ATLANTA—Attorneys Andy Claerbout, John Cox, Laura Kees and Shaton C. Menzie represented Womble Bond Dickinson at the Georgia-Driving American Innovation event. USPTO Director Andrei Iancu was the keynote speaker at the event. His presentation focused on “Driving American Innovation”.

The Feb. 25 event was presented by the Georgia Chamber and also featured such notable speakers as:

  • US Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA)
  • US Rep. Hank Johnson (D-GA)
  • Roger Hasson, General Manager of IBM Global Services North America
  • Chris Hellmann, Global Vice President and General Manager, Coca-Cola Company, and
  • Jonathan Weinberger, Senior Vice President, U.S. Chamber Global Innovation Policy Center.

Andy Claerbout is an experienced patent attorney who understands clients’ business needs and how those business needs can be protected using the global intellectual property laws to maximize value of intellectual property. He guides clients in a wide range of patent application, protection and portfolio management issues.

John Cox, Ph.D. , counsels and represents clients in patent litigation related to chemical, biotechnology, medical device, and pharmaceutical matters and has significant experience in Abbreviated New Drug Application (ANDA) cases, including pre-litigation investigations. John has dealt with subject matter ranging from brain chemistry, the gastrointestinal system, and drug delivery systems to medical diagnostic methods, the generation of biofuel using bacteria, and processes for manufacturing chemicals and pharmaceutical products.

Laura Kees concentrates her practice on managing trademark and copyright portfolios; counseling clients on risks associated with proposed names and marks; evaluating when applications for domestic and/or international registration should be filed and advising how and when to maintain those registrations.

Shaton C. Menzie focuses her practice on complex patent litigation before U.S. district courts, with an emphasis on strategically leveraging concurrent matters before district court and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board. In addition, she regularly advises emerging businesses on trademark, trade secret and copyright issues.