Leading Global Patent Lawyer
After earning a bachelor’s degree in biochemistry and her Ph.D. in immunology, with her graduate work focusing on experimental models of multiple sclerosis, Dr. Katherine Neville turned her attention to law: “I had no idea what to expect when I changed careers. Leaving bench science behind and heading into law taught me that I can adapt to lots of different situations as long as I put my mind to it.”
Neville, a partner in Marshall, Gerstein & Borun’s Biotechnology practice, provides counsel to clients in strategic management of worldwide patent rights. She calls on over fifteen years of patent prosecution experience to advance clients’ intellectual property and business goals.
She counsels clients ranging from Fortune 500 big pharma companies to biotech start-ups and non-profit institutions, assisting them with patent preparation, opinions, due diligence analyses, interference, reexamination and opposition proceedings.
Her research background, coupled with her technical expertise and wide-ranging industry knowledge acquired from managing global patent portfolios and prosecution for numerous FDA-approved drugs, equip her to be a proactive strategic partner with clients.
In recognition of her outstanding patent work in life sciences, Neville has been featured as a “Life Sciences Star” in the 2015 edition of LMG Life Sciences. She is recognized as one of Intellectual Asset Management’s “World’s Leading Patent Practitioners”, an IP Star in Managing IP‘s IP Stars Survey, and is included on the Illinois Rising Stars® list.
A leader inside and outside the firm, Neville is a member of the firms’ Recruiting Committee and Marketing & Business Development Committee and mentors firm associates. She is also a board member and past president of the Chicago chapter of Women in Bio, an organization of professionals committed to promoting careers, leadership, and entrepreneurship for women in life sciences. “I have enjoyed getting involved in my local communities. I try to follow the advice I give to younger associates and those asking about switching careers: Seeking out diverse projects and networking inside and outside your organization creates opportunities to expand your career rather than waiting for them to happen. Don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone because that helps you realize who you really are and what you are capable of.”
“Rewarding” is how she describes being a woman in her profession. “I have met so many smart, talented and interesting women in my career so far who inspire me to keep striving to be better at my job, but to make sure I enjoy what I do as well,” she said.
Neville holds a J.D. from The John Marshall Law School, a Ph.D. in immunology from Northwestern University, and a B.S. in biochemistry from the University of Notre Dame.
