Heidi S. Nebel and Jill N. Link participating in the ASTA Intellectual Property Rights Committee MeetingJanuary 14, 2021

Heidi S. Nebel, MVS Managing Member and Chair, Biotechnology and Chemical Practice Group and Jill N. Link, Member and Chair, MVS Licensing Practice Group are participating in the ASTA (American Seed Trade Association) Intellectual Property Rights Committee Meeting today. The committee develops and recommends policy positions on matters related to intellectual property protection at the domestic and international levels. They work with the U.S. Plant Variety Protection Office, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and other parties regarding rules and procedures related to the administration of the U.S. Plant Variety Protection and Patent Acts. At a global level, the committee also advises ASTA representatives to the International Seed Federation’s (ISF) Intellectual Property Committee, as well as the International Union for the Protection of New Plant Varieties (UPOV), and International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture.

Heidi has been an IP attorney for over 25 years, obtaining patents and designing IP strategy in the areas of agricultural biotechnology, plants, and animals. Heidi also enjoys being an advocate of biotechnology, speaking around the country on important issues in the field. Her practice includes representation of more than 30 different universities and research foundations across the country, as well as many Agribusiness companies. Heidi serves on the AUTM Board of Directors and is a member of the Plant Special Interest Group. She is currently serving a second term on the USDA PVP (Plant Variety Protection) Advisory Board having been appointed by the United States Secretary of Agriculture. In addition, Heidi has presented at various SIPA (Seed Innovation & Protection Alliance) events.

As Chairwoman of the MVS Licensing Practice Group, Jill’s role includes complex licensing, collaborations and other transfers and sales of property to help clients monetize innovations. Her licensing experience spans across various technologies, with an emphasis in agriculture. She has over a decade of experience working with multi-national companies, start-ups, joint ventures, and numerous universities throughout the country. Jill’s experience includes both domestic and cross-border transactions.

Heidi and Jill often collaborate in representing clients to provide cohesive representation throughout the life cycle of IP assets, including plant germplasm and other types of agricultural biotechnology innovations, from the innovation and protection to the monetizing of the assets.