Heather R. Kissling draws from over a decade of experience securing biotechnology patents to develop worldwide filing and prosecution strategies that further her clients' business objectives. Using her advanced training in biotechnology, she actively collaborates with bench scientists, business development personnel, and in-house counsel to maximize protection of biotechnology innovations in a broad range of technologies. Her background in interference and opposition proceedings also benefits clients seeking advice with respect to competitor patent positions and third party challenges in the patent office. Clients find her to be a forward-thinking advocate that shares their commitment to realizing the maximum value from their intellectual property assets.
Recent Client Work:
Successfully secured patents relating to antibodies and their medical uses for large biotechnology company.
Advised client investigating cleantech and renewables technology with respect to third party patent landscape and partnering opportunities.
Managed complex patent portfolio for viral vector technology currently applied in phase III gene therapy clinical trials for pancreatic cancer.
Representative Experience:
Ms. Kissling has skillfully worked on patent matters in diverse technologies, including:
Antibody and protein technology;
Gene Therapy;
Viral vector and cell line technologies;
Recombinant DNA and expression systems;
Genetically-modified plants;
Screening methods for anti-viral therapies.
Background and Credentials:
Ms. Kissling uses her experience in all phases of prosecution work to help biotechnology clients strategically develop and maintain patent portfolios to achieve business goals. She has evaluated the patentability of client inventions and prepared and prosecuted patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and foreign patent offices for universities, non-profit research institutions, governmental agencies, start-ups, and established biotechnology companies. She aids clients in defining commercial opportunities by investigating competitor patent landscapes, patent validity, and freedom to operate issues. She also has participated in patent interference proceedings before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and assisted foreign associates in opposition proceedings abroad.
She received her Juris Doctorate, with high honors, from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2007, where she was also awarded the Order of the Coif. During law school, she was a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Reuben Castillo in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.
Ms. Kissling graduated with a Masters of Science degree in Biotechnology from Northwestern University in 1998. Her graduate research experience included serving as an industrial resident at Abbott Laboratories and a research resident in the Lurie Cancer Center of the Northwestern University School of Medicine. She received a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Liberal Arts Chemistry, magna cum laude, from the University of Evansville in 1997.