Sheehan, Michael W.

Paul counsels clients in the areas of intellectual property procurement and enforcement as well as structuring license and joint venture deals, with a focus on technological developments in the life sciences and business methods (including pharmaceuticals, biotechnologies, drug delivery, medical devices, and financial instruments). Paul has extensive experience in assisting clients with worldwide intellectual property protection strategies as well as U.S. patent interferences, patent litigation, and exploitation of patent rights.

Paul advises emerging companies, expanding companies, and multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and financial market corporations in developing and maintaining strategic patent estates. His experience includes patentability, infringement/noninfringement, validity/nonvalidity, and freedom-to-operate/clearance opinions. He has obtained more than 800 patents for clients in a wide variety of technological arts including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, medical diagnostics, combination therapies, research diagnostics (assays), biotechnology, DNA and protein diagnostics, disease markers, nanotechnology, gene shuffling, small molecule drugs, drug delivery, financial services, coatings, organic chemistry, polymers, additives, active plant extracts, biodiagnostic tools, adjuvents, surfactants, consumer products, health care and personal care, and business methods (financial instruments, banking, and insurance).

Paul has experience in all types of proceedings before the U.S. Patent Office including reexams, reissues, appeals, and interferences. In addition, he frequently works with clients to provide design around, offensive and defensive portfolio strategy, and other litigation avoidance counseling. He has conducted numerous IP due diligences for licensing, financial investment, prelitigation, and acquisitions projects.

In 2004, Paul was featured in the cover story of the Business Section of The Washington Post article entitled "Wanted: Legal Superstars." In addition, Paul has been recognized by the prestigious Chambers & Partners as one of "America's Leading Lawyers for Business" for 2005, 2006, and 2007.