Well strive to move the needle on diversity and inclusion efforts across the legal industry. "It's almost hard to know where to start . 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. Our Membership Committee is actively working to bring back our members-only Mentorship Program, which will help members step outside of their comfort zones, astutely navigate the corporate landscape, and otherwise grow personally and professionally. Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP - Patent Litigation Lawyer. He was born in Canada but raised in Michigan, before being sent to study in Scotland at age 15. However, an overlooked and unique contribution is that she was the first black woman who practiced as a patent attorney. 475,749 for a bicycle clip in 1892, two years before he graduated from Boston University School of Law. Jennings invented a way to dry-clean clothes in 1821. Employees with the patent attorney job title have their preferences when it comes to working for a company. Using a database of 30 million profiles, Zippia estimates demographics and statistics for patent attorneys in the United States. McCoy was denied. He knows my wife. Fraline J. Allgaier is an intellectual property law attorney in Glencoe, Illinois. 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. But she also said Black attorneys like her have faced a higher hurdle when trying to secure client work. We do some outreach to undergrads, and even students in middle and high school., Recruitment, said Joseph Drayton, a Cooley LLP partner and former National Bar Association president, should be followed with proper training, access to premium work including repetition in assignments specific to patent matters, tracking of work and success in execution of assignments.. Just based on the number of employees within each industry, we were able to determine the most common industries that employ patent attorneys. *** In 1906, the Boston Daily Globe reported that Through the untiring efforts of Miss Miriam E. Benjamin of Boston, a clerk in one of the Departments at Washington, $10,482 has been awarded Samuel Lee, a negro, who was elected to congress 25 years ago, but never sworn in. Benjamin lobbied to bring the bill to aid Samuel Lee before Congress nine times, until it finally passed in 1906. She too has heard general counsel or IP counsel say they dont know any qualified black patent attorneys. The list did not include any patent litigators. Stan Gibson is a trial lawyer who focuses on high-stakes cases involving technology. Drayton said he too benefited from a black role model: former Cooley partner Daniel Johnson Jr., now of the Dan Johnson Law Group. We've been helping experienced inventors, first-time inventors, and businesses (and their in-house legal teams) protect their inventions and brands with patents and trademarks since 2004. A U.S. Patent and Trademark Office council will begin tackling a huge challenge this year: boosting the percentage of patent owners who are Blacka figure that hovers in the single digits by some estimates. 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. P.C. The U.S. patent system, long regarded as among the worlds best, has also been stubbornly difficult for Black inventors to access. I could see the beads of sweat on his forehead, because he was probably like, Oh my God, Gills said, Is my GC going to think she is fabulous?. If such an individual doesnt exist at their law firm, say to them, If you want to keep my business, hire some additional individuals to put on my team.. 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. Jamaal's enthusiasm for intellectual property law and the underlying science of medical device technologies is matched by his strong knowledge and mastery of the challenging patent process. 10 Sure-Fire Ways to Ignite Your Passion and Career! (CCWC, 9/17), Current and Emerging Issues Related to Patents (Client CLE, 3/17), Get Ready Now! We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire patent attorneys. https://www.law.com/therecorder/2020/06/12/take-that-on-black-patent-attorneys-say-its-time-they-are-recognized/. Shreveport Uzezi Abugo Uzezi Abugo, Attorney at Law Michael Acquah Hueston Hennigan LLP Los Angeles Michael Adams DeCuir, Clark & Adams, LLP 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?! University of Nebraska College of Law Professor A. Christal Sheppard was in her last year of completing a PhD in molecular biology before considering becoming a patent lawyer. Don't miss the crucial news and insights you need to make informed legal decisions. Apart from racism, Black IP attorneys say there are distinct reasons why they make up just 1.7% of their specialty, a figure based on a survey by the American Intellectual Property Law Association. As the founder of Allgaier Patent Solutions, she represents clients throughout theUnited Stateswho need legal assistance with regard to patents, trademarks, and copyrights. As a member of the American Bar Association, Ms. Allgaier belongs to its Business Law Section and its Section of Intellectual Property Law. There are a lack of visible Black mentors; for example, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, the nations highest court for most patent cases, has never had a Black judge. Theres a willingness to discuss the root causes of discrimination, not just the symptoms. By comparison, 5% of attorneys in the U.S. are Black, according to the American Bar Association. Stay tuned! Boston, MA pays an annual average wage of $119,512, the highest in the US. *The Illinois Supreme Court does not recognize certifications of specialties in the practice of law and no award or recognition is a requirement to practice law in Illinois. I think that also plays a role because we dont see ourselves being owners of intellectual property.. At OC Patent Lawyer, we serve clients throughout Orange County and Los Angeles County, California from our office in Irvine, California. Barriers in science education for Black students start as early as middle school, they say. He made me the leader of the Silicon Valley office. Were kicking up our social justice and civil rights initiatives. Jeanne has likewise been lead counsel in over 25 PTAB proceedings, having handled IPRs, CBMs, and rare derivation proceedings, including defense of several PTAB decisions before the Federal Circuit (see e.g., IPR2013-00178 and IPR2013-00578). But there should be no reason a black lawyer isnt pitching, Turner said. 