SHERIDAN ROSS P.C. - Key Persons
Aaron is a battle-tested trial attorney with a passion for serving companies and individuals around the globe in the areas of technology, healthcare, and hospitality. In addition, Aaron serves as outside general counsel to companies in the United States and abroad as they work to bring their products and services to market. He has been recognized as Law Week's Barrister's Best for Intellectual Property Litigation for the last four years, along with the 2016 Barrister's Best for Health Care.
Over the past seven years, Aaron has been annually recognized by Super Lawyers, The Denver Post, U.S. News - Best Lawyers® and 5280 Magazine as a top lawyer in intellectual property litigation. The Denver Business Journal honored Aaron with its "40 under 40" designation and the Denver Bar Association honored him with its Young Lawyer of the Year Award. After working in a leadership role at several national firms, he opened BRADFORD, LTD to partner with his clients through the highs and lows of business-not simply when they are facing litigation.
Central to Aaron's practice is his commitment to the community. He founded the Wheels of Justice, which has raised over $5 million for pediatric oncologic research and care. He chaired the Community Action Network and the Colorado Pledge to Diversity. Recently, Aaron started THE BUREAU, a youth basketball program training over 100 kids from all socio-economic backgrounds and is in the process of opening a 17,000-square foot youth athletic training facility to help the kids achieve their athletic and academic goals.
Alison Moy's practice focuses on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications in the areas of electrical, telecommunications, and software industries.
She has experience drafting patent applications in a diverse range of technology fields including wireless communications, semiconductor devices, and data storage technology. Before joining Sheridan Ross, Alison served as an associate at Setter Roche LLP.
Alison gained her technical experience in wireless communications, telecommunications, enterprise storage solutions, networking, programming, and automation working as an engineer at companies such as Brocade, McData, LSI Logic, and Dish Network. Alison's technical and academic background enhance her ability to understand inventors and their inventions from the outset.
Alison earned her bachelor's degree in Computer Science and Engineering with a minor in Mathematics from the University of Colorado, and a Master's of Business Administration from the University of Denver. She earned her law degree from the University of Colorado Law School.
Angela is a litigation associate who represents clients in a full range of complex commercial disputes. Angela's practice includes supporting clients through all aspects of the litigation process from discovery and trial preparation to post-litigation motions and post-grant proceedings. Her practice includes supporting clients across a range of industries, including biotechnology, consumer products, and manufacturing.
Before joining the firm, Angela served as a legal intern for the Office of the Attorney General of Colorado in the business and licensing section, where she supported litigation and regulatory matters as well as conducted research related to the impacts of the pandemic on state regulations. While in law school, she also worked as a law clerk for multiple private practice firms, where she handled a wide range of litigation matters. Before pursuing the law, Angela worked as a research assistant with the Marco Iacoboni Laboratory, where she assisted in neuroscience research regarding neuroplasticity.
Angela earned her law degree from the University of Colorado Law School. During law school, she served as a Casenote and Comment Editor for the University of Colorado Law Review and on the executive board for the Barrister's Counsel's mock trial division. She also competed with the school's National Trial Competition Team as a regional finalist. She earned her bachelor's degree in Psychobiology from the University of California Los Angeles.
Dr. Domitrovich is a patent agent with experience in the general areas of biochemistry, virology, molecular biology and biotechnology.
Her practice includes all aspects of domestic and foreign patent prosecution including patent preparation and prosecution and due diligence of patent portfolios in the areas of biochemistry, virology, molecular biology, microbiology, virology, nutraceuticals, therapeutic methods, and genetic engineering. Dr. Domitrovich obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Biophysics from Texas A&M University and further conducted post-doctoral research as a National Institutes of Health Fellow at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Dr. Domitrovich works with Ampio Pharmaceuticals, Inc., Bolder Biotechnology, Genentech, Gilead, Celgene, GlobeImmune, Inc., and the University of Colorado as well as National Jewish Health and others to secure patent rights to small molecule therapeutics, protein and antibody therapeutics and methods of using these drugs as well as targeted therapeutic products for the treatment of viral infections. Also, Dr. Domitrovich has worked with Martek to obtain patent protection for various nutraceutical and pharmaceutical products and methods to produce the products. Dr. Domitrovich also works with Sesqui Mining to secure patent rights for an array of mining technologies.
