We provide excellence in legal services and are proud to be one of the most powerful networks in the industry. Yes, Patent Attorney jobs are male - dominated. After finding the gender ratio, we wondered if the percentages of LGBT persons were different as well. Companies are coming out with statements they probably never would have thought theyd make 30 days ago, saying Black Lives Matter, Drayton said. The paper in question is Violence and economic activity: evidence from African American patents, 1870-1940, . And while Thomas Edison and Alexander Graham Bell are household names, inventors like Percy Julian and Granville Woods havent been as celebrated. Jeanne serves as a director with the Chicago State Foundation Board. The second-most popular foreign language spoken is Mandarin at 20.0% and Japanese is the third-most popular at 12.7%. Those industries include professional, manufacturing and technology. Benjamins influence and persistence in legislative matters can be detected in her extended dealings with Congress. Firm chairman Marc Kasowitz has provided Waldrop with that connection. Patent grants allow us to objectively prove novelty and priority. Using the data below, you can see how other job titles compare to patent attorneys. 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. As a dialogue springs up around systemic racism, lawyers like Kirkland & Ellis' Ellisen Turner and Foley & Lardner's Jeanne Gills say there's no more excuse for clients not to include black patent lawyers on their Rolodexes. A law firm with a large IP department that includes paralegals and patent agents can ensure that those ranks are diverse. As the founder of Allgaier Patent Solutions, she represents clients throughout theUnited Stateswho need legal assistance with regard to patents, trademarks, and copyrights. That may have a dampening effect on Black people seeking intellectual property rights. The professional industry is the highest-paying for patent attorneys. She Persisted at Law and Legislative Matters. Jeffer Mangels Butler & Mitchell LLP - Patent Litigation Lawyer. Fewer than 2% of IP lawyers are Black, according to 2017 data from the American Intellectual Property Law Association. 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. So youre starting from a limited population to begin with, said Azuka Dike, a patent attorney at Banner Witcoff who is a liaison to the American Bar Associations Commission on Racial and Ethnic Diversity in the Profession. Past results do not guarantee future results. As a member of the American Bar Association, Ms. Allgaier belongs to its Business Law Section and its Section of Intellectual Property Law. Black people and other minority inventors have been left behind for many reasons, including too few resources, a lack of access to capital, and a low level of awareness of the patenting system in general, according to consultant Janeya Griffin. The greater horror is that they were nothing new, he 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. 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. I think that also plays a role because we dont see ourselves being owners of intellectual property.. 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. As a member of the American Bar Association, Ms. Allgaier belongs to its Business Law Section and its Section of Intellectual Property Law. Patents & Trademarks. Our estimates are verified against BLS, Census, and current job openings data for accuracy. No one brought up the possibility, said Sheppard, who was previously a director of the PTOs midwest regional office. Apprenticeships in the 21st Century, In Search of Hetty Green: Self-Made Women Millionaires, Patent Waivers (or Dont know much about history), Is Technology a Race? I am now cautiously hopeful that the terrible tragedies of 2020 will bring about real and lasting change., REPRINTED WITH PERMISSION FROM THE JUNE 12, 2020 EDITION OF AMERICAN LAWYER MEDIA 2020 PORTFOLIO MEDIA INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. We see strings of them every year, well beyond the subset captured on video.. In January 2006, Ms. Bashen became the first African American female to hold a patent for a software invention. That was pivotal, Waldrop said. The figures are particularly damning for African American lawyers. Patent attorneys are most in-demand in Los Angeles, CA. Turner, whose practice covers intellectual property litigation and strategy, is encouraged that a national and international conversation is springing up around systemic racism faced by African Americans. But more than 90 percent of American Intellectual Property Law Association survey respondents said they were admitted to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office bar, which is required to practice in agency matters like prosecuting clients patent applications. 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. Gills, who practices IP litigation and counsels clients on global IP strategy, benefited early in her career from working with pioneering attorney Sharon Barner, whos now the general counsel of Cummins Corp. I also had white male partners who mentored and advocated for me, she said. The National Black Lawyers was created to celebrate legal excellence by promoting our attorneys as subject-matter experts, developing a strong national network of top African American attorneys, and facilitating the exchange of timely information to enable our members to maintain their status as leaders. Patent attorneys are 69% more likely to work at private companies in comparison to public companies. It doesnt have to be saidthough its better if it is saidyoure part of the team. 497,747 in 1893 for an improvement on Broom Moisteners and Bridles. The rights to the invention were assigned at issue to Miriam, and she signed the document as the patent attorney (you can view her signature at the bottom of the linked patent drawing). Each attorney is granted unlimited access to high quality, on-demand premium content from well-respected faculty in the legal industry along with administrative access to easily manage CLE for the entire team. Waldrop was asking himself, Do I really want to do this? An Ounce of Prevention Smart Patent Prosecution Can Minimize Litigation Oops (Article. She too has heard general counsel or IP counsel say they dont know any qualified black patent attorneys. Admitted to practice in Illinois and the District of Columbia, Ms. Allgaier is also admitted to practice before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. 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. 