Two Dechert LLP partners – Andrea L.C. Reid and Dr. Katherine A. (“Kassie”) Helm – have been named “Intellectual Property Trailblazers” by the National Law Journal, which profiles lawyers who have moved the needle in the areas of patent, copyright, trademark and trade secret law.
Boston-based partner Ms. Reid, co-lead of Dechert’s Global Life Sciences practice and member of the firm’s Policy Committee, counsels established and start-up clients in all sectors of the biotech and pharmaceutical industries on developing intellectual property issues, policies, patent portfolio management and filing strategies at all phases of the business cycle. Her ability to develop IP strategies for U.S. and European clients has resulted in more than US$15 billion in acquisition and investor/partner funding. With more than 30 years of experience working in the pharmaceutical industry, she has extensive experience in all areas of drug discovery through drug development.
Ms. Reid is regularly recognized for professional excellence. Most recently, she was named “Patent Strategy Attorney of the Year for Massachusetts” by LMG Life Sciences. She was also named by Profiles in Diversity Journal as a “Woman Worth Watching in STEM”, an honor established to celebrate women leaders who break barriers in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Just weeks before, she was recognized as both “Patent Star” and “Transactions Star” for Massachusetts by Managing IP in its annual list of the world’s leading intellectual property law firms and practitioners.
New York-based partner Dr. Helm represents innovative companies in intellectual property matters, with a focus on pharmaceutical and biotechnology patent litigation. Her neuroscience background allows her to offer a unique perspective to life sciences companies in all types of IP disputes, including patent infringement actions in federal district court, arbitrations and complex commercial litigation, involving joint ventures, licensing and drug development agreements, and related antitrust matters.
Dr. Helm also has significant experience with contentious Patent Office proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board and in coordinated global litigation strategy, involving European patent revocation and infringement actions. Recently, she has acted as lead counsel for Eli Lilly as defendant in patent infringement litigation and as petitioner in a post grant review proceeding.
In September, Dr. Helm was named “Best in Patents” by Euromoney in its Americas Women in Business Law Awards, which was set up to recognize outstanding women lawyers and the firms that set the standard for women-friendly work practices. She was also selected by Profiles in Diversity Journal as a “Woman Worth Watching in STEM”. Dr. Helm is regularly recognized by Intellectual Asset Management, most recently in the IAM Patent 1000 2020, and was named “U.S. Rising Star for Intellectual Property” by LMG Life Sciences in 2019.
About Dechert
Dechert is a leading global law firm with 26 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.
Related Professionals
