Chemistry—The Central Science and a Core Firm Practice

Marshall, Gerstein & Borun LLP was established more than 60 years ago by patent lawyers educated in chemical engineering and chemistry—commonly referred to as the central science. Over time, the Firm’s Chemical Sciences Practice Group has counseled all types of clients, from independent inventors to the world’s largest companies, in their intellectual property matters. Collectively, the lawyers in this group have formal education spanning the entire spectrum of the chemical sciences, combined with direct, practical experience before the federal courts and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Focused diversity—a strength, not a paradox
The chemical sciences are diverse and far-reaching, and their principles are directly applicable in a broad range of disciplines, from classical chemistry to industrial chemical processes, pharmaceuticals, materials science,discovered in 1992, the biotechnology company ICOS (now part of Eli Lilly & Co.) turned to us to draft, file, and prosecute the patent applications covering this compound. ICOS also relied on the Firm to finalize its joint venture with Eli Lilly to market Cialis®. When Vanderbilt University sought to add its scientists as co-inventors to patents covering the manufacture, sale, and use of tadalafil, ICOS again turned to the Marshall Gerstein team. We conducted a two-week bench trial before then-Chief Judge Sue Robinson in the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware and won a decision in favor of ICOS. We also successfully represented ICOS in Vanderbilt’s subsequent appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit and its petition for certiorari to the