Dr. Domitrovich obtained her Ph.D. in Biochemistry/Biophysics from Texas A&M University and further conducted post-doctoral research as a National Institutes of Health Fellow at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center.
Bart Starr - Chief Legal Officer
Bart has spent more than 20 years as a counselor, litigator, and trial attorney dedicated to helping clients resolve their legal disputes-as early and efficiently as possible-so they can maintain their focus on doing what they do best: developing and selling innovative products and services. When those disputes drag on or become impractical or impossible, he drives resolution either by litigation and trial or by alternative dispute resolution, always focused on the best interests and bottom lines of his valued clients.
In addition to his patent litigation expertise, Bart is a registered Patent Attorney with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and a former practicing engineering who holds degrees in both physics and mechanical engineering. He received his law degree in 2000 from Washington University in St. Louis School of Law, where he served as Primary Notes Editor of the Washington University Law Review, taught legal writing as a professor assistant, and was recognized as the school's best moot court advocate.
Bart's practice involves a wide variety of technologies and industries, including consumer products, performance apparel and footwear, oil and gas, telecommunications, software, healthcare, mechanical systems and equipment, autonomous vehicles, and computer networks and security. He has proudly represented innovative, cutting-edge companies and brands including Columbia Sportswear, Sprint/T-Mobile, Nike, ITT Corporation, Newell Brands, Hallmark, Cerner (an Oracle company), Converse, Hurley, Proxim Wireless, and other clients, both large and small.
Bart has extensive experience litigating and managing the litigation of disputes involving patents, trademarks, trade secrets, copyright, unfair competition, false advertising, breach of contract, and other complex business litigation. He handles and manages every facet of litigation, including early case assessment and planning, drafting and arguing winning legal motions and briefs, ensuring focused and effective discovery, handling all aspects of the critical patent claim-construction process, working with technical and damages experts, resolving disputes through mediation or arbitration, trying cases as first-chair and second-chair counsel in jury and bench trials, and briefing and arguing patent appeals in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
Dr. Winborn focuses his practice on helping innovators within the biotechnology, life science, and medical device fields craft comprehensive protection strategies for their technologies. He partners with clients through all stages of the patent development process from due diligence and freedom-to-operate intelligence to prosecution and post-grant proceedings. Dr. Winborn's practice focuses on molecular and cellular biology including the areas of biochemistry, microbiology, nutraceuticals, therapeutic methods, and genetic engineering.
Dr. Winborn previously worked as a research assistant and legal extern with the University of Iowa where he drafted provisional patent applications, office action responses, prior art searches, and claim charts. Dr. Winborn holds a bachelor of science degree from the University of Miami, as well as a doctoral degree and a law degree from the University of Iowa. While in law school, he received the Innovation, Business, and Law Excellence Award from the College of Law.
Before pursuing a legal career, Dr. Winborn served as a postdoctoral research fellow at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital where he developed an innovative proteomics-based approach to network biology to successfully predict new disease genes. His work resulted in the identification of a new causative gene for ALS. He also regularly collaborated with scientists on a range of research and development projects involving disease genetics and biology. His technical experience includes work on proteomics, genomics, transcriptomics, bioinformatics, genetics, antibody development, RNA interference, and protein and nucleic acid technologies.
Brian Boerman's practice focuses on protecting all aspects of his clients' intellectual assets from patent drafting and prosecution to enforcement and litigation. Brian regularly represents clients in intellectual property disputes in federal court, and he has experience at all stages of the litigation process from due diligence through trial. Brian has extensive experience with post-grant proceedings. He also handles patent prosecution predominately within the electrical engineering and software fields.
