Deirdre E. Sanders

Deirdre E. Sanders is a Principal of the firm and has dedicated her legal career to guiding biotechnology companies and university biotechnology centers through the development, management, and protection of intellectual property rights. The success of her patent practice is fueled by the balance of her patent prosecution specialty and her intellectual property litigation and enforcement experience.

Deirdre’s practice is focused in the field of biotechnology with a particular emphasis in the areas of biologics including antibody-based therapeutics, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, genetic diagnostics, protein-based sensors, and drug discovery and development. She assists clients with the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent and trademark applications, as well as European Supplementary Protection Certificates for pharmaceuticals; drafts legal opinions regarding infringement, validity, and freedom to operate; conducts intellectual property due diligence studies; and drafts intellectual property license agreements.

Clients benefit from Deirdre’s experience involving contested matters, including patent office interferences, foreign patent oppositions, arbitration proceedings, and intellectual property litigation before federal courts in Texas, New York and California, as well as the District Court of the Hague related to issues of patent infringement and validity, trademark infringement and cancellation, intellectual property license agreements, and officer tort liability.

Deirdre demonstrates expertise at the intersection of science, law, and business. She is Chair for the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Venture Forum, co-chairs the Boston Patent Law Association’s International and Foreign Practice Committee, serves as a judge for the Smaller Business Association of New England Annual Business Innovators competition, and is a consistent participant in and supporter of the Women Entrepreneurs in Science and Technology (WEST).

Deirdre received her Juris Doctor degree from Boston College Law School, where she worked for the ABA Committee on Rules of Practice and Procedure, United States Judicial Conference.

Publications

• New Challenges and New Opportunities in Enforcing Method of Treatment Claims, July 2011
• How the New Multi-Party Patent Infringement Rulings Will Affect Pharmaceutical Treatment Claims , July 25, 2011
• New Patent Suit Explosion: False Patent Marking Claims, March 2010
• New Patent Suit Explosion: False Patent Marking Claims, March 2010
• Significant Changes in European and Chinese Patent Law: What You Need to Know, November 2009
• Patent Suits − Massachusetts In, Texas Out, January 2009
• Supreme Court Removes Barrier To Attack On Licensed Patent, MedImmune, Inc. v. Genentech, Inc., January 2007

Professional Associations

• Chair, Worcester Polytechnic Institute Venture Forum
• Boston Patent Law Association, Chair, International Law Committee

Bar Admissions

• Massachusetts
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
• U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts
• U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit