VANTEK INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY - Key Persons
Heidi Devlin is one of our IP Coordinators.
She joined us with over 15 years of IP prosecution experience. She has worked directly with Canadian and US patent and industrial design filings, supporting the smallest to the largest and most internationally-respected Canadian technology companies and with portfolios from single filings to several thousand applications and issued patents. She has supervised the preparation and filing of PCT applications, national and regional phase entries, and validations in 38 countries.
Heidi stepped in to the fray early in VanTek IP's drive to affirm and ensure the strictest standards of client service. We knew only the most battle-tested staff could help us to deliver the kind of timely, efficient, and solutions-oriented advice and actions that woud help our clients navigate the complex web of international and national patent laws, regulations, and practice. Heidi continues to learn and adapt as laws change and has an appreciation for the different strategies that drive the pace and direction of prosecution in different industries, and for companies of different sizes and financial means.
Prior to joining VanTek IP, Heidi held the title of Senior Patent Paralegal in a multi-practice, national law firm from 2007 until 2016. From 2001 to 2007, she worked as a Patent Assistant at a smaller Vancouver-area boutique intellectual property firm.
When Heidi is not on the clock, she enjoys entertaining and socializing with friends and family and taking long leisurely strolls with her family and their beloved dogs. Some of her hobbies and interests include interior design, furniture refinishing, joinery, carpentry, fashion, and photography.
Jessica is a trademark agent registered to act before the Canadian Intellectual Property Office. From publicly traded corporations, government agencies, non-profit organizations to individuals, Jessica has assisted clients of all sizes to clear, protect, manage, and enforce their trademarks both locally and internationally through a network of associates. Jessica has extensive experience in all areas of Canadian trademark practice, including strategic planning and consultation, availability analysis, risk assessment, trademark drafting and prosecution, settlement negotiations, oppositions, property right transfers, and global portfolio management.
You may reach Jessica by phone at 604-259-7025, or by email at jessica@vantekip.com
Nicole is one of our IP Coordinators.
She has been working in intellectual property law since 2002, and brings with her a strong knowledge of international patent and trademark prosecution, and experience with high level practice management. She has worked directly with Canadian, US, and other international patent, industrial design and trademark filings. From preparing and filing formal documents with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office (CIPO) and for foreign associates worldwide to the recording of transfers and changes in ownership of entire patent portfolios, she enjoys supporting the diversity of clients and professional colleagues at other patent firms that is the bread-and-butter of a global IP practice.
Nicole began her legal career in a boutique IP firm in Vancouver. When this practice was merged into a national law firm, she rose from Senior Patent Paralegal to IP Coordinator responsible for a practice group of six agents and eleven support staff. While she excelled at the challenge of helping to manage the work flows in such a large group, she was eager to return to the more direct, hands-on, and client-focussed prosecution support that VanTek is committed to provide.
When Nicole is "relaxing," she takes every available opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors with her family and to spend quality time with her two young children. Some of her hobbies and interests include "persuading" her kids to eat, ride their bicycles, hike, go camping, and read.
With international experience in industrial development, involvement in high-technology start-up management, an MBA, and expertise delivering efficient and effective services, Rand will lead VanTek in meeting and exceeding client expectations.
Innovators need to be able to focus their energy and funding on their creative work, and depend on timely, consistent, affordable, and value-added advice on entrepreneurial strategy, public and private fundraising, and the essentials of business administration. Associate patent firms world-wide looking for client IP protection in Canada need to know that their instructions will be followed to the letter, in short order or exactly when requested, and at a reasonable cost. Those seeking advice for their Canadian or international portfolios need to know they are receiving the very best advice from the most experiened practitioners.
Whether what is needed is a timely and accurate filing in Canada, a full understanding of the costs and timelines for intellectual property protection in Canada and worldwide, or expertise on new business formation-from corporate structure to accounting-Rand will provide exactly what is needed.
When not trying to revolutionize industries, Rand is content to paddle among the oldest watercraft known, the kayak, and to the kinds of remote places only kayaks can go. He currently serves as President of the Sea Kayak Association of British Columbia. He is also a Passive House builder and building technology innovator, the founder of the Pacific Instutite for Ecological Economics, an activist for governmental accountability, and the father of two inspiring young men.
Registered as a professional electrical engineer in Canada, Mr. Hung reverse-engineered complex circuits in semiconductor chips to support patent owners with their infringement and validity investigations for over 5 years at a local hi-tech firm.
Susan is a patent agent registered to act before the Canadian (2004) and United States (1999) Patent Offices. She has worked as in house patent counsel at several Vancouver biotechnology firms since 1990, and understands keenly the client side of the business of IP management.
She has managed patents, trademarks, domain names, IP procedures, and intellectual property licenses from within QLT, Inex Pharmaceuticals, Kinetek Pharmaceuticals, and most recently, OncoGenex Technologies. Susan was also a patent agent at Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh from 2002 to 2004. Her patent practice has included pharmaceuticals, including both biological and small molecules, health related technologies and methods, agriculture, mobile applications, and alternative energy technologies.
She has a bachelor's degree in microbiology from the University of British Columbia where she also undertook one year of directed studies with Dr. Geoff Hoffman developing evidence for the network theory of immunology.
Susan acted as patent portfolio support and underwriter liaison during several biotech financings both public and private. Susan's diverse experience allows her to represent clients ranging from start-up, mid-size, and multi-national companies and organizations to domestic and international universities.
She has been operating as a solo practitioner since 2008.