Brian counsels clients on developing and implementing comprehensive protection strategies for their intellectual property portfolios. He prepares patent validity, patent infringement, and freedom-to-operate opinions, and he regularly represents clients in intellectual property disputes including patent infringement cases. Brian also helps clients audit their trade secret and patent protection systems and then develops additional strategies and programs to address any issues.
Brian received his bachelor's degree with honors in Electrical Engineering from the University of Illinois. While an undergraduate, he was a member of Eta Kappa Nu Electrical Engineering Honor Society and Tau Beta Pi Engineering Honor Society. Brian holds a law degree from NYU School of Law, where he served as a Notes Editor for the NYU Journal of Law and Liberty.
Before joining Sheridan Ross, Brian worked as a litigation attorney in the New York office of an international law firm for eight years. During law school, Brian interned in the compliance department for the Ramus Capital Group and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, where he worked with the International Narcotics Unit.
Briana is an associate attorney in the litigation department of Sheridan Ross. Her practice focuses on supporting clients through all aspects of litigation in patent, trademark infringement, trade secret disputes, and general commercial litigation. Briana's work includes handling pre-trial and discovery matters, trial preparation, and post-litigation filings. Her practice includes supporting clients across a range of industries and companies of all sizes.
While attending law school, Briana worked as a legal extern for the technology transfer and research products center of the University of Wyoming Law School, reviewing and editing invention disclosure statements and working on initial filing matters. She also worked as a research assistant for the school, where she drafted and developed research memos related to international human rights law, bioethics, and health law. Briana also worked as a law clerk with two private practice firms, assisting attorneys with pleadings for a variety of intellectual property and commercial litigation disputes.
Briana earned her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering with a concentration in biological engineering from the University of Wyoming. She received her law degree from the University of the University of Wyoming College of Law, where she was on the President's Honor Roll, a Brimmer Scholar Finalist, and the 2021 Salt Creek Scholar.
Bruce Kugler is a partner in the firm's patent prosecution group. His practice focuses primarily on patent prosecution and client counseling in the areas of mechanical, electro-mechanical, chemical and process engineering.
Bruce's expertise includes decades of experience developing IP strategies related to oil and gas products, mining equipment, electronics, and battery technology, environmental technology, manufacturing processes, and outdoor consumer products related to archery, firearms, and ballistics. Bruce is also a Registered Professional Engineer in Colorado and has seven years of engineering experience.
Bryan's practice focuses on patent prosecution as well as transactional matters and enforcement of patents through litigation.
Bryan serves as Of Counsel at Sheridan Ross P.C. advising clients in all areas of patent prosecution ranging from patent applications to freedom-to-operate opinions. In addition, he advises clients regarding intellectual property issues and risks to advance the strategic goals of individuals, businesses, and other organizations. When conflict arises, Bryan has experience in determining causes of action and drafting demand letters, complaints, and settlement agreements in support of patent litigation.
Before joining Sheridan Ross, Bryan served as a law clerk for Toyota Motor Sales and the University of Colorado Technology Transfer Office. While at Toyota Motor Sales, Bryan also worked with the Advanced Technologies Group and developed a data-mining script for the Prius Plug-In Demonstration Program. With a master's degree in mechanical engineering, he has conducted research for Dell Computers in the field of Computational Fluid Dynamics and research for the University of Missouri in the field of Electrohydrodynamic Pumps.
David's practice focuses on all aspects of patent practice, from drafting and prosecuting utility and design patent applications to helping clients research and analyze their innovations and products within the marketplace with an eye toward long-term, global protection strategies. With a background in civil engineering, David works on technologies related to mechanical, electro-mechanical, and process engineering innovations.
