Jennifer Blackburn focuses her practice on intellectual property matters in the chemical industry, including patent litigation, prosecution and reexamination, and opinion work. Dr. Blackburn has experience in a wide range of technologies, including chemistry, polymer science and engineering, textiles, medical devices and coatings, materials science, wood preservatives and biotechnology. Dr. Blackburn is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
Dr. Blackburn represents companies in patent infringement lawsuits. She has participated in many aspects of patent litigation including invalidity and infringement investigations, conducting and defending fact and expert depositions, preparation of expert reports, claim construction briefing and hearings, summary judgment briefing, and preparation of witnesses for deposition and trial.
Dr. Blackburn regularly prepares and prosecutes patent applications in the United States and internationally. She also has experience with reexamination proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office. Dr. Blackburn evaluates patents and counsels clients on patentability, validity and infringement issues.
Prior to joining the firm, Dr. Blackburn worked as a patent agent prosecuting patents in a variety of technical areas. During law school, Dr. Blackburn served on the Board of Directors of the Intellectual Property and Cyberlaw Society.
Professional & Community Activities
American Bar Association, Member
American Chemical Society, Member
American Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
Duke, Intellectual Property and Cyberlaw Society, Past Director of Speaker Relations
Industries
Chemical; Health & Life Sciences
Experience
Worked on teams handling the following matters:
Intellectual property counseling for Smith & Nephew, Provides patent procurement and counseling services to Smith & Nephew, an industry leader in the development of advanced medical devices and implants. The company offers technically innovative products in areas such as orthopedic reconstruction and trauma, endoscopy, advanced wound management and biologics. Provide counsel and advice in all aspects of the company's business, including helping shape its overall patent strategy. As part of this, the firm takes an active role in identifying and protecting innovations, as well as evaluating third-party intellectual property rights. Further, the firm provides counseling in connection with the company's patent licensing and acquisition activities and has represented the company in several patent infringement matters.
Patent prosecution and counseling for University of Connecticut, Represents the University of Connecticut under government contract and prosecutes patent applications for biological and chemical technologies such as protein-based photovoltaic energy systems, anti-malarial vaccines, and chemical compounds for the inhibition of yeast growth.
Peach State Labs Inc. v. Environmental Manufacturing Solutions, Served as lead counsel on behalf of Peach State Labs in a patent infringement suit related to the use of urea hydrochloride as a cleaning agent. After a week long jury trial, the jury found that the defendant had willfully infringed Peach State's patent and awarded damages leaving the defendant with $0.01 per unit profit. The district court later granted Peach State a permanent injunction and trebled the damages based on the willfulness finding.
Peach State Labs, Inc. v. Environmental Manufacturing Solutions, No. 09-cv-395 (M.D. Fla. filed Feb. 27, 2009).
*Experience gained by attorney prior to joining Kilpatrick Townsend
Publications
24 March 2010, Separate Written Description - En Banc Decision in Ariad v. Lilly, Legal Alerts
08 December 2009, Separate Written Description? - Oral Arguments In En Banc Rehearing of Ariad v. Lilly, Legal Alerts