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Home - Merchant & Gould P.C.

The intellectual property attorneys in Merchant &amp; Gould’s Pharmaceutical, Chemical &amp; Life Sciences Group are capable of addressing your legally and/or technologically complex issues.

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As a group, we provide the highest quality intellectual property (IP) services related to pharmaceuticals, industrial chemistry, biotechnology, materials science, and related disciplines.

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Service Based on Legal, Business &amp; Technical Experience

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Our clients entrust us to handle their complex IP needs because of our legal, business, and technical experience.

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Our group has extensive experience in the following areas:

Patenting: Preparing and prosecuting national and international applications

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Opining: Opinions related to patentability, non-infringement, and invalidity

Counseling: Due diligence, patent evaluation, and freedom-to-operate determinations

Litigating: Hatch-Waxman cases and post-grant proceedings, including inter partes reviews

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We also have extensive experience in transactional matters, including agreements related to licensing, settlement, and joint research. Our clients rely on our knowledge related to pharmaceutical and FDA law to develop and market products in the United States.

We recognize that successfully navigating the complex patent landscape requires understanding the risks and benefits of our clients’ businesses. We take time to understand our clients to better understand the environments in which they make decisions. This approach helps us advise our clients and be more complete partners in their businesses.

We have technical experience in the following areas: biochemistry, biology, chemistry, chemical engineering, electrochemistry, genetics, medicine, pharmacology, among others. This experience is based on undergraduate and/or graduate degrees, as well as careers in industry.

The combined legal, business, and technical experience enables our group to devise strategies that serve our clients’ business goals. We implement creative solutions to address complex problems.

At Merchant &amp; Gould, we serve numerous clients from diverse technological areas, including:

<a href="/Industries/Food-Beverage">Food and beverage</a>

<a href="/Industries/Medical-Devices">Medical devices and diagnostics </a>

<a href="http://Pharmaceuticals">Ph</a><a href="https://www.merchantgould.com/industries/pharmaceuticals/">armaceuticals</a>

Atlanta

Partner

Jeffrey D. Blake

Washington, D.C. Area

Of Counsel

B. Jefferson Boggs

Minneapolis

Associate

Bridget Greene

Eric R. Chad

Denver

Kelsey K. Covert, P.E.

Dennis R. Daley

Joseph W. Dubis, Ph.D.

Michael A. Erbele

Daniel R. Evans, Ph.D.

Ryan J. Fletcher, Ph.D.

Kristen M. Souther

New York

Peter A. Gergely

E. Joseph Gess

Joshua  A. Hartman

Melissa M. Hayworth

Thomas R. Johnson

Jeffrey D. Klenc, Ph.D.

Patent Agent

Heather  B. Kroona, Ph.D.

Andrew O. Larsen, Ph.D.

George C. Lewis, P.E.

Paralegal

Donna L. Lizama

Anneliese  S. Mayer

Elisabeth “Bette”  S. Muirhead

Senior Counsel

Tarik M. Nabi, Ph.D.

Todd J. Obijeski

Peter S. Selness

Christopher  J. Sorenson

Sophia I. Vogeler

Jason M. Wiener

Payton Li Remick

Alana L. LeFebvre

Heather S. Chatterton

Daniel J. Pereira, Ph.D.

Katherine F. K. Mares

Alexander E. Zumbulyadis

Lea E. Westman

Ava L. Blake

Jenna L. Logsdon, Ph.D.

Joanna Garelick Goldstein

Min Ji Suh

Boston

Christopher Lacenere, Ph.D.

Daidre Burgess

Jack Smith, Ph.D.

Technical Advisor

Claire E. Schmit, Ph.D.

<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Five new hires bring decades of experience, leadership and innovation</h2>



Merchant &amp; Gould welcomes Daniel J. Pereira, Ph.D., John S. Kern, Eric W. Schweibenz, and Donald R. McPhail, as Partners and Alexander B. Englehart, as Of Counsel in its Washington D.C. Area office. The new additions will expand Merchant &amp; Gould’s capabilities in handling International Trade Commission (ITC) cases, complex IP litigation, post-grant proceedings, patent prosecution, and strategic IP portfolio management, as well as increase its presence in Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea.



“We are continually investing in serving our client base worldwide, and this group will deepen our bench nationally and increase our existing presence in Japan, China, Taiwan and Korea,” said Heather Kliebenstein, Managing Director and Partner at Merchant &amp; Gould. “Each of these experienced attorneys brings the right cross-culture experience and technical background that we want at Merchant &amp; Gould.”



All five hires look forward to continuing their work in the D.C. area, serving clients worldwide. Merchant &amp; Gould’s long-standing reputation for stability, creative legal solutions, collaboration and technologically advanced systems attracted the latest hires.&nbsp;



“Transitioning to Merchant &amp; Gould was the right move for us and our clients. We are excited to join such a dynamic firm that has superior technical strength, advanced internal systems and processes, extensive trial experience, and breadth of knowledge in all areas of intellectual property,” said Pereira. Dr. Pereira most recently served as the Managing Partner and previously led the Chemical Practice Group at Oblon. Mr. Kern and Mr. Schweibenz formerly led the Electrical/Mechanical and Litigation Practice Groups, respectively.