In his patent prosecution work, David prepares and prosecutes domestic and international patent applications, prepares patent validity and invalidity, patent infringement and non-infringement, and freedom-to-operate opinions. He also regularly assists clients with due diligence projects, and related IP agreements. David has experience working on a wide range of technologies, including mechanical, medical devices, software, oil and gas technologies, industrial technologies, construction products and consumer products. He also has experience with intellectual property litigation, including conducting discovery, drafting motions, complaints, and other briefings in federal court matters.
Before pursuing a legal career, David worked as a project engineer for a nationwide general contractor where he managed and supervised construction operations in high-rise residential developments. David holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from The University of Arizona, a Master of Science in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Stanford University, and and a law degree from Florida International University College of Law. David is fluent in Spanish and conversational in Italian.
Dave partners with life science and pharmaceutical companies to protect their innovations. A registered patent attorney with a master's degree in molecular biology, Dave brings expertise in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals. Dave works with clients through all stages of the portfolio development projects, and he helps clients develop worldwide protection strategies in highly competitive markets.
From patent drafting and prosecution to technology licensing and noninfringement opinions, Dave's counsel focuses on offering clients strategic advice that is rooted in the day-to-day realities of their business. He also assists clients with M&A due diligence, global prosecution strategy, portfolio monetization projects, and post-grant proceedings. Dave's background includes work on small molecule pharmaceuticals and biologicals, nucleic acids, genetically modified organisms, antibodies, proteomics, cell and gene-based therapeutics, tissue engineering and clean technology, among others.
Before rejoining Sheridan Ross, where he started his law career as an associate, Dave was a partner with the Denver office of a large, internationally based general practice firm. Dave received bachelor's and master's degrees in molecular biology from the University of Denver, with a master's emphasis on neuroendocrinology, and a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Doug has been recognized by Law Week Colorado as Barrister's Best Intellectual Property Attorney in 2013 and as a Lawyer of the Year in 2012-2014. He has achieved an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell.
As a former patent examiner with the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office and now as a registered patent attorney, Eric possesses a unique perspective on intellectual property. Eric uses his knowledge of what motivates patent examiners and his technical background to achieve desirable results for his clients, particularly in patent prosecution where written and verbal interaction with patent examiners is paramount to the patent process. "The goal is to capture what the client is seeking to protect in terms that the examiner is willing to accept," he says. "Having spent time in an examiner's position and as a patent attorney, I know that the manner in which attorneys interact with examiners has an impact on the ability to achieve that goal." With these insights, Eric offers his clients an upper hand throughout the patent prosecution process.
Eric's passion for his work arises from client interactions and exposure to emerging technologies. "In a single day, I often encounter matters that span different industries and technologies. Each matter addresses a problem unique to that field, and all of these factors contribute to a stimulating work environment," he says. Also, Eric enjoys building relationships with his clients and learning their businesses. A significant part of Eric's practice involves on-site visits with clients where he can immerse himself with the engineering, research and development teams in an informal and more casual setting.
Eric joined the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office as a patent examiner after graduating from Marquette University with a bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering. After that, he pursued his law degree at The Catholic University of America and subsequently joined an established intellectual property boutique firm in the Washington, D.C. area. Since joining Sheridan Ross, Eric has appreciated developing a team-centric approach to client's portfolios. "It seems many clients value attorneys who they can trust to get the job done correctly and efficiently with minimal instruction, and our team delivers on that aspect because we collaborate on a daily basis," he says. "I am happy to be part of a great team dedicated to serving the best interests of our clients."
Eric also appreciates that his profession enables him to develop multiple solutions to each problem facing his clients. Throughout his career, Eric has assisted clients with obtaining patent protection in industries that rely heavily on electrical, mechanical, and software technologies to drive their businesses. In doing so, he has acquired a skill set that enables him to provide clients with services that include patent application drafting, patent prosecution, and opinion work in fields that relate to computer memory, optics, wireless communications, image sensors, electric vehicles, medical devices, data storage systems, access control systems, circuit protection, underwater vehicles, and more. Regardless of the task at hand, Eric devotes himself to learning the technology and obtaining results for his clients.
