Banner Witcoff is pleased to announce that it has expanded its life sciences practice with the arrival of Mercedes K. Meyer, Ph.D., who brings over 20 years of experience in intellectual property law to the firm’s Washington, D.C., office.
Mercedes joins from Faegre Drinker where she represented leading life science and technology companies maintaining an extensive biotechnology and pharmaceutical patent management, prosecution, opinion and due diligence practice.
With a doctorate in virology and degree in chemistry, Mercedes has a deep understanding of complex biotechnology and scientific research, which is key for advising life science clients on commercializing and protecting product innovations as well as performing diligence for investing in new technologies, particularly in corporate joint development projects.
Mercedes advises on developing patent strategies, managing the intellectual property rights, and making associated investments and acquisitions. She provides clients with strategies for global filings. Mercedes also handles patent reexaminations and inter partes matters and is often consulted on drug pricing and Bayh-Dole march-in issues.
“Mercedes brings a wide variety of experience and will provide a broad range of advice across life sciences and technologies. She will be of great value for our clients from start-ups to Fortune 500s to manage their patents and patent portfolios,” said Banner Witcoff President Binal Patel.
Mercedes added, “Banner Witcoff has distinguished itself as a full service, go-to firm for intellectual property law that also advocates for diversity, an issue I feel strongly about. I look forward to helping clients build on their success at this exciting time.”
Mercedes co-authored the Oxford University Press textbook Patent Ethics Prosecution (2009), advises and speaks frequently on patent ethics. She is sought-after authority on patent prosecution ethics and bioethics issues who advocates for improving gender diversity in patents.
In 2019, she helped develop the groundbreaking Intellectual Property Owners Association’s Women in IP Committee Gender Diversity in Innovation Toolkit, a blueprint for companies to assess and cultivate gender parity in innovation.
Posted: July 20, 2022
