IpHorgan is delighted to welcome Michael L. Kenaga and Valerie Neymeyer-Tynkov to its Patent Group. Michael has nearly 20 years of experience handling United States and foreign patent issues for large and mid-sized companies while Valerie has a depth of experience in the medical technology fields, as a practitioner, an academic and a researcher. Indeed, all members of the group acquired field experience in their chosen areas prior to entering law school and becoming patent attorneys. The team now includes:
Michael L. Kenaga is the Director of Patents. He is a registered patent attorney and his 20 years of patent experience include advising and counseling on patentability, providing infringement opinions, and preparing, filing and prosecuting domestic and foreign patent applications in the electrical and mechanical arts for large and mid-sized corporations. He has substantial experience in IP due diligence in connection with potential acquisitions of companies and his practice includes license-agreement work and litigation support. Michael is a regular speaker and lecturer on issues related to US and foreign patent practice. He is an electrical engineer by training (BSEE) and prior to law school worked for a telecom company and for a military and government contractor. Michael is a member of the Chicago Bar Association, Chair of the Intellectual Property Committee (2004-2005), The Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago, Past Treasurer (1997-1999), American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Licensing Executives Society.
Sean Swidler prosecutes a broad range of patents, including those for medical, mechanical and electro-mechanical devices along with software and business methods inventions. He is also experienced in all phases of patent litigation and has spent significant time litigating patent claims associated with generic drug applications and medical devices. Sean also counsels clients in patent portfolio development and management, assisting clients in developing protection strategies and tailoring patent portfolios to specific business interests and market factors. Before attending law school, he also spent time working in the construction engineering field, conducting chemical analyses of concrete samples and developing application-specific concrete compositions. Sean has an undergraduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Iowa and his J.D. from the Chicago-Kent College of Law.
Valerie Neymeyer-Tynkov focuses on drafting and prosecuting patents in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, medical and chemical arts; preparing legal opinions; devising cost-saving strategies; and troubleshooting patent-related problems for clients. Her technical expertise includes over six years of bench experience in R&D and academic laboratories, including experience manufacturing product under cGMP protocols. Valerie obtained a J.D. with Honors from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she has since taught International Patent Law for several years as an Adjunct Professor of Law. Her educational background includes an M.S. in Pharmacology and a B.A. (with Honors) in Literature, Science and the Arts with a minor in Chemistry from the University of Iowa.
Vol. 53, June 2010