Jack Raycraft is a trademark attorney with Sheridan Ross P.C. His practice focuses on helping companies protect their brands and reputations from idea generation to market implementation. Jack works with clients across a range of industries to develop and deploy comprehensive brand-protection strategies domestically and abroad. His work includes assisting clients through all stages of the trademark prosecution process from brand clearance to enforcement and portfolio management.
Jack also helps clients create protection strategies with domain names and online disputes. His work in this regard includes monitoring and policing client websites, online retailers, and other e-commerce vendors. Jack's background working in-house helps him better understand how to align his counsel to his clients' long-term goals, particularly as they relate to licensing and contract issues.
A recent law school graduate, Jack previously worked as an Associate Corporate Counsel in the in-house legal department of a global telecom company where he supported due diligence and contract review in a range of licensing and purchase agreements. He also previously served as judicial extern for Federal Magistrate Judge Scott Varholak. As a student at the University of Colorado Law School, he participated in the Entrepreneurial Law Clinic, partnering with startups and early stage companies on a variety of issues. Jack also served as the Sources Editor for the Colorado Environmental Law Journal.
Jack holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration with an emphasis in Finance, as well as a law degree from the University of Colorado Law School.
Jim works with sole inventors, small and emerging businesses and well-established companies to help them evaluate their intellectual property in various marketplaces. His practice regularly includes freedom-to-operate and invalidity opinions, interviewing inventors, drafting applications and prosecuting patents before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and abroad. Jim also has experience in intellectual property litigation before U.S. Federal Courts.
Jeanette's combined interest in the arts and the law is what initially drew her to intellectual property. She recognizes and appreciates the innovative ways her clients use their brands and products in their respective marketplaces. "Recognizable branding is what helps my clients standout in the market place. My arts background gives me a unique understanding of branding concerns to provide my clients with exceptional brand protection strategies."
Jeanette counsels her clients on all aspects of trademark and copyright protection, including the development and management of portfolios. Her practice focuses on U.S. and international trademark clearance, prosecution, enforcement, and portfolio management for clients in a wide variety of industries. Jeanette's legal experience and academic background provide her with a multidimensional perspective in securing comprehensive IP rights for an array of clients in various industries.
Before entering private practice, Jeanette worked as in-house counsel for SRS Acquiom, where she negotiated and finalized acquisition documents in complex M&A transactions. Prior to rejoining Sheridan Ross, Jeanette counseled clients on all aspects of trademark and copyright protection, IP due diligence and contractual drafting with Armstrong Teasdale LLP.
Jeanette's prior experience evaluating and forming business relationships that are consistent with her clients' long-term goals helps her to understand better the needs and expectations different businesses and individuals can have as they develop their portfolios. "I strive to think more creatively and outside of the box while effectively communicating to my clients about the potential risks and rewards of a chosen course."
Job Titles:
- Patent Agent
- Registered Patent Agent
John Brice is a registered patent agent with experience in the general areas of electrical engineering, applied communication, and geographic information systems. His work focuses on all aspects of domestic and foreign patent prosecution from due diligence searches through prosecution and post-grant reviews. John excels at helping clients create and implement comprehensive protection strategies tailored to their particular needs.
John's experience includes work on complex electrical and software technologies including telephony, RFID, access control, semiconductors, optics, Artificial Intelligence, communication networks, communication protocols, encryption, web-based technologies, information storage systems, and feedback and control systems. Before joining the law firm, John worked as a research assistant with the Colorado School of Mines Physics Department, where he conducted research on biophysics and microbiology projects.
John obtained his bachelor's and master's degrees from the Colorado School of Mines. His undergraduate degree, which was earned with honors, is in Engineering Physics with a minor in Computational and Applied Mathematics. John's senior design project was on Protein Purification and Biopolymer Synthesis.
