Carol’s 25 plus years advising a gamut of clients on complex life sciences patent issues, combined with direct experience in an extensive range of US and foreign post-grant proceedings, provide clients a unique resource to guide them through all phases of building global patent portfolios and navigating third party patent landscapes.

Carol has shepherded companies at all development stages—from initial financing to merger, acquisition, or IPO—with a pragmatic eye on the expectations of investors and collaborators. As a BF&F co-founder, Carol has a good sense of the pressures clients face when growing a life sciences company.

“I find it immensely rewarding to work closely with company leaders and scientists to understand both the technology and the business development strategy, then from that craft a strategic position that’s in sync with the company’s needs. For companies whose only asset is their IP position, it can be vitally important to be at the ready to confidently present a vision of existing and future assets—as well as a risk mitigation strategy—to potential investors and collaborators. And that vision must make sense.”

Carol’s experience in deconvoluting complex patent landscapes aids clients in understanding the scope and value of patent portfolios, identify viable IP opportunities, and assess risk.

“I find it oddly satisfying to make order out of chaos. When I can give a client a clear picture of a confusing gnarl of claims, their business strategy can move forward with increased confidence.”

Carol is also no stranger to complex, global patent portfolios with multiple adverse proceedings running in parallel in multiple jurisdictions. Specifically, Carol led the US prosecution efforts, and coordinated ex-US counsel, for a massive patent portfolio in the CRISPR gene editing field—the work of Nobel laureates.

“I’ve witnessed first-hand the importance of having an agile and exceedingly technically savvy team within BF&F and regular, clear communication and consultation with stakeholders’ counsel. It is also impossible to understate the importance of seamless incorporation of foreign counsel as part of the larger team in defense of our clients’ patents in important jurisdictions such as Europe, Japan, and China.”

Of all her skills she’s developed and honed, Carol places highest value on what may seem the simplest:

“Listen. Actively listen. Ask questions. Don’t assume you already know. Be responsive so the client isn’t chasing you. And, finally, be part of a team—both internally with those at BF&F and externally with the client.”