Current Global IP Issues Through the Lens of IPO’s Special 301 Comments

Starting in 2018, Steve has been a Co-Chair (and now Immediate Past Co-Chair) of the IPO International Patent Law and Trade Committee. In this role, Steve worked as a member of the IPO Special 301 Comment team. This team consolidated input from IPO committees and members to prepare drafts of IPO’s Special 301 comment letters to the U.S. Trade Representative. Before 2018, Steve was an active member and Vice Chair of the IPO Asian Practice Committee. 

During Steve’s twenty years at Medtronic, Steve was Senior Legal Director - International IP and IP Policy, Chief IP Counsel – Cardiac Rhythm and Heart Failure, and Lead IP Counsel Neuromodulation. Prior to that he was IP Counsel at 3M representing various medical device businesses and handling IP transactions, particularly medical device acquisitions and divestitures. Following his recent “retirement” from Medtronic, Steve continues to volunteer for IPO.

Dean Harts is Vice President Data Privacy, Associate Chief Intellectual Property Counsel, and interim Chief Privacy Officer for 3M Company.  He also leads 3M’s Global Trade Secret Protection Program team.  Prior to his current role, for the past seven years, he was the Assistant Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for 3M’s international operations, with over 50 employees in more than 10 countries.  Earlier in his 3M career, Dean served as the Assistant Chief Intellectual Property Counsel for 3M’s healthcare business, and 3M’s electro & communications business.  Before these IP management roles, Dean was IP counsel to several different 3M businesses in St. Paul, Minnesota and Austin, Texas.  Dean earned his Juris Doctor at Mitchell Hamline School of Law in St. Paul, Minnesota, and has been admitted to practice with the Minnesota bar, US District Court of Minnesota, and the US Patent and Trademark office.  Dean earned his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Sharon Reiche is Senior Corporate Counsel and Head of Pfizer’s Global Intellectual Property Policy & Advocacy team.  In her role she leads a team that works on intellectual property policies that advance the protection of Pfizer’s substantial investment in research and development.   She also co-leads the Legal Division’s undergraduate summer student worker program at Pfizer.

Sharon represents Pfizer on the IP Committee of various industry trade organizations, and is the co-Chair of the International Patent Law & Trade Committee at the Intellectual Property Owners Association.   She holds a B.S. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and a J.D. from Brooklyn Law School. She is admitted to practice law in New York.

Bill Warren is a Partner in the law firm of Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP, advising clients on strategic intellectual property issues primarily in the life sciences sector, but also in a number of other industries. Bill prosecutes patents, counsels clients on patent validity and infringement issues and prepares product clearance opinions and development strategies. He also negotiates technology transfer licensing agreements and conducts intellectual property due diligence.