John serves clients in all aspects of patent prosecution ranging from patent applications to freedom-to-operate opinions. In addition, he has experience in research, legal and consulting services.
Prior to joining Sheridan Ross, John served as an International Anti-Corruption Compliance Coordinator for Walmart where he managed due diligence in complying with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. As a part of that work, he helped develop the metrics for anti-corruption compliance across 27 countries.
John earned his bachelor's degree in electrical engineering from the University of Arkansas. He also earned his law degree from the University of Arkansas School of Law.
Jon's practice focuses on the preparation and prosecution of patent applications across a range of technologies. Jon's background in mechanical engineering includes bachelor's and master's degrees from the University of Colorado. In combination with his years of patent practice, he can deftly counsel clients in industries ranging from aerospace to automotive, semiconductor manufacturing to medical devices, and numerous other mechanical, electromechanical, and electrical technologies. His experience includes drafting and prosecuting hundreds of domestic and international patent applications for clients of all sizes.
Recognizing that every client is unique, Jon strives to develop and implement a tailored intellectual property strategy for each client's particular needs, including partnering with them to create international protection strategies. Jon also assists clients identify specific types of protection that may be most useful for them while taking into account applicable budgetary constraints. In addition to his patent drafting and prosecution practice, he has experience preparing patent validity, patentability, and freedom-to-operate opinions.
In his spare time, Jon is engaged in the upkeep and refurbishing of vintage automobiles and electronic keyboard instruments, as well as camping, hiking, and other outdoor activities - fields of technology into which he is actively interested in expanding his practice. Jon is an Eagle Scout and is in the process of earning his Level 2 Certification in Hanyu Shuiping Kaoshi Standard Chinese Proficiency.
Joe has also recently served as a visiting professor for the Daniels College of Business at Denver University in its Executive MBA Program offering an Overview of Intellectual Property Law.
Joe is involved with various charitable groups, previously serving on the board of The Children's Hospital Research Foundation. He has also taught intellectual property law classes as an adjunct professor at the University of Denver, is a guest lecturer at CU's Entrepreneurship school and presents at various inventor groups in the Denver area.
Julia counsels clients on all aspects of domestic and international trademark portfolio development and management. Julia's practice includes partnering with clients early on in their brand creation process to help in the selection, clearance, use, and prosecution of trademarks. In this role, she excels at helping clients identify ways to optimize the value of their brands, including through the strategic acquisition of marks. She also helps clients throughout the trademark process, including drafting, prosecution, and maintenance of marks.
In addition to her trademark prosecution and enforcement practice, Julia helps clients conduct IP audits, which often necessitate the creation of privacy policies and terms of service for use in their platforms. She also assists clients with online enforcement, including identifying infringing products online and drafting related correspondence with opposing parties and the administrative bodies tasked with removing the infringing products and marks.
Before joining Sheridan Ross, Julia worked with a boutique intellectual property law firm, in Washington, DC, where she handled a breadth of trademark portfolios. Julia earned her undergraduate degree in History from The George Washington University and her law degree from the University of Miami School of Law, where she was a member of the University of Miami Business Law Review.
Julie Shursky partners with businesses across a range of industries to help them select, secure, and protect their brands. Julie's work includes assisting clients throughout the full life cycle of trademark protection, including clearance and prosecution of marks. Her work includes developing international protection strategies for clients with global reach, and she excels at aligning portfolio development with her clients' goals.
Julie also has extensive experience assisting clients through adversarial proceedings, including handling ex parte matters with the Trademark Trial and Appeals Board and appeals with the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals. She also regularly handles opposition and cancellation proceedings before the TTAB, as well as litigation disputes in state court. Julie's counsel also frequently includes assisting clients with contract negotiations regarding the acquisition or disposition of marks.
