Attorney Profile

Karen Himmel Ohlfest is an associate practicing in the areas of biotechnology, molecular biology, and pharmaceutical patent prosecution. Karen completed her undergraduate degree in Zoology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1993 and her Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics at the University of Minnesota in 2002. Her thesis research focused on the use of murine insertional mutagenesis for cancer gene discovery and on the characterization of a protein involved in signal transduction pathways implicated in oncogenesis. Karen also worked as an Associate Research Specialist at the University of Wisconsin Laboratory of Molecular Biology, studying a yeast DNA/RNA helicase involved in RNA processing. She completed her law degree at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2005. During law school, she was Director of the Intellectual Property Student Organization (2003-2004). She is licensed to practice law in Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Areas of Practice:

• Biotechnology
• Molecular Biology
• Pharmaceutical

Bar Admissions:

• Minnesota
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Education:

• University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 2005
  • J.D.
• University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 2002
  • Ph.D.
  • Major: Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics
• University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI, 1993
  • B.S.
  • Major: Zoology

Professional Associations and Memberships:

• American Intellectual Property Law Association
  • Member
• Minnesota Intellectual Propety Law Association
• Association of University Technology Managers

Past Employment Positions:

• University of Wisconsin Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Associate Research Specialist, 1994 - 1997