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Dr. Stephany G. Small focuses her practice on acquiring and preserving intellectual property rights in all areas of life science, including biologics, pharmaceuticals, treatment/diagnostic methods, novel plant varieties, and transgenic plants. Her practice involves procurement of patents through prosecution before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and foreign jurisdictions and also involves litigation matters including proceedings before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB)

Dr. Stephany G. Small works with clients ranging from large life science companies to individual inventors to protect their valued intellectual property. Her in-house experience coupled with her extensive life science research background equips her to provide clients with technical expertise and comprehensive strategy guidance. 

With a Ph.D. in cellular and microbial biology from The Catholic University of America, Stephany focuses her practice on the life sciences fields, including biologics, pharmaceuticals, treatment methods, novel plant varieties, transgenic plants, and diagnostic testing methods/apparatus. With more than seven years of life science research experience, particularly into genetics and molecular biology, along with extensive course work, Stephany is well versed in the biological and chemical arts. 

Before moving into private practice, Stephany gained valuable experience working in-house at a biopharmaceutical corporation that developed therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. Her work highlighted the important relationship between intellectual property and business development, marketing, and regulation. 

Stephany prepares and prosecutes U.S. and foreign patent applications for inventions related to all aspects of life science. She is involved in FDA Orange Book submissions and Patent Term Extension Applications, and also assists clients with preparing opinions relating to patentability and freedom to operate. Stephany collaborates in patent interferences and inter partes review proceedings before the U.S. Patent Office’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). 

Stephany provides her clients with sophisticated strategies rooted in scientific analysis for obtaining and preserving intellectual property. Her scientific knowledge and experience, along with her proven abilities in communicating science to diverse audiences, help her to help her clients accomplish their goals. 

Stephany’s representative interference experience includes:
  • Andersen v. Wan, Patent Interference No. 106,002, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • Broad Institute, Inc., et al. v. Regents of the Univ. of Calif., et al., Patent Interference No. 106,048 (Patent Interference relating to CRISPR-CAS9 gene editing technology before USPTO PTAB) 
Stephany’s representative IPR experience includes:
  • Transgene and BioInvent International AB v. Replimune Limited, PGR2022-00014
  • Varian Medical Systems, Inc. v. Best Medical International, Inc., IPR2020-00053 
  • Varian Medical Systems, Inc. v. Best Medical International, Inc., IPR2020-00076 
  • Varian Medical Systems, Inc. v. Best Medical International, Inc., IPR2020-00077 
  • Elekta Inc. v. Best Medical International, Inc., IPR2020-00067 
  • Elekta Inc. v. Best Medical International, Inc., IPR2020-00073 
  • 3Shape A/S et al. v. Align Technology, Inc., IPR2019-00154, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • 3Shape A/S et al. v. Align Technology, Inc., IPR2019-00155, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • 3Shape A/S et al. v. Align Technology, Inc., IPR2019-00156, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • 3Shape A/S et al. v. Align Technology, Inc., IPR2019-00157, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • 3Shape A/S et al. v. Align Technology, Inc., IPR2019-00159, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • 3Shape A/S et al. v. Align Technology, Inc., IPR2019-00160, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • 3Shape A/S et al. v. Align Technology, Inc., IPR2019-00163, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • Google LLC et al. v. Space Data Corporation, IPR2018-00944, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • Google LLC et al. v. Space Data Corporation, IPR2018-00945, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • Google LLC et al. v. Space Data Corporation, IPR2018-00946, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • Google LLC et al. v. Space Data Corporation, IPR2018-00947, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • Align Technology, Inc. v. 3Shape A/S, IPR2018-0195, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • Align Technology, Inc. v. 3Shape A/S, IPR2018-0196, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • Align Technology, Inc. v. 3Shape A/S, IPR2018-0197, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 
  • Align Technology, Inc. v. 3Shape A/S, IPR2018-0198, USPTO Patent Trial and Appeal Board 

When not at work, Stephany enjoys cycling with her husband and two children. To raise funds for charity, she and her husband once biked from New York City to Washington, D.C. over the course of five days, and she also has cycled in a century (100-mile) ride. 

Stephany G. Small biking with a man

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Panitch Schwarze commits the time to listen to and evaluate each client’s unique needs so we can advise on the best forms of IP protection.