Before joining Sheridan Ross, Julie worked as a trademark attorney with a private practice in Virginia. While in law school, she worked as a student attorney and law clerk with private practices and gained experience as a legal intern with the Federal Communications Commission. Julie also served as a judicial intern for Judge Kathleen O'Malley, who serves on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Julie earned her bachelor's degree from George Washington University and her law degree from American University, Washington College of Law.
Kelsie's practice includes counseling clients through patent preparation and prosecution, due diligence, and portfolio analysis projects. She has a specific focus on molecular and cellular biology including biochemistry, microbiology, therapeutic methods, and genetic engineering. She regularly works with individual inventors, publicly funded companies, nonprofit research institutes, and universities at all stages of portfolio development.
Before joining Sheridan Ross, Kelsie served as program manager at the University of Colorado's Inworks Innovation Initiative where she oversaw operations, facilitated connections between the university and local entrepreneurs, and taught a curriculum focused on biological innovation. Kelsie holds a Bachelor of Science degree in forensic biology from Purdue University, a Master of Science degree in molecular and cellular biology from the University of Colorado-Denver, and a law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.
Job Titles:
- Patent Agent
- Registered Patent Agent
Kirsten Wiegand is a registered patent agent whose practice includes all aspects of domestic and foreign patent prosecution, due diligence of patent portfolios, valuation of patents and early-stage technologies, and strategic management of patent portfolios. Kirsten's focus is on chemical and life science innovations, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biochemistry, and other biotechnology innovations. She also has extensive experience supporting portfolios with wireless communications and wearable devices.
In her role as a patent agent, Kirsten works closely with clients to create and implement comprehensive protection strategies for their intellectual property. Her work requires her to partner with engineers and in-house counsel as well as foreign associates to handle the many moving parts of drafting and prosecuting large patent portfolios.
Before joining Sheridan Ross, Kirsten worked as a patent agent and patent engineer with Holland & Hart in Denver, where she worked with the patent systems group on a range of technologies. She also has previous experience as a chemical manufacturing intern with a pharmaceutical company. Kirsten earned a bachelor's degree in chemical and biological engineering from the University of Colorado. While enrolled there, she served as a teaching assistant and was an active member of the Society of Women Engineers, the National Honor Society for Chemical Engineering, the International Society of Pharmaceutical Engineering and BOLD Scholars.
Kristin Smith's practice focuses on intellectual property across multiple technological areas, with a primary focus in life sciences, in particular patents in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals areas. Kristin's practice spans all aspects of patent portfolio development and management, including domestic and foreign patent preparation and prosecution, ex parte reexamination proceedings, as well as patentability, freedom-to-operate, patent invalidity and non-infringement opinions. Kristin also provides patent portfolio assessments and conducts due diligence reviews in corporate transactions. A former general counsel, Kristin has particular knowledge and skill in helping clients navigate the day-to-day challenges of managing large IP portfolios.
With a background in chemical engineering, Kristin has patent expertise in the fields of genetics, biochemistry, immunology, neuroscience, cancer therapeutics, vaccines, drug development, and nutritional products. Her clients range from early-stage biotech start-ups to established publicly funded companies, as well as nonprofit research institutes and universities. Before joining Sheridan Ross, Kristin was the general counsel of a San Francisco-based biotechnology company.
Kristin holds a law degree and a master's in business administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Among other academic pursuits, Kristin was a Senior Executive Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and also spent a year studying Chemical Engineering and the History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University. Kristin is a board member at Pandia Health.
Practice Areas
Technical Specialties
Matt Ellsworth is a shareholder with experience in patent drafting, prosecution, and analysis. Matt partners with leading electronics and software companies to develop, enforce and monetize their intellectual property assets. Whether working with small start-ups or globally recognized companies, Matt enjoys helping innovators realize their ideas.
