Erin Swinstead, Ph.D.

Erin Swinstead advises clients from biotechnology startups to large pharmaceutical and diagnostic companies on protecting their intellectual property (IP). Her experience includes developing patent strategies, patent drafting and prosecution, freedom-to-operate assessments, patent validity and infringement analyses, due diligence and litigation support. Erin counsels clients across a broad range of technologies, including:

• CAR-T cell therapy technologies
• Vaccines
• Antibody therapeutics
• Diagnostics
• Gene therapies and protein therapeutics
• Food products
• Plant genetics
• Drug delivery

Prior to joining Quarles, Erin completed her doctoral thesis and served as a postdoctoral fellow at the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute. Her research in genetics and molecular biology focused on hormone-driven cancers, including breast cancer, in cell line and mouse models with an emphasis on the genomic effects of transcription factor and steroid receptor interactions at the chromatin level. She also has experience with Illumina-based next generation sequencing instruments and high-throughput siRNA screens.

• Provides patent counseling on intellectual property strategy including portfolio management, development and assessment of third party rights.
• Handles domestic and foreign patent prosecution matters for clients.
• Prepares noninfringement, invalidity and freedom to operate opinions.
• Handles PTAB matters such as drafting PGR and IPR filings.
• Provides patent litigation support including draft of invalidity contentions, preparing and formulating litigation strategies.