Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP

Representative Experience

Ms. Kissling has skillfully worked on patent matters in diverse technologies, including:

• Antibody and protein technology
• Gene Therapy
• Viral vector and cell line technologies
• Recombinant DNA and expression systems
• Genetically-modified plants
• Screening methods for anti-viral therapies

Background and Credentials

Ms. Kissling uses her experience in all phases of prosecution work to help biotechnology clients strategically develop and maintain patent portfolios to achieve business goals.  She has evaluated the patentability of client inventions and prepared and prosecuted patent applications before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and foreign patent offices for universities, non-profit research institutions, governmental agencies, start-ups, and established biotechnology companies.  She aids clients in defining commercial opportunities by investigating competitor patent landscapes, patent validity, and freedom to operate issues.  She also has participated in patent interference proceedings before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and assisted foreign associates in opposition proceedings abroad. 

She received her Juris Doctorate, with high honors, from the Chicago-Kent College of Law in 2007, where she was also awarded the Order of the Coif.  During law school, she was a Judicial Extern for the Honorable Reuben Castillo in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. 

Ms. Kissling graduated with a Masters of Science degree in Biotechnology from Northwestern University in 1998.  Her graduate research experience included serving as an industrial resident at Abbott Laboratories and a research resident in the Lurie Cancer Center of the Northwestern University School of Medicine.  She received a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Liberal Arts Chemistry, magna cum laude, from the University of Evansville in 1997.

Publications and Speeches

• Tonetti D.A, Chisamore, M.J., Grdina W., Schurz (Kissling), H., Jordan V.C., Br J Cancer, 2000 Sept.; 83(6): 782-91.

Ms. Kissling also presents seminars on recent developments in case law, current trends at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and building intellectual property assets.

Community and Professional Involvement

• Biotechnology Industry Organization, International Convention Programming Committee 2012, 2010 and 2006. 
• Intellectual Property Owners Association (IPO), volunteer reviewer for the Articles and Reports section on the IPO Web site.
• Outreach Committee, Coalition of Women's Initiatives in Law Firms
• Communications Committee Co-Chair and Programming Committee, Women In Bio – Chicago Chapter

Representative Matters

Gencell S.A. v. Kovesdi et al. v. Gencell S.A.
U.S. Patent Office Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences
Case Type(s): Patent Interference
Area(s) of practice: Biotechnology

Kovesdi et al. v. Zhang et al.
U.S. Patent Office Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences
Case Type(s): Patent Interference
Area(s) of practice: Biotechnology

Wickham et al. v. McClelland et al.
U.S. Patent Office Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences
Case Type(s): Patent Interference
Area(s) of practice: Biotechnology

Kroczek v. Tamatani et al.
U.S. Patent Office Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences
Case Type(s): Patent Interference
Area(s) of practice: Biotechnology

Opposition and Appeal re: Darwin Discovery Ltd.
European Patent Office
Case Type(s): Opposition, Appeal
Area(s) of practice: Biotechnology

Short Biography