|
Andrea Reister chairs the firm’s Patent Reexamination, Prosecution, and Advisory Practice, and regularly advises clients on patentability, validity, and infringement issues, as well as on patent due diligence issues for acquisitions and transactions. Her advisory practice encompasses Hatch-Waxman pre-litigation audits, worldwide portfolio development and management, including strategic advice for offensive and defensive patent procurement, and competitor landscape evaluation. She has successfully briefed and argued numerous appeals before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. As leader of the firm’s patent reexamination practice, she has handled both ex parte and inter partes proceedings, the latter often in conjunction with multi-party district court litigation. Ms. Reister has represented clients in litigation matters involving computer and communications technologies, including Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), wireless and ADSL, pharmaceutical formulations, hydrostatic transaxles, and footwear. She has represented clients in district court jury trials, Hatch-Waxman ANDA litigation, and in ITC proceedings. In addition to being registered to practice before the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office, Ms. Reister is admitted to the Supreme Court of the United States, the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, and the District Court for the District of Columbia. Prior to attending law school, Ms. Reister was the Chief Engineer at the Naval Undersea Warfare Engineering Station, responsible for undersea weapons testing. During this time, she developed a remote-controlled submarine target, worked on robotic systems for torpedo recovery, and earned the Meritorious Civilian Service Medal. Ms. Reister served as a Lieutenant Commander in the United States Naval Reserve, and qualified as an Engineering Duty Officer.
Representative Matters
- Representation of Alkermes, Inc., the top patent owner of Orange Book listed patents in reexamination, in the ex parte reexamination proceedings and worldwide opposition proceedings initiated by competitors. Six of the seven patents successfully emerged from reexamination and remain listable for the VIVITROL® and RISPERDAL® CONSTA® products. We also represent Alkermes in worldwide prosecution of patents directed to the BYDUREON™ product (exenatide for extended-release injectable suspension), a new drug formulation for the treatment of Type 2 diabetes.
- Representation of Trend Micro Incorporated as patentee before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in ex parte reexamination proceedings relating to two patents directed to anti-virus technology. Trend Micro and third-party requester Fortinet are currently involved in state court litigation in which the validity of the patents is at issue. On June 21, 2011, the patent office issued a Notice of Intent to issue a Reexamination Certificate for one of the patents. The second proceeding remains pending.
- Representation of the New York Times as third party requester in reexamination proceedings for three patents owned by Helferich Patent Licensing, LLC. All of the requests have been granted, and final rejections have issued in two of the proceedings.
- Representation of Nycomed US Inc. as third party requester in ex parte and inter partes reexamination proceedings for patents owned by GlycoBiosciences, Inc. The patents, directed to topical gel compositions, are the subject of co-pending patent litigation, in which Covington represents Nycomed US Inc.
- Representation of Verizon Services Corp. as third party requester in inter partes reexamination proceedings for two patents owned by TiVo.
- Representation of Verizon Communications Inc. as patent owner in four ex parte reexamination proceedings.
- Representation of Fujitsu Limited as patent owner in ex parte reexamination proceeding for a patent related to card type input/output interface devices. The patent is the subject of co-pending patent litigation, in which Covington represents Fujitsu Limited.
- Representation of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. ("Samsung") in inter partes reexamination proceedings for a patent related to LCD color technology. Genoa Color Technologies Ltd. ("Genoa"), the original owner of the patent, sued Samsung for infringement. Samsung requested inter partes reexamination of the patent, and the Right of Appeal notice that issued in May upheld the final rejection of all claims of the patent on a plethora of grounds. Subsequent to the Right of Appeal Notice, the parties settled the litigation.
- Representation of Verizon Long Distance LLC as a third-party requester before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in inter partes reexamination proceedings relating to two patents directed to Voice over Internet Protocol (“VoIP”) technology. Shortly after a Right of Appeal Notice issued in one of the proceedings, the corresponding district court litigation against Verizon was dismissed with prejudice, resulting in a favorable settlement for Verizon.
- Advising a digital camera manufacturer regarding reexamination proceedings in the context of a district court litigation and an International Trade Commission investigation.
- Advising a large television manufacturer regarding inter partes reexamination proceedings in the context of a multi-defendant district court litigation.
- Advising a large software company regarding reexamination proceedings in the context of a district court litigation.
- Representation of Microsoft in a patent infringement litigation. Obtained a summary judgment of no infringement, and judgment was affirmed on appeal by the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.
- Representation of Procter & Gamble in patent due diligence regarding a transaction with Inverness Medical Innovations to form the joint venture company, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, a leading provider of home diagnostic and monitoring products.
Honors and Rankings
- Meritorious Civilian Service Medal, Department of the Navy
Memberships and Affiliations
- Women’s Bar Association of the District of Columbia
- GAYLAW
Publications and Speeches
|
|