As practice group chair, Patrick C. Woolley has helped to grow the firm's Science and Technology practice from its inception to over 35 lawyers and scientists. In his practice, Mr. Woolley has worked in a variety of areas including patents, trademarks, copyright, licensing, litigation, trade secret litigation and business advice and guidance. His practice has included both domestic and foreign issues, with Mr. Woolley having done significant work in Australia, Canada, Europe and Japan. Mr. Woolley has worked with startup companies, federal agencies, individual inventors and university/research institutions. In particular, Mr. Woolley has managed the entire intellectual property portfolio for a Fortune 500 company, as well as for a major research institution. His duties have included patent and trademark preparation and prosecution, patentability secrets, freedom to operate opinions, licensing and asset management, product design around and development, business guidance for new products, and development of a portfolio to promote VC investment or sale of assets.
Mr. Woolley has issued numerous opinions on patentability, non-infringement, and validity related to food products and processes, insecticides, Aids drugs, opiates, stem cells, carrier drugs, asthma compositions and a range of chemical, biotech, and mechanical inventions. Mr. Woolley spends significant time on opinion work and counseling executives and boards.
Overall areas of experience include biotechnology and life sciences, medical devices and products, software, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering and process development, and food chemistry and processing.
Mr. Woolley’s experience benefits a variety of clients ranging from a world class molecular and cell biology research center to newly established, entrepreneurial technology companies and extends to chemical, food, mechanical and software inventions.
As part of his broad proficiencies, Mr. Woolley has applied his intellectual property skills to genetically modified organisms, genes, proteins, biochemical pathways, bioinformatics, iron oxide compositions, sulfur removal processes, fungicides and fertilizers, organic resins for forming coatings, bioremediation, and various food processes and products.
In addition to his patent work, Mr. Woolley also provides counsel in strategic planning, unfair competition, the preparation and prosecution of trademark applications, copyright applications, technology agreements and licenses, confidentiality agreements, advises senior management and boards, works on design around and new product development, and other related issues.