One of the oldest full-service intellectual property and trial law firms in America, Merchant &amp; Gould evolves with technology, just like its client base. Through harnessing and pioneering advanced legal solutions, they have established themselves as an indispensable partner in delivering exceptional legal guidance and service to their clients.



“When we look to add new talent to our team at Merchant &amp; Gould, we want to find people who have the right mindset — forward-thinking, collaborative and client-focused,” Kliebenstein shared. “Each of these attorneys embodies those values and will carry our firm’s legacy forward.”

Strategic Power Move: Merchant & Gould Lures Quintet of Highly-Experienced Attorneys to Supercharge DC Office and Accelerate Asia Expansion

Merchant &amp; Gould is pleased to announce that the following attorneys have been included in&nbsp;The Best Lawyers in America©&nbsp;2025.



Best Lawyers compiles lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting peer-reviewed surveys in which lawyers confidentially evaluate their colleagues. Since lawyers are not permitted to purchase their rankings or pay a fee to participate, a Best Lawyers listing is considered an unbiased honor.



Atlanta, GA



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Jeffrey D. Blake 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Patent Law</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



Minneapolis, MN



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>John A. Clifford 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Advertising Law</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Andrew S. Ehard 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Thomas R. Johnson 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Advertising Law</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Scott W. Johnston 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Heather J. Kliebenstein 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Thomas J. Leach 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Brent E. Routman 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Advertising Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Christopher J. Schulte 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>William D. Schultz 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Christopher J. Sorenson 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Anthony R. Zeuli 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Copyright Law</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Rachel Zimmerman Scobie 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



New York, NY



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Peter A. Gergely 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



Alexandria, VA



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>John S. Kern 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Daniel J. Pereira 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Eric W. Schweibenz 
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Patent Law</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Merchant & Gould Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2025 in America.

Merchant &amp; Gould is pleased to announce that the following attorneys have been included in&nbsp;The Best Lawyers in America©&nbsp;2022.



Best Lawyers&nbsp;compiles lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting peer-reviewed surveys in which lawyers confidentially evaluate their colleagues. Since lawyers are not permitted to purchase their rankings or pay a fee to participate, a&nbsp;Best Lawyers&nbsp;listing is considered an unbiased honor.



Atlanta, GA



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Jeffery D. Blake
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Patent Law</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



Minneapolis, MN



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>John A. Clifford
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Andrew S. Ehard
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Scott W. Johnston


<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property, </li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Heather J Kliebenstein
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property </li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Thomas J. Leach
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Brent E. Routman
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Advertising Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Christopher J. Schulte
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>William D. Schultz
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Christopher J. Sorenson
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Anthony R. Zeuli
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Copyright Law</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Rachel Zimmerman Scobie
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



New York, NY



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Peter A. Gergely
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Merchant & Gould Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2022 in America.

Merchant &amp; Gould is pleased to announce that the following attorneys have been included in The Best Lawyers in America© 2023.



Best Lawyers&nbsp;compiles lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting peer-reviewed surveys in which lawyers confidentially evaluate their colleagues. Since lawyers are not permitted to purchase their rankings or pay a fee to participate, a&nbsp;Best Lawyers&nbsp;listing is considered an unbiased honor.



Atlanta, GA



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Jeffery D. Blake
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Patent Law</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



Minneapolis, MN



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>John A. Clifford
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Andrew S. Ehard
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Scott W. Johnston




<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property, </li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Heather J Kliebenstein
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property </li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Thomas J. Leach
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Brent E. Routman
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Advertising Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Christopher J. Schulte
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>William D. Schultz
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Christopher J. Sorenson
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Anthony R. Zeuli
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Copyright Law</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Rachel Zimmerman Scobie
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



New York, NY



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Peter A. Gergely
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Merchant & Gould Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2023 in America.

Merchant &amp; Gould is pleased to announce that the following attorneys have been included in&nbsp;The Best Lawyers in America©&nbsp;2024.



Best Lawyers&nbsp;compiles lists of outstanding attorneys by conducting peer-reviewed surveys in which lawyers confidentially evaluate their colleagues. Since lawyers are not permitted to purchase their rankings or pay a fee to participate, a&nbsp;Best Lawyers&nbsp;listing is considered an unbiased honor.



Atlanta, GA



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Jeffery D. Blake
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Patent Law</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



Minneapolis, MN



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>John A. Clifford
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Andrew S. Ehard
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Scott W. Johnston






<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property, </li>
</ul>



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Thomas R. Johnson
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Advertising Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Heather J Kliebenstein
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property </li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Thomas J. Leach
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation- Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Brent E. Routman
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Advertising Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Christopher J. Schulte
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>William D. Schultz
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Christopher J. Sorenson
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Anthony R. Zeuli
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Copyright Law</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>



<li>Patent Law</li>



<li>Trademark Law</li>
</ul>
</li>



<li>Rachel Zimmerman Scobie
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>



New York, NY



<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Peter A. Gergely
<ul class="wp-block-list">
<li>Litigation &#8211; Intellectual Property</li>



<li>Litigation &#8211; Patent</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Merchant & Gould Attorneys Recognized by Best Lawyers® in 2024 in America.

Merchant &amp; Gould is pleased to have welcomed six associates to the firm: Gabriel Bauer, Tucker Bender, Taylor McCarty, Hannah Montgomery, Min Ji Suh, and Emily Threatt.



“These associates bring diverse scientific backgrounds and a shared passion for intellectual property law. They are excellent additions to the firm,” said Heather Kliebenstein, Managing Director. “We are excited to welcome them to the Merchant team.”



Gabriel Bauer, Minneapolis, works in the Electrical &amp; Software Practice Group. He assists clients with patent preparation and prosecution, particularly in the fields of electrical and software technologies. Gabriel received a B.A. in physics and a B.S. in international economics from the University of Minnesota, and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.



<a href="https://www.merchantgould.com/people/william-tucker-bender/">Tucker Bender</a>, Minneapolis, works in the Mechanical Practice Group. He focuses on patent prosecution and IP counseling in the mechanical and engineering sectors. Tucker earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Minnesota and a J.D. from the University of Minnesota Law School.



<a href="https://www.merchantgould.com/people/william-taylor-mccarty/">Taylor McCarty</a>, Knoxville, works in the Mechanical Practice Group. His work focuses on patent prosecution and protecting innovations across mechanical and manufacturing technologies. Taylor earned a B.S. in mechanical engineering from Tennessee Technological University and a J.D. from Lincoln Memorial University, Duncan School of Law..



<a href="https://www.merchantgould.com/people/hannah-r-montgomery/">Hannah Montgomery</a>, Denver, works in the Litigation Practice Group. She assists clients in protecting and enforcing their intellectual property rights through litigation and dispute resolution. Hannah received a B.S. in biomedical sciences and criminology &amp; law studies from Marquette University, and a J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.



<a href="https://www.merchantgould.com/people/min-ji-suh/">Min Ji Suh</a>, Alexandria, works in the Chemical &amp; Life Sciences Practice Group. She supports clients in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries with patent prosecution and portfolio management. Min Ji holds a B.A. in neuroscience and a Doctor of Pharmacy from the University of Maryland.



<a href="https://www.merchantgould.com/people/emily-a-threatt/">Emily Threatt</a>, Knoxville, works in the Electrical &amp; Software Practice Group. She focuses on patent prosecution, helping clients safeguard their innovations in electrical engineering and related technologies. Emily earned a B.S. in electrical engineering from the University of Tennessee and a J.D. from the University of Tennessee College of Law.

Merchant & Gould Welcomes Six New Associates

Merchant &amp; Gould, a premier intellectual property law firm, has opened an office in Boston, expanding the firm’s depth and breadth of experience into an important technology hub. This expansion brings a team of 13 highly regarded attorneys from the Sunstein law firm, a decades-old, well-known Boston IP boutique. The group brings substantial experience in Boston’s innovation ecosystem and further strengthens Merchant’s litigation, patent prosecution, and trademark practices.



“Boston is a natural fit for Merchant, as our strengths in life sciences and advanced technology and our 125-year history of protecting innovation are well-suited to the area’s technology, research, and venture capital communities,” said Heather Kliebenstein, Merchant’s Managing Partner. “Merchant’s presence in Boston enables closer collaboration with innovators across the region, supporting them at the earliest stages of development with a large bench of attorneys having deep technical and trial capabilities, a high degree of responsiveness, and close strategic coordination.”



The Boston office will be led by Office Managing Partner Kerry Timbers, an accomplished first-chair trial lawyer whose experience includes jury trials and arguments before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. The team also includes widely respected IP leader Bruce Sunstein and first-chair trial lawyer Lisa Tittemore. “Joining Merchant strengthens our client service by improving the breadth and depth of resources available to them,” said Sunstein. “Merchant’s deep technical bench and long history as a premier intellectual property and trial firm allow us to deliver even stronger outcomes.”



“Our decision to join Merchant was driven by a shared vision of attentive service and the opportunity to provide clients broader support,” said Timbers. “The firm’s national platform, combined with our team’s strengths, particularly in high-growth sectors such as biotechnology and software, creates a powerful synergy that benefits clients at every stage of the innovation lifecycle.”&nbsp;&nbsp;



Merchant has experienced rapid growth in the last two years, adding over 50 attorneys and professionals, doubling the size of its Washington, D.C. office, and opening an office in Los Angeles. As one of the largest law firms in the nation dedicated exclusively to intellectual property, Merchant has a deep bench of attorneys, patent agents, scientists, and other professionals who handle some of the most complex IP challenges facing companies worldwide.

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