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 . 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. The professional industry is the highest-paying for patent attorneys. Drayton said he too benefited from a black role model: former Cooley partner Daniel Johnson Jr., now of the Dan Johnson Law Group. She may have obtained informal legal training, but that is pure speculation, without any reliable supporting evidence. 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. 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%. For black lawyers, its even harder. Shreveport Uzezi Abugo Uzezi Abugo, Attorney at Law Michael Acquah Hueston Hennigan LLP Los Angeles Michael Adams DeCuir, Clark & Adams, LLP Early in his career, Kilpatrick Stockton & Townsend partner Mitchell Stockwell put Waldrop on a trial team in an important case. The offices of patent attorneys (all white at the time) were in white-only commercial districts, hindering African American inventors from applying for patents, Cook wrote in an often-cited 2013 study that examined patent activity from 1870 to 1940. Every case is different and must be judged on its own merits. The origins of current inequality can be detected in historical patterns and outcomes, but both present and past sources include many inaccuracies and false claims. 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. It can also help businesses attract investment and create jobs, raising the bar for entire communities, said Griffin. In 2004, she earned her J.D. Boston, MA pays an annual average wage of $119,512, the highest in the US. Diversity, and Recruiting Committees and was the former chair and founder of the firm's African-American Attorneys Affinity Group. The most common ethnicity of patent attorneys is White (75.3%), followed by Hispanic or Latino (7.9%), Asian (6.5%) and Black or African American (5.7%). FURTHER DUPLICATION WITHOUT PERMISSION IS PROHIBITED. There are a number of talented African American attorneys, men and women, who for years now have represented clients, said Pierce, the former chair of the IP section of the National Bar Association, the largest national network of predominantly Black attorneys and judges. 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. 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. The most common foreign language among patent attorneys is Chinese at 21.8%. This will further equip us to play a pivotal role in driving meaningful changes and ensuring that our voices are heard. 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. "It's almost hard to know where to start . Lisa Ascolese, known as "The Inventress," has received multiple patents and founded the Association for Women Inventors and Entrepreneurs. Miriam Benjamin later worked in Edgars prosperous general law practice, and the 1920 census lists her occupation as a patent attorney. The map here shows where patent attorneys earn the highest salaries in the U.S. As a junior associate, before going on to co-chair Venable LLPs IP division, Justin Pierce recalls hearing the trope about being really articulate from a potential client. 4075, S. 2281), which would require the patent office to collect demographic information, including gender and race, from patent applicants on a voluntary basis. I do hope that it is a catalyst for real change. (212) 558-4000 125 Broad St New York, NY 10004 CLOSED NOW 4. The most common degree for patent attorneys is bachelor's degree 45% of patent attorneys earn that degree. Pierce, the Venable lawyer who remembered being called really articulate, said that occurred after an in-person presentation to a group of executives at a potential client company regarding a patent case. We should be saying that cannot stand in 2020. Although formal barriers to the patent system were removed with the abolition of slavery and the passage of the 14th Amendmentwhich guarantees citizenship to anyone born in the U.S.studies show Black inventors continued to face legal and societal obstacles. CAN I USE MY TRADEMARK ON PROMOTIONAL ITEMS? Benjamin trained to be a teacher in a Massachusetts normal school, and in 1884 passed the civil service exam very creditably, allowing her to work as a federal government clerk in Washington D.C. Four years later, in 1888, she enrolled in the Medical School at Howard University, but dropped out in the first year. When clients and law firm rainmakers invest in and bet on black IP attorneys, good things tend to happen, Drayton said. With little recourse to the courts, African Americans would have found it nearly impossible to fight patent infringement, even if they had been represented by white attorneys, Cook wrote. But there should be no reason a black lawyer isnt pitching, Turner said. 1920 census listing Benjamin as a patent attorney. Our second option allows you to build your bundle and strategically select the content that pertains to your needs. 79% of Patent Attorneys are male, and 20% are female, so there are more male Patent Attorneys than female Patent Attorneys in the United States. 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. 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. Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates He was 30 years old when he was granted a patent for a dry-cleaning process. Working on major trials, especially in a leadership role, opens the doors to more opportunities. 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. We service our national and international client base remotely and through our offices in Seattle, WA and affiliates in San Francisco, CA. Fax: 847-626-9610 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. The National Association of Minority & Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), founded in 2001, is a nonprofit trade association comprised of minority and women owned law firms and other interested parties throughout the United States. Access to additional free ALM publications, 1 free article* across the ALM subscription network every 30 days, Exclusive discounts on ALM events and publications. Recognizing innovation in the legal technology sector for working on precedent-setting, game-changing projects and initiatives. 475,749 for a bicycle clip in 1892, two years before he graduated from Boston University School of Law. Watch All Parts of ABWA's 2020 Ruth Whitehead Whaley Celebration here !!! Judy W. Reed, of Washington, D.C., was the first African American woman to receive a patent. The Cochran Firm was founded over 40 years ago by the late Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr., one of the country's most well-known and well-respected legal advocates. We created this chart to show you the average size of companies that typically hire patent attorneys. 