Work history
Lowe Graham Jones, Member
Provide patent counseling, patent application drafting and prosecution, as well as related licensing, intellectual property portfolio evaluation and strategy, and dispute resolution advice to life sciences clients in the biotechnology, agricultural, biofuels, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries.
Formulate freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, and invalidity opinions and perform intellectual property due diligence reviews.
Areas of technological expertise include molecular and cell biology, immunology, biochemistry, biophysics, and chemistry.
Adjunct Professor at Seattle University School of Law teaching course on biotechnology law and Adjunct Professor and Law, Technology & Arts Fellow at University of Washington School of Law teaching Advanced Patent Law.
Licensed to practice in Washington State and before the US Patent and Trademark Office. Member of AIPLA, WSPLA, WSBA, and LES.
Specialties: Life sciences (i.e. biotechnology, pharmaceutical, agricultural, biofuels, and medical device) patent practice including patent drafting and prosecution, strategic planning, corporate due diligence supporting venture investments, freedom-to-operate/non-infringement/invalidity opinions.
HiveBio Community Lab, Member, Board of Directors
• Organizational leadership and advisement
• Formulation and oversight of policies and procedures
• Adoption and oversight of the annual budget
• Oversight of program planning and evaluation
• Personnel evaluation and staff development
• Review of organizational and programmatic initiatives
• Promotion of the organization
• Outreach and suggestions of funding sources for the organization
Keiretsu Forum, Member
Intellectual property due diligence in support of angel investments in early- to mid-stage companies
Seattle University School of Law, Adjunct Professor of Law
Teach Biotechnology and the Law course
University of Washington School of Law, Adjunct Professor and Law, Technology & Arts Fellow
Teach Advanced Patent Law to J.D. and L.L.M. students
Merchant & Gould P.C., Of Counsel
Life sciences patent attorney for biotechnology, pharmaceutical, agricultural, bio-fuels, and medical device clients. Patent preparation and prosecution; patentability, freedom-to-operate, invalidity, and non-infringement analyses and opinions; intellectual property due diligence in support of investments, mergers & acquisitions, and corporate partnering
Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt, Shareholder
Lead biotechnology patent prosecutor in Seattle office with focus on biotechnology and medical device related patent strategy and counseling, patent drafting and prosecution, and IP licensing, negotiation, and dispute resolution for startup and mid-size biotechnology companies, universities and non-profit research institutions, and large agricultural biotechnology companies. Managed complex biotechnology patent portfolios; rendered freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, and invalidity opinions; and performed intellectual property due diligence for transactions including M&A and venture financing.
Darby & Darby PC, Associate Attorney
Provided patent counseling, patent application drafting, patent prosecution and related licensing, intellectual property portfolio evaluation and dispute resolution advice to life science clients. Formulated freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, and invalidity opinions and perform intellectual property due diligence reviews for clients in the biotechnology, biomedical device, and mechanical device industries. 2nd chair litigation on complex biotechnology patent dispute involving lentiviral vector technology.
Speckman Law Group PLLC, Patent Attorney
Provided patent counseling, patent application drafting and prosecution, as well as related licensing, intellectual property portfolio evaluation and dispute resolution advice to technology clients. Formulated freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, and invalidity opinions and performed intellectual property due diligence reviews. Areas of technological expertise included molecular biology and biotechnology, biomedical devices and processes and mechanical technologies. Was actively involved in formulating intellectual property strategies and implementing those strategies on a worldwide basis.
Corixa Corporation, Patent Attorney
Oversaw major portion of U.S. and foreign patent portfolio. Drafted and prosecuted patent applications in areas of tumor antigen, infectious disease and autoimmune vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics and direct outside counsel in same. Researched and formulated patentability, freedom-to-operate and non-infringement opinions. Interfaced with company scientists to identify new intellectual property and licensing opportunities. Worked with business development group to facilitate patent in- and out-licensing. Reviewed company contracts for potential intellectual property and other legal issues. Met with corporate partners to discuss and develop patent strategies consistent with business agreements.
Seed IP Law Group, Associate Attorney
Chemical and Biotechnology Practice Group
• Prepared and prosecuted U.S. and foreign biotechnology patent applications for domestic and foreign clients
• Researched and drafted patentability, freedom-to-operate and non-infringement opinions
• Consulted with clients to develop strategies for obtaining patent protection consistent with business plan
Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP, Law Clerk
Chemical and Biotechnology Practice Group
• Drafted and prosecuted biotechnology patent applications
• Analyzed conception and reduction-to-practice in biotechnology patent interferences
• Completed patent and prior art search for and draft of non-infringement and freedom-to-operate opinions
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Senior Research Fellow
• Researched the molecular mechanisms of signal transduction initiated by the c-fms protooncogene product expressed in a murine myeloid cell line
• Performed two-hybrid screening method to identify and clone cellular substrates of the c-Fms cytoplasmic domain
• Identified sites of in vivo tyrosine autophosphorylation and assessed role of c-Fms phosphorylation in cellular differentiation and proliferation through construction and expression of site-directed c-Fms point mutants
• Performed studies on the molecular mechanism of c-Fms M-CSF-dependent endocytosis and potential role in cellular differentiation and proliferation
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Research Assistant
Ph.D. Dissertation: “Structure-Function Studies on UvrA: An Escherichia coli DNA Repair Protein”
• Performed experiments on the molecular mechanism of the E. coli UvrABC excinuclease DNA nucleotide excision repair complex
• Created site-directed point mutants in conserved DNA-binding and ATPase active site residues of UvrA and assessed the effect of these mutations on DNA repair in vitro and in vivo
• Prepared plasmid constructs expressing UvrA functional domains, purified domain polypeptides, assessed DNA binding and ATPase activities in vitro and characterized the role of each functional domain in E. coli DNA repair
Abbott Laboratories, Research Technician
Hepatitis Business Unit, Research and Development
• Assisted in the development of an automated instrument for use in detecting blood-borne pathogens, e.g., Hepatitis and HIV
• Troubleshot false positives identified in biological assays
• Collaborated with project engineers to improve instrument performance prior to field studies
