Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D. Partner

• Bio//
• Articles & Presentations//
• Honors & Awards//
• Get To Know//

Dr. Travis Bliss counsels a variety of clients ranging from individual inventors to small businesses to Fortune 500 companies in nearly all aspects of intellectual property law. He considers multiple facets of intellectual property law when counseling a client on an IP issue, thereby providing his clients with a comprehensive view of the IP landscape. Travis prepares and prosecutes patent applications; litigates patent, trademark, and other IP disputes in federal and state courts; represents clients before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office Patent Trial and Appeal Board; counsels clients in a variety of IP issues, including due diligence, FTO, infringement, and patentability; and prepares and negotiates IP licenses. Travis’s flexibility and adaptability to consider and work in the newest legal proceedings and technologies give value to clients who are looking for optimal solutions specific to their business needs.

Travis served as chair of the IP Biotechnology & Life Sciences Practice Group at Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney P.C. before joining Panitch Schwarze. From a technology standpoint, Travis's practice falls largely within the life sciences field, including pharmaceuticals and biologics, diagnostic testing methods/apparatus, and treatment methods.  Travis’s practice also includes a large focus on novel plant varieties in the agriculture, horticulture, and cannabis/hemp industries, including procuring patent and trademark protection for novel varieties and monetizing those IP rights through licensing. His efforts in IP counseling in procurement in the cannabis and hemp space have allowed Travis to be ranked as a “Band 1” attorney in the area of Cannabis Law by Chambers USA.

Whether counseling clients on the most advantageous intellectual property avenues to pursue for a particular technology or counseling clients on the most practical ways to avoid or overcome the intellectual property of competitors, Travis strives to assist his clients from the planning stages all the way through execution to make sure his clients are getting the most out of their intellectual property assets.

Prior to entering the legal profession, Travis earned both a bachelor of science degree and a Ph.D. in animal science from the University of Delaware, with course work and research that focused on animal and plant genetics, molecular immunology, biotechnology, and bioinformatics. His Ph.D. dissertation addressed gene expression in avian macrophage cells using EST libraries and DNA microarrays, and he also participated in research projects that involved diagnostic testing, pathogen identification, vaccine analysis, and cell culture. These undergraduate and graduate programs gave Travis technical experience in numerous areas of the chemical and biological arts.

In addition to his regular legal work, Travis volunteers as a pro bono child attorney for the Delaware Office of the Child Advocate.  He also serves on his neighborhood civic association and volunteers as a coach for softball, wrestling, and basketball for a local youth club. In his spare time, he is an avid gardener and he also enjoys making hard cider from locally sourced sweet apple cider.

Memberships

• CIOPORA (International Community of Breeders of Asexually Reproduced Horticultural Plant Varieties), member and frequent educator, 2014 – present
• AmericanHort, member and frequent educator, 2017 – present

Articles & Presentations

Plant IP 101: Options for Protecting Novel Plant Varieties Using Various Federal IP Rights // December 23, 2020
In this webinar we will examine all of these types of protection and their interplay with each other and with other forms of protection, such as trademarks and licenses. Read more

Panitch Schwarze Partner to Present at The Cannabis Law Institute’s Virtual Conference // October 13, 2020
Panitch Schwarze partner Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D. will present at the Cannabis Law Institute’s virtual month-long conference. Bliss’s presentation will focus on genetics and bioscience. Read more

Panitch Schwarze Partner to Present at The Knowledge Group CLE // September 30, 2020
Panitch Schwarze partner Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D. will present at The Knowledge Group’s virtual event on “The U.S. Cannabis Industry: Trends, Developments, and Issues You Should Know.” Read more

Panitch Schwarze Partner and Patent Agent to Present at AmericanHort’s Cultivate’20 Virtual Conference // July 8, 2020
Panitch Schwarze partner Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D. and patent agent Stephany G. Small, Ph.D., will present at AmericanHort’s Cultivate’20 Virtual conference. The conference offers world-class education sessions, in-depth group discussions, and opportunities to forge new connections.  Read more

