Julia J. Busono, a student at Seattle University School of Law, was recently awarded Seed IP Law Group’s annual Founders Scholarship. In 2003, Seed IP created two scholarships to honor its founders, Richard W. Seed and Benjamin J. Berry. Seed IP Founders Scholarships are given annually to students at the University of Washington and Seattle University Schools of Law. Seed IP seeks to annually recognize outstanding students who have a keen interest in the field of intellectual property law and who also have an undergraduate degree that qualifies him/her to sit for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Patent Bar Exam. “We think it’s very important to train the next generation of intellectual property attorneys so that we can continue to build on the legacy started by Ben Berry and Dick Seed,” said Karl R. Hermanns, Seed IP’s Managing Partner. “Only through strong support of higher education will our country continue to be a leader in the world.”

Seed IP Law Group PLLC recently hosted a well-received cocktail reception for clients and associates attending the 131st Annual Meeting of the International Trademark Association (INTA), which took place in Seattle on May 16 - 20, 2009. Over 9000 attendees, from all corners of the world, attend INTA’s Annual Meeting each year. The opportunities for networking, education, and professional development during this conference are plentiful - enabling trademark professionals to stay completely current on trademark issues, concerns, and developments. Four hundred clients, foreign associates, and INTA participants attended Seed IP’s reception at their offices in the Columbia Center, where they enjoyed the spectacular views of Seattle and Mount Rainier, along with specialty Northwestern food and drinks.

Intellectual Property Today magazine has ranked Seed IP Law Group at #67 in its annual “Top Trademark Firms” survey. The data for the survey is collected nationwide. Firms are ranked according to the number of trademark registrations issued in 2008 where the firm or individual is listed as the legal representative on the registration. Seed IP issued 297 trademark registrations in 2008.

Christopher L. Kuyper, a student at University of Washington School of Law, was recently awarded Seed IP’s annual Founders Scholarship. In 2003, Seed IP created two scholarships to honor its founders, Richard W. Seed and Benjamin J. Berry. Seed IP Founders Scholarships are given annually to students at the University of Washington and Seattle University Schools of Law. “We think it’s very important to train the next generation of intellectual property attorneys so that we can continue to build on the legacy started by Ben Berry and Dick Seed,” said Karl R. Hermanns, Seed IP’s Managing Partner. “Only through strong support of higher education will our country continue to be a leader in the world.” (View image using PDF link below.)

Seed IP Law Group partners William O. Ferron, Jr., Karl R. Hermanns, and Richard G. Sharkey have each been chosen as being amongst the best lawyers in America by The Best Lawyers in America, the oldest and most respected peer-review publication in the legal profession. An annually published referral guide, The Best Lawyers in America is based on more than 2.5 million detailed evaluations of lawyers by other lawyers. Mr. Ferron has received this honor annually since 1995; Mr. Hermanns and Mr. Sharkey both since 2005.

Intellectual Property Today magazine has ranked Seed IP Law Group at #68 in its annual “Top Patent Firms” survey. The data, gathered from reporting nationwide firms, is based upon the total amount of United States patents issued in 2008 where the law firm, or member of the firm (i.e. partner/associate), is listed as the legal representative for the issued patent. Seed IP issued 387 patents in 2008. Seed IP has consistently been among the Top 100 in this annual survey.

Carol D. Laherty and Mae Joanne Rosok became equity partners of Seed IP Law Group effective January 1, 2009. Carol and Mae both specialize in U.S. and foreign biotechnology intellectual property matters, including patent procurement, licensing, and strategic planning. Carol earned both a B.S. in Biology and Economics and a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology from the University of Michigan. She holds a J.D. (cum laude) from the University of Washington. Mae Joanne received a B.A. in Microbiology (magna cum laude) and a M.S. in Chemistry (biochemistry thesis) from the University of Montana. She holds a J.D. from Seattle University School of Law (magna cum laude) where she served as a Research and Technical Editor on the Seattle University Law Review.

Seed IP associate attorneys Carol D. Laherty, Qing (Becky) Lin, Mae Joanne Rosok and Emily Woodson Wagner have been selected as 2009 “Rising Stars” by Washington Law & Politics magazine. All “Rising Stars” are nominated and selected by the most recent “Super Lawyer” honorees. A “Rising Star” designation is a distinguished accolade that is bestowed upon those attorneys who have either been in practice for less than 10 years or are under the age of 40.

The firm’s Electrical Engineering & Computer Science Group has recently welcomed Hayley J. Stevens as a new associate attorney. Hayley received a B.S. (cum laude) in Electrical Engineering, with an emphasis in digital design, from the University of Florida. She was awarded her J.D. from Willamette University College of Law.

Principal Attorney Richard G. Sharkey, Ph.D., of Seed IP’s Biotechnology and Chemistry Group, is featured in the September issue of IP Law & Business magazine as one of the “Best Lawyers in Biotechnology” for 2008. This annual list is a showcase exclusively for lawyers, each of whom has been selected by their peers within the same industry. IP Law & Business is a monthly magazine for the intellectual property community that addresses vital issues for practitioners at law firms and corporations. While Dr. Sharkey is honored to be selected for inclusion as one of the “Best Lawyers in Biotechnology”, he quickly states “... it is really a tribute to a team of people at Seed IP Law Group as a whole and to the Biotechnology and Chemistry Practice Group in particular. They are dedicated to providing quality IP services in a creative and supportive environment. Thanks to all.” We proudly congratulate Dr. Sharkey on receiving this distinguished accolade.