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Jill N. Link, Pharm.D.

Jill is a member of the Firm’s Management Committee and prioritizes client service tailored to each person or entity’s specific needs. Jill practices within the Biotechnology/Chemical Practice Group as well as the Licensing Practice Group. Jill’s practice includes all areas of intellectual property, with an emphasis on drafting and prosecuting patent applications. Jill has depth of experience in preparation and filing of U. S. patent applications in the chemical and life sciences areas, and her practice extends to U. S. and international patent management. She is attorney supervisor of the Firm’s International Department and serves as a liaison between foreign counsel and the Firm.

Much of Jill’s patent prosecution work is in the fields of water, hygiene and energy-related technologies to provide chemical products for food service, food processing, healthcare, industrial, and oil and gas markets. Jill also works with numerous universities throughout the country to protect chemical and life science technologies, including small molecules, drug targets and other innovations. Jill’s practice also includes complex licensing, collaborations and other transfers and sales of property to help clients monetize innovations. Jill’s licensing experience spans across various technologies, with an emphasis in agriculture. She has well over a decade of experience working with multi-national companies, start-ups, joint ventures, and numerous universities. Her experience includes both domestic and cross-border transactions as well as managing IP diligence during transactions. Jill is the Chairwoman of the Firm’s Licensing Practice Group.

Jill is actively involved in organizations relating to her practice to stay up-to-date with the latest in technology and trends. Organizations include the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), the American Chemical Society (ACS), the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the Polk County Women Attorneys (PCWA), the Iowa State Bar Association, IowaBio, and the Licensing Executives Society (LES). Jill is a founding member of and was the 2019 Chair for the LES Iowa Chapter. Jill is also a proud member of ChIPs, a nonprofit organization that advances and connects women in technology, law and policy.

Recognized from 2017-2023 by IP Stars (a legal directory published by Managing Intellectual Property) for her “in-depth work and for spending time at board meetings for her clients to be considered part of the ‘inner sanctum of various companies,’” Jill emphasizes working closely with clients to develop and implement intellectual property strategies tailored to individualized outcomes while remaining cost-effective. She places a high value on the development of client relationships to fully understand each client’s business and what success looks like on a transaction-by-transaction or asset-by-asset basis.

Jill joined McKee, Voorhees, and Sease after receiving her law degree with high honors from Drake University Law School while also becoming a member of the prestigious Order of Barristers and the Agricultural Law Journal. Prior to law school Jill received a doctorate degree in pharmacy with honors from Drake University College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (with undergraduate emphasis in chemistry) and thereafter practiced as a hospital pharmacist.

  • Biotechnology Patents
  • Chemical Patents
  • International
  • Licensing
  • Trade Secrets
  • Academic Research and Technology Transfer
  • Agritech
  • Animal Health
  • Chemistry, Material Sciences, and Nanotechnology
  • Consumer Products and Technology
  • Fluid Mechanics & Thermal Physics
  • Food and Beverage Technologies
  • Medical Devices
  • Pharma and Nutra
  • Plant Breeding and Plant-Related Technology

Professional Associations

Licensing Executives Society (LES)

Founding Member of Iowa Chapter of LES

American Intellectual Property Law Association

AUTM

Iowa Intellectual Property Law Association

American Seed Trade Association

American Bar Association

Polk County Women Attorneys

Iowa State Bar Association

Women in Agribusiness

ChIPs (Chiefs in Intellectual Property; Women in technology, law and policy)

Education

Harvard Law School & World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) PatentX Course on Intellectual Property and Public Health (Spring 2023)

Drake University Law School, J.D. with High Honors, Order of Barristers

Drake University College of Pharmacy, Pharm.D. with Cum Laude Honors

Publications & Presentations

“Show Me The Money! Financial Terms in Plant Licensing,” Moderator on a panel with colleagues from Michigan State University, Oklahoma State University and Rutgers University, AUTM Annual Meeting, February 2023

“Plant Licensing,” Moderator and speaker on a panel along with colleagues from Bayer Crop Sciences, Michigan State University and Cornel University, AUTM Annual Meeting, February 2022

“Global IP Licensing, Employment Agreements and National IPR Coordination Center!,” SIPA (Seed Innovation & Protection Alliance) meeting, San Diego, California, January 2022

“IP & Regulatory Strategies for Licensing Regulated Technologies,” AUTM Central Virtual Meeting, July 2021

“Best Practices for Hiring and Working with IP Counsel,” Iowa Biotech Showcase & Conference, Virtual Event, March 2021

“The Most Notable Unnotable Intellectual Property Licensing Cases of 2019,” Iowa State Bar Association IP Section, Live Webinar, Des Moines, IA, February 2020

“IP Business Basics Course”, Licensing Executive Society (co-taught day-long CLE course), Des Moines, Iowa 2019

“IP Licensing: A Practical Approach to Ensure Contracts do not Interfere with Monetizing and Enforcing Patents,” Iowa State Bar Association, Des Moines, Iowa 2018

“Intellectual Property 101/Basics to a DreamBuilder,” Iowa Center for Economic Success, Des Moines, Iowa 2017

“Teleworking: Procedural and Ethical Considerations,” Polk County Women Attorneys, Des Moines, Iowa 2015

“IP 101: Considerations for Start-Ups and Entrepreneurs,” SCORE, Birmingham, Alabama 2015

“Copyright Protection in the Digital Millennium,” Sielloff & Associates Legal Conference, Granada, Spain, October 2013

“Protecting and Capitalizing Intellectual Property,” American Chemical Society National Meeting, Indianapolis, IN, September 2013

“IP 101: Considerations for Start-ups and All Entrepreneurs,” Bozeman, MT, Chamber of Commerce (and local public presentations), February 2012 and 2013

“Intellectual Property Licensing,” Iowa State Bar Association Young Lawyers Division CLE, Des Moines, IA, August 2011

“IP Licensing for the General Practitioner,” Iowa State Bar Association CLE, Des Moines, IA, April 2011

“Value Added IP Portfolio Management,” Oklahoma Bar Association IP Section Annual Meeting, Dallas, TX, June 2010

“Selling Licensing Rights – Will the New System Work?” IP Law 360, Feb., 2010

“Intellectual Property Based Business Models,” Drake University MBA Seminar, Des Moines, IA, April 2009

“Understanding Patents and Trademarks: Business Basics,” Hospers, IA, July 2008

“USPTO Claims and Continuation Rules,” Iowa Intellectual Property Association Annual Meeting, Iowa City, IA, October 2007

Additional publications in: Journal of the Iowa Pharmacy Association, Today’s Technician, Journal of the Pharmacy Society of Wisconsin, Pharmacy Student, Pharmakon Journal

Additional presentations at: Iowa Pharmacy Association Educational Expo, Iowa Technician Expo, College of Pharmacy White Coat Ceremony (Keynote Speaker), Drake College of Pharmacy Dean’s Hour Courses

Bar & Court Admissions

U.S. Patent & Trademark Office

Iowa State Bar

Awards & Recognition

IP Stars, 2017-2023 recognition for “in-depth work and for spending time at board meetings for her clients to be considered part of the “’inner sanctum of various companies’” (Managing Intellectual Property legal directory)

Drake University Law School, Order of Barristers

Activities & Accomplishments

Drake University Board of Counselors, 2018-2023

Licensing Executives Society, Iowa Chapter; Past-Chair 2020; Chair, 2019; Chair-Elect 2018, Communications Chair 2018

AIPLA Biotechnology Committee, 2009-present

AIPLA Special Committee on the FDA, 2009-present

American Society for Pharmacy Law Education and Scholarship Committee, 2008-2010

IPA Public Affairs Policy Committee, 2009

Iowa Pharmacy Association Journal, peer reviewer, 2008-2011

Giles Sutherland Rich IP Moot Court Team Coach, Drake University, 2007-2010

National Moot Court Team Regional Champions and National Quarter Finalist, 2006-2007

Drake Journal of Agricultural Law, Junior Staff, 2006-2007

 

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Jill N. Link, Pharm.D.

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