patent protection for consumer and industrial products; and conducting discovery abroad throughout Europe, Singapore and Japan. It was great to see a prominent lawyer who looked like me; it materially contributed to my vision of success. Jeanne has authored (and regularly updates) a chapter on Experts for the Patent Litigation Strategies Handbook (BNA Books). The figures are particularly damning for African American lawyers. The agency would also be required to make the data public. He was born in Canada but raised in Michigan, before being sent to study in Scotland at age 15. That lack of a pipeline of Black attorneys in this practice area certainly hurts.. One change he hopes to see in the IP bar is more opportunities for black lawyers to prove themselves in the courtroom. Patent attorneys team up with SLU professor in development and patenting of mask made specifically for singers and others whose voice is the foundation of their livelihood. And African Americans made a lot of gains, holding office, owning property and filing patents at about the same pace as white inventors until 1900 following Plessy v. Ferguson, the Supreme Court. As in-house counsel, Alex developed strategy and managed dozens of patent cases in 5 countries, including 3 ITC trials, District Court cases, a UK trial, a German trial, and 2 China cases . Other PTO efforts to close the gap for women and minorities include launching the Expanding Innovation Hub, with resources for inventors, and programs like Camp Invention, a STEM program for elementary-aged students. Clients can push outside law firms to staff legal matters with diverse practitioners. Numerous sources claim that she obtained a law degree from Howard University, but the college catalogues show that this was not the case. Organizations like the National Bar Association, the largest national network of predominantly African American attorneys and judges, or the Chicago Black Partners Alliance can provide lists. Woods developed the railroad telegraph; Julian figured out how to synthesize different hormones, including cortisone. B. 1920 census listing Benjamin as a patent attorney. Judy W. Reed, of Washington, D.C., was the first African American woman to receive a patent. Thats the goal of the NextGen IP Foundation, a new program that helps grade-school students apply for patents. Return to our main appellate law firm page. From a broader historical perspective, she was not the first black inventor (Thomas Jennings obtained a patent in 1821), nor the first black woman patentee (Judy W. Reed, in 1884, was prior). Were kicking up our social justice and civil rights initiatives. Its hard to do if youre black, white, brown, green or purple, he said. You cant just wait until you have some applicants in law school to start diversity efforts, Longsworth said. Boston, MA pays an annual average wage of $119,512, the highest in the US. Samuel Newman, of Bowdoin College, Old School? "The greater horror is that they were nothing. District of Columbia is the best state for patent attorneys to live. Call our Georgia Criminal Appeals Lawyers today at 1- (770) 284-3147 to schedule your free initial consultation so our attorneys can review your case. Sterne Kessler, for instance, recruits technical specialists that are not lawyers from historically black colleges and groups like the Society of Women Engineers. It doesnt have to be saidthough its better if it is saidyoure part of the team. Do I matter? She may have obtained informal legal training, but that is pure speculation, without any reliable supporting evidence. Well strive to move the needle on diversity and inclusion efforts across the legal industry. Women, Influence & Power in Law UK Awards 2023, Legalweek Leaders in Tech Law Awards 2023, WORKERS COMPENSATION ATTORNEY - Hartford, CT, Offering an Opportunity of a Lifetime for Personal Injury Lawyers, What Does Your Business Agreement Really Mean? Honored as an Up & Coming Attorney by Missouri Lawyers Weekly, 2021, Top 100 Black Lawyers, The National Black Lawyers, 2015, Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis, University of Wisconsin Law School, J.D., 2007, Marquette University, B.S., Biomedical Engineering, 2004. The Bureau of Labor Statistics came in clutch when it came down to figuring out how the unemployment rate has changed over time. The greater horror is that they were nothing new, he said. Black IP Lawyers Who've Made It Look to Grow Ranks Beyond 1.7% Bloomberg Law August 6, 2020 "The rarity of being a Black intellectual property lawyer in the United States hits home for the 1.7% of attorneys who fit that description." Read the article Jeanne acts as lead trial counsel in complex patent, trade secret, trademark, copyright, and unfair competition litigation and appeals including USPTO post-grant proceedings in diverse industries ranging from electronics to biotechnology. Other attorneys echoed the importance of mentorship, and helping inventors build social networks. Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. But there should be no reason a black lawyer isnt pitching, Turner said. People are often surprised when they learn that I practice patent litigation, said Ellisen Turner, IP practice group partner at Kirkland & Ellis LLP. Do you need help protecting your ideas, designs, methods or other types of intellectual property? Patrice Jean, a molecular biology Ph.D. and co-chair of Hughes Hubbard & Reeds life sciences group; Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein & Fox partner Eldora Ellison; Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner partner Mareesa Frederick and others would qualify for such a list, Turner said. Jamaalfrequently lectures on intellectual property law to attorneys and other professionals. An Ounce of Prevention Smart Patent Prosecution Can Minimize Litigation Oops (Article. Access to additional free ALM publications, 1 free article* across the ALM subscription network every 30 days, Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications. When it comes to protecting your intellectual property, patents and trademarks are essential. Patents and National Security, Hanami: Cherry Blossom Time, in Perpetuity, Back to School for the Spring Semester (1861), Looking Backward: From 5G to the Telegraph, Patent Priority: the First Woman Patent Lawyer, Copyrighting the Cultural Revolution in China and America, Women and Innovation in Developing Countries. In particular, say Black lawyers who have broken through, people are surprised they can speak the language of patent law and that many of them have attained scientific and technical knowledge. Learn about patents, patent searches, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets in these resources and guides. When Griffin polled colleagues and clients, who ranged from small business owners to NASA engineers, on when they learned about patents, and that they had value, most said either in graduate school or after starting their careers. That was pivotal, Waldrop said. When combined with the census entry, these documented sources confirm the validity of the statement that Miriam E. Benjamin was the first black woman to practice as a patent attorney.. Cooley partner Joseph Drayton, the immediate past president of the National Bar Association, would certainly belong on such a list, Turner said. BS, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Texas Southern University, MS, Molecular and Cellular Biology, Texas SouthernUniversity (Summa CumLaude, With High Honors), JD, University of Illinois Chicago Law School, Top 25 Trial Lawyers The National Trial Lawyers National Women (Specialty Division), Top Women Attorneys in Illinois Rising Stars, Top Attorneys in Illinois Rising Stars 2014-2021, Lifetime Member of Black Women Lawyers Association of Chicago, American Intellectual Property Law Association, National Association of Patent Practitioners, Texas Southern University Distinguished Alumni Award. Richard E.S. Even before she became the famous author we know today, she was already making history: At just 16 years old, she became the first black female streetcar conductor in San . He has particular experience in patent preparation, prosecution and counseling in the fields of medical devices, optics, semiconductors, superconductors, lasers, solid state physics, RF and radar electronics, television/display technologies, software, electrochemical and optical sensors, organic and organometallic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, polymers and DNA assays. There are relatively simple steps that firms can take too. Like most of America, Kirkland & Ellis partner Ellisen Turner has followed the horrific killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. (Charlotte Ray was the first black woman to obtain a law degree from Howard University in 1872, and a total of 34 more women lawyers graduated there by 1940.) I say its largely an excuse, because there are people who do exist, she said. Barriers in science education for Black students start as early as middle school, they say. They dont necessarily know about it, said Griffin, who runs a consulting firm, The Commercializer LLC, that works with entrepreneurs and startups to monetize their technologies. Dr. Bruce E. Black is a registered patent attorney and specializes in domestic and international patent procurement, client counseling, licensing, and due diligence for innovations in the areas of medical devices, chemistry, physics, materials science, biotechnology, mechanical arts, and software. The California Association of Black Lawyers. That some lawyers have scientific backgrounds and use them was not on my radar, she said. She too has heard general counsel or IP counsel say they dont know any qualified black patent attorneys. The patent is one of the so-called "X-patents," a group of 10,000 or so patents issued by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office between its creation in 1790 and 1836, when a fire began in . ABWA is partnering with the Dominican Bar Association to host a series of police reform webinars, which will update our members on the steps that are being