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. Thats hugely important to me, he said. 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. Jeanne serves as a director with the Chicago State Foundation Board. But that in itself wasnt enough. Numerous sources claim that she obtained a law degree from Howard University, but the college catalogues show that this was not the case. Almost every lawyer goes through a crisis of confidence at some pointoften around four to six years out, when demands of the job start ramping up. However, it was common for patent practitioners at the time to acquire patent expertise through informal means, including apprenticeships, correspondence courses, and learning by doing as patentees. Avoiding Litigation Pitfalls through Effective Patent Prosecution (Article, Getting Off To A Good Start Drafting A Patent Application to Survive Prosecution and Litigation (AIPLA Annual Meeting, 2002), An IP Litigation Perspective on Licensing (PLI, 2001), Contributor to the IPLAC Litigation Committees Federal Circuit (2001 and 2002) Review of. Nelson Madden Black LLP Attorneys Website (212) 382-4300 5 Park Row New York, NY 10038 CLOSED NOW 6. Call the Hollin Law Offices in Georgia today at 770-872-4703, or contact us online. Benjamins influence and persistence in legislative matters can be detected in her extended dealings with Congress. The invention was highlighted at the Atlanta Exposition of 1895. Fewer than 2% of IP lawyers are Black, according to 2017 data from the American Intellectual Property Law Association. She would similarly provoke efforts on her own behalf for over a decade in the House and Senate, claiming $20,000 (about $300,000 in current dollars) in workers compensation for injuries (including a strained heart and distress caused by noisy surroundings and overwork) she allegedly sustained while working as a clerk at the Government Printing Office in 1910. Beyond their behavior and comments being offensive, he said, they showed that they made no effort in the past to seek out or meet with attorneys like me.. Lawyers do XYZ. 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? (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.) The greater horror is that they were nothing new, he said. Glencoe, IL 60022, Call: 847-409-8670 Among the roughly 8% of students in ABA accredited law schools who are Black, many are first generation law students, and may not have strong insight regarding the structure of law school, Dike said. 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. 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. Which State Has The Most Patent Attorneys? 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. By looking over 961 patent attorneys resumes, we figured out that the average patent attorney enjoys staying at their job for 1-2 years for a percentage of 32%. There are relatively simple steps that firms can take too. With Such Low Win Rates, Should Law Firms Respond to So Many RFPs? 67% of Patent Attorneys are 40+ years old or older, 29% are between the ages of 30-40 years, and 4% are between 20-30 years old. 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. Well be inviting experts to discuss ways to have meaningful conversations in our respective companies and organizations. 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. Tailoring was a relatively easy craft for African-Americans to enter, whether male or female. 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. She is a staunch champion of diversity in the legal profession and is a founding member of the Black Patent Network and the Chicago Black Partner Alliance. Gills, however, was prepared for whatever curveball he could throw at me, and the GC decided to hire her on. 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. Cooley partner Joseph Drayton, the immediate past president of the National Bar Association, would certainly belong on such a list, Turner said. And you recruit at the law schools they attend. Waldrops clients have included Google and LG Electronics. The most common ethnicity among patent attorneys is White, which makes up 75.3% of all patent attorneys. Our Compliance bundles are curated by CLE Counselors and include current legal topics and challenges within the industry. Often, key first year law courses leave no room for electives like intellectual property, meaning students may not get exposure to the subject matter. Having people ahead of you who look like you and know what youve been through, and can be the champions of your success, can be critically important, Turner said. "The greater horror is that they were nothing. 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. A law firm with a large IP department that includes paralegals and patent agents can ensure that those ranks are diverse. The cost of getting a patent, which can run into the thousands of dollars, and a lack of early exposure to the patent system present barriers to already marginalized communities. Using the Census Bureau data, we found out how the percentage of each ethnic category trended between 2010-2019 among patent attorneys. She may have obtained informal legal training, but that is pure speculation, without any reliable supporting evidence. LexisNexis and Bloomberg Law customers are able to access and use ALM's content, including content from the National Law Journal, The American Lawyer, Legaltech News, The New York Law Journal, and Corporate Counsel, as well as other sources of legal information. 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. Shes now a biotechnology and pharmaceutical partner at Sterne Kessler Goldstein & Fox PLLC and co-chair of the firms diversity & inclusion committee.