Schwegman Lawyers Share IP Strategies at MD&M Conference
If you want to learn about the newest developments in medical technology, the MD&M Minneapolis conference is a great place to be. This year’s attendees also had the option to learn about IP strategies. Schwegman attorney Lea Westman and Schwegman principal Douglas Portnow spoke at the conference’s Tech Theater on October 23. Their presentation gave an overview of IP for executives and entrepreneurs in the medtech industry. “We covered what kinds of things you want to be aware of as you’re developing your product,” Lea explains. “Especially for start-ups, the idea you have can be the most valuable part of your business.”
MD&M stands for Medical Design & Manufacturing. “The MD&M conference is very relevant to engineers, entrepreneurs and people from the corporate side,” Lea describes. Taking place in the Minneapolis Convention Center, this was the twenty-fifth year of the conference. Doug Portnow explains, “The Tech Theater was a secondary venue and not the main stage, but we had a good turnout. The audience was engaged and asked good questions. Lea came on like gangbusters and did a great job.”
The presentation, entitled “Medical Device IP Strategies for Executives and Inventors,” discussed topics such as patentability, IP ownership and freedom-to-operate. This was the first year Schwegman has presented at MD&M. Schwegman is also considering making presentations at upcoming MD&M conferences in San Jose and Anaheim.
Prior to law school, Lea Westman earned her B.S. in chemistry from Pepperdine University. Her practice at Schwegman includes patent preparation and prosecution, freedom-to-operate analysis, and clearance opinions, primarily in materials science, chemical engineering, and biotechnology.
Doug Portnow’s practice focuses on patent preparation and prosecution, IP due diligence and strategic counseling in the medical device and mechanical technologies. Before entering the legal profession, Doug worked for over a decade in the medical device industry. He held engineering and management positions at start-ups and publicly traded companies.
Lea and Doug are part of Schwegman’s medical device team. Click here to learn more about this team.
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