taken to ensure more just policing practices. There are also organizations like the New Voices Foundation, which helps women of color who are entrepreneurs, and the Chicago Inventors Organization, which has worked with a number of Black inventors. Elijah McCoy was also the son of African American parents who escaped slavery. The Confederate states allowed slave owners to patent the inventions of their slaves. He was 30 years old when he was granted a patent for a dry-cleaning process. As an African American Patent Attorney, she is an active member of The Chicagos first Black Inventors Organization and provides assistance to African American Inventors throughout the United States. Seeing a cleaning cart behind Longsworth, he asked, Are you finished cleaning the bathroom?. Her first patent, dated July 17, 1888, was for gong and signal chairs to be used in dining-rooms, in hotels, restaurants, steamboats, railroad-trains, theaters, the hall of the Congress of the United States, the halls of the legislatures of the various States, for the use of all deliberative bodies, and for the use of invalids in hospitals. She effectively used the media, and her improvement was widely publicized by newspaper articles and features in womens magazines. Jeanne M. Gills is a partner and intellectual property lawyer with Foley & Lardner LLP. Employees with the patent attorney job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. Theyve never really seen it, its not something theyre aware of.. She is a member (or participant in the activities) of several . I have seen, in my career, people who presume from the outset that I could not be handed much responsibility, because they didnt think I belonged in the responsibility-carrying club, Smith said. Law.com Compass delivers you the full scope of information, from the rankings of the Am Law 200 and NLJ 500 to intricate details and comparisons of firms financials, staffing, clients, news and events. Theres a willingness to discuss the root causes of discrimination, not just the symptoms. And firms must provide mentors and advocates for young attorneys. A Pioneering Black Woman Patent Attorney February 1, 2023 By Zorina Khan Like millions of innovative individuals, MIRIAM E. BENJAMIN (1861-1947) was active in multiple inventive markets, as the patentee of two inventions, and assignee on another. Jeanne serves as a director with the Chicago State Foundation Board. By looking through more than 961 resumes, we found that the most popular places for patent attorneys are Washington, DC and Chicago, IL. Don't miss the crucial news and insights you need to make informed legal decisions. She recalls a session at a partner retreat last year for introducing members of the management committee. But she also said Black attorneys like her have faced a higher hurdle when trying to secure client work. in biology from Texas Southern University in 1994, Ms. Allgaier went on to graduate in 1996 summa cum laude with an M.S. Lawyers and other IP professionals also have a responsibility to help diverse entrepreneurs and inventors, said Deborah Lodge, a partner at Squire Patton Boggs who has participated in New Voices Foundation educational programs about IP protection. Jamaal was selected by judges, bar groups and fellow attorneys for his work, leadership and community service. We determined the average age of patent attorneys based on ethnicity and gender. US Supreme Court Rules That Patentee Maintains Burden of Proving Infringement in Actions Brought by Licensee, (Article, Board Oversight of IP Strategy (F&L National Directors Institute, 11/13), How Bad Is It, Counselor?What Do You Mean, I Don't Know?! Chemistry (University of Utah, 1988), Ph.D. Chemistry (Univeristy of California at Berkeley, 1993), Admitted in Washington, Minnesota, and New York. Allgaier Patent Solutions Growing Mineola firm with national practice seeks associate (with 3-6 years experience) to handle complex general liability matters.Competit CASH KRUGLER & FREDERICKS LLC is Celebrating Our 20th Anniversary & Newest Partners! 7.9% of Patent Attorneys are Hispanic or Latino, 6.5% of Patent Attorneys are Asian, 5.7% of Patent Attorneys are Black or African American, 4.4% of Patent Attorneys are Unknown, and 0.2% of Patent Attorneys are American Indian and Alaska Native. Asian patent attorneys have the highest average salary compared to other ethnicities. Black STEM students are more likely to switch majors or leave college than Whites, researchers from the University of Texas and Florida International University found recently. Waldrops clients have included Google and LG Electronics. Assistant District Attorney Responsibilities, Assistant State Attorney Responsibilities, Document Review Attorney Responsibilities, 20.7% of all patent attorneys are women, while, The average age of an employed patent attorney is. That practice, in and of itself, said this process is not for you, said Shontavia Johnson, an attorney and entrepreneur who also serves as associate vice president for entrepreneurship and innovation at Clemson University.