Panitch Schwarze Team to Discuss Hatch-Waxman Disputes in District Court and at the PTAB // June 29, 2020
Panitch Schwarze partners Travis W. Bliss, Erin M. Dunston, and Philip L. Hirschhorn and Panitch Schwarze counsel Aaron Pereira are teaming up to present a webinar for Lawline on the interplay between district court and PTAB practice, including strategic considerations and recent developments. Read more

Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss and Patent Agent Dr. Stephany G. Small to Present American Hort Webinar
Panitch Schwarze’s Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D. and Stephany G. Small, Ph.D. will present an American Hort Webinar on “Three Options for Protecting Your New Plant Cultivar – Which Are Best for You?”. Read more

Panitch Schwarze Lands Powerhouse IP Litigation and Life Sciences Group // April 10, 2020
Panitch Schwarze Belisario & Nadel has expanded its IP life sciences and litigation practices by adding a formidable group of patent litigators and prosecutors. Read more

Panitch Schwarze Attorneys to Present Webinar on Paragraph IV Litigation, IPRs, and New Settlement Risks // March 26, 2020
Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D., Erin M. Dunston and Philip L. Hirschhorn will discuss IP litigation strategies in Strafford Webinar Read more

Panitch Schwarze Adds Biotechnology and Life Science Experts to IP team // March 3, 2020
Bliss and Small bring a wealth of experience in life sciences field, including novel plant varieties Read more

Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss spoke during a panel presentation at the World Ag Expo on IP Licenses as an Additional Layer of Protection // February 12, 2020
Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss spoke during a panel presentation at the World Ag Expo on IP Licenses as an Additional Layer of Protection.  Read more

The ABCs Of CBD: 5 Big Questions Businesses Should Ask Before Entering The CBD Market // August 19, 2019
Panitch Schwarze Partner Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D. Co-Authors Article The ABCs Of CBD: 5 Big Questions Businesses Should Ask Before Entering The CBD Market Read more

Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss Spoke at the 9th Annual CannaGrow Expo // August 17, 2019
Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss spoke at the 9th annual CannaGrow Expo on IP options that are available to cannabis and hemp breeders and growers. He also participated on a panel discussion regarding genetics and breeding for cannabis and hemp. Read more

Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss Presented on Plant Variety Protection for Vegetatively Reproduced Varieties in the USA // August 15, 2019
Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss presented on Plant Variety Protection for Vegetatively Reproduced Varieties in the USA at the Ciopora Academy's Workshop on IP for Plants.  Read more

Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss and Patent Agent Dr. Stephany G. Small presented on Intellectual Property Protections for Novel Plant Varieties // July 15, 2019
Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss and Patent Agent Dr. Stephany G. Small presented on Intellectual Property Protections for Novel Plant Varieties at American Hort's Cultivate '19 Conference.  Read more

Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss Spoke on IP Options in the U.S. for Novel Ornamental and Fruit Varieties // April 24, 2019
Panitch Schwarze Partner Dr. Travis W. Bliss spoke on IP Options in the U.S. for novel ornamental and fruit varieties at the CIOPORA 2019 Annual General Meeting.    Read more

Have a Great Cannabis Idea? Here's How and Why to Apply for a Patent // April 4, 2019
Partner Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D. was interviewed and quoted in an article on how and why to apply for a patent in the cannabis industry.  Read more

Farm Bill Brings IP Options For Breeders Of New Plants // January 8, 2019
Partner Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D. and Patent Agent Stephany G. Small, Ph.D. Co-author “Farm Bill Brings IP Options For Breeders Of New Plants" in Law360.  Read more

In the Realm of Protection Against Enforcement of the CSA Against Cannabis Businesses, All Is Not Lost! // January 11, 2018
Partner Travis W. Bliss, Ph.D authored "In the Realm of Protection Against Enforcement of the CSA Against Cannabis Businesses, All is Not Lost!," which was published on LinkedIn. Read more

Honors & Awards

• Ranked Band 1 in Cannabis Law, Chambers USA, 2019
• David B. Brown Pro Bono Service Award from Potter Anderson & Corroon LLP, 2011

Get To Know

Travis serves as president of his neighborhood civic association and volunteers as a coach for softball, wrestling, basketball and soccer for a local youth club. In his spare time, he is an avid gardener, growing vegetables and fruits. He also enjoys making hard cider from locally sourced apple cider.