Event description

Join GFI and Haynes and Boone, an international law firm, to learn how to develop a defensible IP portfolio and strategy that will enable you to grow and scale your alt protein business. 

In this seminar we will discuss: 
  • The basics of intellectual property
  • A framework to think about your company’s IP portfolio
  • What are trade secrets vs. patents and when you should use each
  • What makes an invention patentable
  • Making the mental transition from “lab think” to “legal think” 
  • How to lay the foundation for a global IP strategy that can grow with your business
  • How to budget for your business’s IP-related needs
  • Planning for your future

Meet the speaker

Speaker image vincent shier boap 20220928

Vincent K. Shier, Ph.D.

PARTNER, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PRACTICE GROUP

Vincent K. Shier, Ph.D. is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group in Haynes Boone’s Washington, D.C. office. Drawing from his cross-discipline education, Vince’s practice focuses on representing clients in the biotechnology, life sciences, and pharmaceutical fields, as well as many chemical disciplines.

Full bio

Vincent K. Shier, Ph.D. is a partner in the Intellectual Property Practice Group in Haynes Boone’s Washington, D.C. office.

Drawing from his cross-discipline education, Vince’s practice focuses on representing clients in the biotechnology, life sciences, and pharmaceutical fields, as well as many chemical disciplines. These technologies include genetics, molecular biology, therapeutic methods, pharmaceuticals, DNA microarray technology, diagnostics, plants, food products, renewable energies, batteries, plastics, surface materials, minerals and mineral applications, along with an array of other chemical products and processes.

Vince holds a doctorate degree in biological chemistry and has practiced IP law for more than two decades, preparing and prosecuting patent applications, counseling clients in strategic IP considerations, and representing clients in post-grant proceedings at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

He also served as an adjunct professor of law at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University 2019-2022 teaching introductory patent law courses as well as a course on patent and know-how licensing.

Vince was recognized by Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000: The World’s Leading Patent Practitioners, Globe White Page Ltd, as one of the top practitioners in the United States for post-grant proceedings and is a “Recommended” patent attorney in Washington, D.C. Metro Area for patent prosecution, 2014-2022.

About Haynes and Boone

Haynes and Boone, LLP is an international corporate law firm with 18 offices, spanning Texas, New York, California, Charlotte, Chicago, Denver, Washington, D.C., London, Mexico City and Shanghai, providing a full spectrum of more than 40 major legal practice areas including corporate/business transactions, private equity/venture capital, intellectual property, and regulatory compliance.   With over 600 lawyers, Haynes Boone is ranked among the largest U.S.-based firms by The National Law Journal, The American Lawyer and The Lawyer. It was recognized in the BTI Consulting Group’s 2022 “A-Team” report, which identifies the law firms that in-house counsel commend for providing superior client service.  The firm had 63 ranked lawyers and 26 practices ranked in the 2022 edition of Chambers USA legal directory.

Haynes Boone’s IP practice provides support in virtually every aspect of IP including patent prosecution, patent counseling, trademarks, IP portfolio management, patent office trials, IP litigation, advertising, marketing, and promotional law.  The IP practice and its attorneys have been identified for excellence by many entities including Patexia, Juristat, Managing Intellectual Property, The Patent Lawyer,  Managing Intellectual Property, Intellectual Asset Management (IAM) Patent 1000, and Chambers USA. 

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