Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney Adds Biochemistry Patent Agent Stephany Small to Its Intellectual Property Section

Wilmington – November 11, 2013 – Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney announced today the addition of Stephany G. Small, Ph.D., a patent agent in the firm’s Intellectual Property Section. Small has conducted extensive research in the areas of biochemistry, bioinformatics, cell engineering, comparative metabolism, developmental biology, molecular genetics and recombinant DNA.

“Stephany’s scientific background will greatly benefit our clients in the chemical, biotech and pharmaceuticals industries,” said Buchanan Shareholder Christine M. Hansen, who heads up the firm’s IP practice in Wilmington. With more than 70 of its 450 attorneys and professionals focused on handling IP-related matters for clients, the firm has one of the largest such practices among full-service law firms in the country.

Before joining Buchanan, Small gained experience as a patent agent for Human Genome Sciences, Inc., where she prosecuted multiple patent portfolios, completed patent freedom-to-operate and due diligence evaluations, and contributed to the defense of key company patents in U.S. and foreign litigations. Her work included drafting responses to the USPTO Office Actions and foreign correspondence, developing persuasive arguments to address issues to obtain allowed claims, meeting with scientists to discuss invention disclosures and draft new patent applications, collaborating with outside counsel and licensees to ensure communication of prosecution matters and managing prosecution of all cases within budget. She also monitored competitor prosecution in the US and abroad, performed patentability searches, identified scientific advisors and expert witnesses and prepared documentation in preparation of litigation.
Small conducted her post-doctoral research on Caenorhabditis elegans gene regulation and development, and she investigated transcription factor regulatory elements using molecular cloning.

While working to earn her Ph.D. at The Catholic University of America, Small was a research assistant where she conducted research on mesoderm development using techniques including genetic crossing, microscopy, plasmid construction, reverse transcription PCR, RNA interference and protein purification. She was also a teaching assistant for Genetics and the Molecular Cell Biology Laboratory where she was responsible for presenting and preparing laboratory lectures.

Small received her doctorate degree in cellular and microbial biology from The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., and her B.A. degree in biology and theology from Franciscan University in Steubenville, Ohio.

About the Firm
Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC (www.bipc.com) has more than 450 attorneys and government relations professionals practicing throughout the United States, with offices in California, Delaware, Florida, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Virginia and Washington, D.C. ###