Michael Best & Friedrich LLP has added a team of six life sciences attorneys and other professionals to its Chicago office, bolstering the firm’s already robust Life Sciences Practice. The group, formerly with the law firm of Polsinelli Shughart in Chicago, is made up of two partners (Lisa Mueller and Paul Jenny), two associates (Todd Hofmeister, Ph.D., and Joseph Pletcher, Ph.D.), a paralegal (Janelle Wiggins), and a legal assistant (Laura Czech). All are joining the firm effective immediately.
“The addition of this team to our Chicago office will add even more depth and breadth to Michael Best’s Life Science practice,” noted Dave Krutz, managing partner of Michael Best. “Life sciences and technology transfer are areas in which we are well known nationally and we are excited to have this highly skilled, hard working team join our team.”
Mueller is a patent attorney, focusing in the biotechnology, chemical, pharmaceutical, medical and agricultural fields. She has extensive experience managing issues related to the FDA, including those issues related to new drug applications. She has also spent significant time on-site in the IP departments of major pharmaceutical companies. Mueller received her law degree and her undergraduate degree from Valparaiso University.
Jenny, also a patent attorney, focuses his practice on life sciences and biotechnology. He holds a masters degree in microbiology/molecular biology and has also worked at the National Institutes of Health counseling scientists there in areas of patent prosecution, clinical trial agreements and more. He received his law degree at the University of North Carolina and his master’s degree at North Carolina State University.
Hofmeister focuses his intellectual property practice on patent work involving drug discovery and development, specialty polymers and polymeric resins, and molecular biology/genetics-related technologies. He received his Ph.D. and M.A in molecular biology from Princeton University and his J.D. from DePaul University.
Pletcher’s patent practice involves prosecution, opinions and client counseling with regard to chemistry, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology-related matters. He received his Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Emory University and his J.D. from Indiana University School of Law.
“This team is an exciting new addition to the Chicago office, which has added eight new attorneys since May 2011, and is indicative of the Firm’s commitment to our life sciences practice and the Chicago office,” said Kerryann Haase, Managing Partner of the Chicago office of Michael Best. “The Chicago office is delighted to welcome these talented colleagues, who have outstanding reputations and extensive knowledge and experience.”