"I love meeting with inventors and getting excited when they're excited. I also love talking their language, really learning the ins and outs of their innovations, and then translating that into a tangible asset, something they can protect and continue to improve," he says.
Matt handles many complex electrical and software technologies including telephony, RFID, access control, semiconductors, optics, Artificial Intelligence, communication networks, communication protocols, encryption, web-based business, information storage systems, feedback and control systems, power transmission, power machinery, high current electronics, and low current electronics. He also has experience in non-electrical related technologies such as mechanical patents and business method patents.
Throughout his career, Matt has built a broad network of clients who tend to come back again and again. "My ultimate goal is to be the ‘go-to' IP person for my clients, big and small. I want them all to feel as though I am just as invested in their IP as they are. It is my goal to provide such a high level of service and attention that everyone involved in the process, from the IP group to each engineer and inventor wants to work with me for the entirety of their career," he says. It's a testament to his personalized and creative approach to patent law.
Mrs. Trudell has experience in all areas of trademark, copyright, and domain name law.
Her practice includes advising clients on domestic trademark protection and maintenance, including searching, clearing, filing, and prosecuting. She also has experience with Ex Parte practice and Opposition/Cancellation practice in front of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office's Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Her trademark practice includes advising clients and assisting with building and maintaining international trademark portfolios, including international trademark clearance, protection, prosecution, and maintenance.
Mrs. Trudell also advises clients in the area of copyright law, including the filing and prosecution of copyright registration applications with the U.S. Copyright Office. She also counsels clients on domain name disputes and has prosecuted a number of Uniform Domain Name Dispute Resolution Policy (UDRP) proceedings. Further, she works with clients regarding policing, enforcing, defending, and licensing their intellectual property rights. Mrs. Trudell has achieved an AV® Preeminent™ Peer Review Rating by Martindale-Hubbell and she was named the 2020 Lawyer of the Year in Trademark Law by Best Lawyers.
Job Titles:
- of Counsel
- Patent Attorney
Dr. Traver is a patent attorney with experience in the areas of chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. Rob's practice is rooted in intellectual curiosity, and a passion for science - a former pharmacist with a degree in Pharmacy, Rob has dedicated his career to research and development efforts.
"I love learning about the changes in technology that my clients are developing. And having worked as a pharmacist, I understand the real-world implications of the work I'm doing," he says.
Job Titles:
- Co - President
- Shareholder
Robert Brunelli is an integral part of his clients' intellectual property management teams. As head of the firm's litigation practice, Rob has almost three decades of experience counseling early-stage start-ups to multi-national corporations in conducting investigations, trials and appeals and before various courts and government tribunals, as well as extensive experience serving as an expert witness.
Rob thrives on the intellectual challenge each client and each case present, and he "tends to think almost exclusively strategically," he says. Over the course of his career, Rob has successfully managed and litigated hundreds of complex intellectual property actions in most Federal District Courts in the United States. His practice also includes representations in Federal Courts of Appeal, the International Trade Commission, the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, the United States Patent Office Board of Appeals and Interferences proceedings. Rob also regularly works as an expert witness in intellectual property, civil litigation, and legal malpractice suits.
Combining his business and legal expertise, Rob covers the full spectrum of transactions and issues facing companies in many technologies and other business sectors. He understands the business challenges and the risks posed by potential and actual lawsuits, and he has the skills and experiences his clients require to realize the best possible outcome, even if that outcome is not one which is most desired by the client.
"I tend to take on my clients' problems as my own, and I am fully invested in finding a solution for them," he says. Clients rely on Rob to accurately vacillate between science and law, knowing he will develop a full working knowledge of their technology and issues and provide them with a clear roadmap for their legal disputes.
Rob is AV-Preeminent® peer review rated in accordance with Martindale-Hubbell® certification procedures and has been selected by attorney peers for inclusion in Best Lawyers®, Super Lawyers and Chambers & Partners. Rob is also a founding member of the Colorado Intellectual Property American Inn of Court.