Protecting Software as a Medical Device: Patents, Design Patents, and Trade Secrets

Ms. Harris focuses her practice on intellectual property litigation, including patent litigation and licensing disputes; and IP counseling and transactions, including licensing, portfolio management and counseling, and diligence. She is experienced at representing clients in large-scale complex patent and intellectual property litigation, including in international arbitration and federal district courts across the country. Ms. Harris’ client work spans a variety of industries and technologies, including medical device manufacturers, universities and research institutions, semiconductor processing, surgical methods, consumer products, and networking technology. Her work also extends to the unique IP issues facing inventors and companies in start-up and research communities. 

Mr. McBride’s practice focuses primarily on the litigation and trial of patent and complex technology cases in federal courts and before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board, and reexamination proceedings before the Patent Office. He has a proven ability to help clients procure or acquire valuable intellectual property to protect their business, reach advantageous arrangements for solving intellectual property disputes where appropriate, and aggressively litigate patents when necessary.

Mr. Phelan is a registered patent attorney who counsels and works with clients in all areas of intellectual property, with a focus on patents. He routinely helps clients with preparing and prosecuting high-quality patent applications, and developing strategic patent portfolios for innovative products and services, including in the U.S. and foreign jurisdictions (e.g., Europe, China, and Japan); preparing legal opinions as to the patentability, non-infringement, validity, and/or freedom-to-operate of innovative products or services; and litigating IP related issues to protect client market share from competitors and defend clients from IP lawsuits against competitors or non-practicing patent entities. As a former technology consultant with Accenture and with a background in computer science and engineering, Mr. Phelan has extensive experience in computer system, hardware, and software design, engineering, development and related technologies. He is also an adjunct professor at Northwestern University’s Pritzker School of Law where he teaches coursework on patenting software inventions.