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. Raychelle Tasher Company: U.S.. And yet we still have to prove ourselves, she said. 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. Samuel Newman, of Bowdoin College, Old School? Well-versed in all aspects of intellectual property law, Jamaal focuses his practice on preparing and prosecuting patents in the U.S. and abroad. 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. 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. Legalweek New York explores Business and Regulatory Trends, Technology and Talent drivers impacting law firms. Born as Marguerite Johnson on April 4, 1928, Maya Angelou was a renowned poet, educator, and civil rights activist who moved to the Bay Area at the age of 14. Im on the executive committee of the firm. There are relatively simple steps that firms can take too. The industry-leading media platform offering competitive intelligence to prepare for today and anticipate opportunities for future success. 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. Despite many years of promises and pledges, black lawyers remain underrepresented at big law firms. 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. Which State Has The Most Patent Attorneys? Like most of America, Kirkland & Ellis partner Ellisen Turner has followed the horrific killings of Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. Theyre really at the top of the industry, Turner said. Definitions belong to the definers, not the defined.- Toni morrison. Waldrops clients have included Google and LG Electronics. 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.. For Foley & Lardner LLPs Jeanne Gills, securing a lead role on a trial team in one of the biggest cases in her career -- a patent dispute in which a half-billion dollars were at stake -- was a game changer, made possible because in house counsel lobbied for me., Any lawyer that hires outside counsel, they have the power to hire a diverse lawyer to lead their matter or require the lead lawyer to staff a diverse attorney, Gills said. Clients, attorneys say, are among the greatest gatekeepers for helping Black lawyers excel. U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Racial Gap Sustained The racial divide persists for many reasons that don't lend themselves to simple fixes. 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Gills Named an Honoree at Corporate Counsel 2022 Women, Influence and Power in Law Awards, Foley Attorneys Recognized in 2023 Best Lawyers in America, Foley Represents The League in Acquisition by Match Group, 16th Annual IP Conference (Virtual): Knowing When and How to Pivot 2.0, Health Plan Transparency in Coverage Rule, The University of Chicago Law School (J.D., 1994), Michigan State University (B.S., with honors, electrical engineering, 1991), Ready to Respond: A Roadmap for Diverse Attorneys to Serve on Corporate Boards (CMCP Virtual Seminar, 3/21), General Counsel BootcampIntellectual Property (Client CLE, 2/21), Diversity & Inclusion: Beyond the Boardroom (F&L National Directors Institute, 11/20), Knowing When and How to Pivot 2.0 (Chair, F&L 16th Annual IP Conference, 10/20), Elevate: How to Breakthrough Your Inner Glass Ceiling & Reclaim Your Power to Lead (CCWC 16th Annual Conference, 9/20), Recent Developments in Patent Law & Best Practices with Patent Opinions (Client CLE, 6/20), 2019 PTAB Year In Review (F&L Webinar, 1/20), When and How to Pivot (Chair, F&L 15th Annual IP Conference, 10/19), Advanced, Patent Litigation Seminar (Chair, PLI, Chicago, 2009-2018), Proving and Guarding the Real Economic Value of IP (Chair, F&L 14th Annual IP Conference, 9/18), Trade Secrets Protection, Enforcement, and Litigation (Sandpiper Partners LLC, 6/18), Diversity & Inclusion (Law Bulletin Ethics Seminar, 6/18), Top Ten Tips for a Successful Mediation in Intellectual Property Cases (AIPLA Annual Meeting Presentation and Article, 10/17), Forging Ahead: Strategies for the New Unknown (Chair and Speaker, F&L 13th Annual IP Conference, 10/17), Chicago Black Partners Alliance, Marshall Movie Premiere Event (10/17), Career Not Moving Fast Enough? Learn about patents, patent searches, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets in these resources and guides. Interestingly enough, the average age of patent attorneys is 40+ years old, which represents 67% of the population. Stanley M. Gibson. 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. In 1913, US Patent Office official Henry E. Baker stated that after massive Patent Office surveys of 9000+ patent attorneys and the like in 1900 and 1913, he had assembled a database of nearly 800 verified patents earned by black . The PTO created a council, which will meet for the first time this year, to develop a plan to promote the participation of underrepresented groups in the patent system. Women Earn 93 For Every $1 Earned By Men. Black IP lawyers have felt the impact of their race as early as their educational years. 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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. There are relatively simple steps that firms can take too. If the data is going to change it will take intentional efforts to reach women and children at a young age, Bismarck Myrick, director of the Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Diversity at the PTO, said in an interview. Use our chart to find out where that salary is located. That support is a difference maker as Waldrop is now the one with responsibility for building and integrating trial teams. Now, he said, corporations need to put their money where their mouth is and stop claiming they cant find Black IP lawyers for a case. 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. Well be inviting experts to discuss ways to have meaningful conversations in our respective companies and organizations. Our Team Account subscription service is for legal teams of four or more attorneys. 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. Now more than ever is the time to seek job opportunities and diligently pursue our professional goals. 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. Drayton suggests that Milbank partner Errol Taylor, Perkins Coie partner Dennis Hopkins and Latham & Watkins partner Tara Elliott also would be included on any list of accomplished black patent attorneys.