MBHB, a full-service intellectual property law firm, recently named two new equity partners, promoted two associates to partner, and promoted three technical advisors to patent agent.
Jori Fuller and Jordan Pringle became equity partners with the firm. Ms. Fuller leads the firm’s mechanical and materials practice group and is co-chair of the firm’s diversity and inclusion committee. Her experience includes all phases of U.S. and foreign patent and trademark prosecution, client counseling, and due diligence. Her expertise also includes opinion and litigation work regarding validity, infringement, and enforceability of patents. Prior to joining MBHB, Ms. Fuller was a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. She earned a J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Mr. Pringle focuses primarily on patent prosecution and counseling regarding various mechanical technologies, with a particular focus on medical devices, equipment, and methods of use. He provides technological advice in support of freedom to operate, validity, non-infringement, and patentability analyses for a wide range of technologies. He also maintains an active trademark prosecution practice, preparing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign trademark applications on behalf of clients worldwide. He earned a J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
In addition, the firm promoted Bryan Helwig, Ph.D., and Colin Wright from associate to partner. Dr. Helwig focuses on drafting and prosecuting patent applications in the pharmaceutical, biology, biochemistry, and life sciences spaces. He also advises clients on novel and emerging drug and biologic protection as well as freedom to operate, patent infringement, patent validity, and litigation-related issues. Prior to joining MBHB, Dr. Helwig directed a research laboratory for the U.S. Department of Defense. He earned a J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law and a doctorate in human physiology from Kansas State University.
Mr. Wright focuses on patent preparation and prosecution in the mechanical and medical spaces. His more than a decade of patent prosecution experience covers mechanical and electromechanical technologies ranging from building materials to medical devices to mining equipment. He also prepares freedom to operate, validity, non-infringement, and patentability opinions. Prior to joining MBHB, Mr. Wright was a patent agent. He earned a J.D. from the Northwestern University School of Law.
“Jori, Jordan, Bryan, and Colin offer a unique blend of intellectual property legal expertise and technical knowledge to their clients,” said Gavin O’Keefe, managing partner of MBHB. “Over their impressive careers, they have helped to protect and advance innovation by serving as trusted advisers to their clients on intellectual property issues. We’re proud to have them as partners and look forward to their continued contributions to our clients and our firm.”
Additionally, former technical advisors YuKai Bao, Megan Petti, Ph.D., and Lauren Segal, Ph.D., have been admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and are now patent agents with MBHB.
Ms. Bao focuses on the electrical, computer and software industries. She earned a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Purdue University. Dr. Petti focuses on the chemical space. She earned a doctorate in analytical chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Segal focuses on the biotechnology and medical device and diagnostics industries. She earned a doctorate in plant pathology from the University of Nebraska.
“YuKai, Megan, and Lauren are all highly skilled practitioners who have produced excellent track records of success at MBHB,” O’Keefe said. “We are very excited to have them become patent agents at the firm.”
About McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP
McDonnell Boehnen Hulbert & Berghoff LLP (MBHB) provides creative, pragmatic IP business solutions for Fortune 100 companies, midsize companies, startups, and academic institutions. Clients in the U.S. and abroad engage us to secure and enforce their intellectual property rights, from navigating patent office procedures to litigating complex infringement actions. Our attorneys are experienced in the procurement, licensing, enforcement, and defense of patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, and unfair competition actions in a number of technological disciplines and product categories, including biotechnology and pharmaceuticals, cannabis, chemical, electrical, mechanical and materials, medical device and diagnostics, software and business methods, and telecommunications. Visit mbhb.com for more information on the firm.
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