ARC CCeMMP – FB Rice IP Seminar

Our educational partner, FB Rice, is holding an online seminar to discuss intellectual property. 

This seminar will arm researchers with a comprehensive understanding of the various forms of IP protection, particularly as they relate to research and development in the life sciences. With a focus on patents, this seminar will delve into (i) the requirements to obtain a granted patent, (ii) the patenting process, (iii) timing academic publications with a patent application filing, (iv) preparing experimental data to support a patent application, (v) a consideration of trade secrets, and (vi) who is an inventor and who is an owner. This seminar will conclude with a discussion on the value of patents, and how they can be used to facilitate commercialisation of research and development in the life sciences.

The presenters

Dr. Brittany Ashton is a Senior Associate in FB Rice’s Melbourne chemistry team.

Brittany has experience handling extensive patent portfolios for local clients, multinational pharmaceutical and chemical companies, and universities. She provides a comprehensive range of patent services, including the drafting of patent applications and their prosecution, opposition as both the applicant and opponent, re-examination procedures, pharmaceutical patent term extension, infringement and validity opinions, and freedom to operate analyses.

Prior to joining the intellectual property profession in 2014, Brittany undertook a visiting Postdoctoral Fellow with the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in the United States. She holds a PhD in medicinal chemistry from the Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (MIPS). Brittany has also undertaken research at the Burnet Institute and the Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research.

Brittany is a member and past Secretary of the RACI Victorian Committee, provides regular IP-related seminars at local universities, and is a regular contributor to Chemistry in Australia and a number of IP blogs, journals and magazines.

Brittany was awarded Best IP Specialist at the Client Choice Awards 2021, acknowledged by MIP IP STARS as a Notable Practitioner in 2020, and an MIP Rising Star in 2019.

Dr. Declan McKeveney is a Partner at FB Rice and has a PhD in chemistry and research experience in the fields of organic, biological and medicinal chemistry and pharmacology, with particular expertise during his PhD in the design, synthesis and screening of combinatorial compound libraries. Declan practices in all areas of chemistry, with a focus on pharmaceutical compounds and drug technologies.

Declan has assisted many clients with the construction and ongoing management of local and international patent portfolios with an eye to adding value to his client’s businesses and ensuring alignment of their intellectual property (IP) strategy with the broader business objectives. This means Declan places a great deal of focus on not just getting to understand his client’s innovative technologies, but also their business as a whole and then advising on an appropriate ‘whole-of-business’ IP strategy. Declan’s depth of knowledge in IP is assisted in this regard by his experience graduating from the Company Director’s Course, provided by the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD), ensuring Declan has a sound understanding of business concerns and the level of support required by executives and board members of their IP advisors.

Declan devotes a significant amount of time to the preparation and filing of new patent applications for local clients and managing the prosecution of the ensuing portfolio in key international jurisdictions including the U.S., Europe, China, and Japan, as well as Australia. His clients also benefit from advice around protection strategies, freedom to operate and validity issues.

Declan is a supporter of local innovation, particularly in the biotech sector and this extends to his role as Chair of AusBiotech’s IP Advisory Group which provides expertise on IP issues in relation to medical devices and diagnostics, pharmaceuticals and therapeutics.

Prior to joining the patent attorney profession, Declan worked as a research scientist for a Brisbane-based biotechnology company in lead compound library synthesis employing carbohydrate scaffolds. Declan is committed to the on-going education and development of emerging attorneys and STEM graduates. He is an Industry Mentoring Network in STEM (IMNIS) mentor, has presented seminars and workshops for undergraduate and postgraduate students, and taught in the Queensland University of Technology Master of Laws in IP course in collaboration with the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

About FB Rice

FB Rice is a top tier leading Australian Intellectual Property firm. The firm works with a diverse range of domestic and international clients including manufacturers, software companies, universities, hospitals, co-operative research centres and research institutes. FB Rice is the recipient of 15 Australian Client Choice Awards, including being named Best Specialist IP Firm seven years running, Best Client Experience Firm for Specialist IP since 2021, and Most Innovative Specialist IP & Related Services Firm since 2022.

Who can attend?

This is a closed opportunity for CCeMMP members and affiliates only. The Zoom video conferencing link will be provided upon registration.

Please direct queries to Dr. Jackie How (ccemmp@monash.edu).