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MVS Announces the Retirement of Patricia A. SweeneyJuly 13, 2020

Des Moines, Iowa, July 13, 2020 — Heidi S. Nebel, Managing Member of McKee, Voorhees & Sease, PLC announced that long-time attorney, Patricia A. Sweeney, will be retiring from the firm effective December 31, 2020.

Pat has the distinction of being one of the first female patent attorneys in Iowa, beginning her practice at MVS in 1985. She then joined Pioneer Hi-Bred International as Intellectual Property Counsel and became Chief Patent Counsel before returning to private practice. Pat has over 35 years experience in obtaining patent protection and counseling clients on intellectual property matters. She has worked with clients ranging from small start-up companies to multinational corporations in the biological science field through development of intellectual property strategy, building patent portfolios and prosecuting patents, competitive analysis, licensing and other transactional intellectual property matters. Her experience includes the fields of biotechnology, plant biology, agriculture, biofuels, veterinary and human biologics.

“Pat has been an integral part of our firm and has enriched all with her knowledge and understanding of the intellectual property law landscape”, said Heidi S. Nebel, Managing Member of the firm. “As the first female patent attorney in Iowa, she helped paved the way for other women to join in this field. She is a true pioneer that helped solidify and grow the reputation of this firm and we are eternally grateful.”

Pat will engage with the partners and colleagues in the firm to smoothly transition her work and background knowledge to Heidi S. Nebel, head of the Biotechnology/Chemistry Practice Group, who has over 25 years’ experience in biotechnology intellectual property, with in-depth experience in agriculture and plant inventions, and is a member of the USDA Plant Variety Protection Board.“I care for my clients and their important work,”Pat said, “and I’m happy they can continue with a patent attorney who has the depth of experience that Heidi has to offer along with the other members of the Biotech intellectual property group.”

Pat was awarded her law degree, with honors, Order of the Coif, from Drake University Law School and has a double major in Botany and Journalism from Iowa State University. She is an arbitrator with the American Arbitration Association.

McKee, Voorhees & Sease, PLC is Iowa’s oldest and largest boutique IP firm, helping clients protect their intellectual property rights through patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, licensing and related commercial litigation, both domestically and internationally. MVS has attorneys skilled in all areas of technology including chemistry, biotechnology, pharmacy science as well mechanical, electrical, computer, industrial and aerospace engineering. Many attorneys with the firm have advanced degrees in science in addition to their law degree.

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