Areas of Focus

Chemical and Life Sciences

Education

University of Delaware, Provost Scholar; President's Achievement Scholarship University of Pittsburgh (B.S., Chemical Engineering, 1987), cum laude
George Mason University; The John Marshall Law School (J.D., 1993), Order of John Marshall, cum laude

Bar Information

Missouri, Admitted 1994
Illinois, Admitted 1993
United States Patent and Trademark Office, Admitted 1991

Civic Involvement & Distinctions

Selected member of the Lay Review Committee of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), which makes research funding recommendations to the JDRF International Board of Directors by participating in scientific reviews of research grant proposals.

Who's Who in Technology - St. Louis Business Journal, July 20, 2007

Speaking Engagements

Panelist: Business Development, Panel Discussion, Simon Law Firm Annual Seminar to Benefit Legal Services of Eastern Missouri (June 23, 2009)

Panelist: Rainmaking Techniques for Women, Panel Discussion, BAMSL, Women in the Legal Profession Committee (February 24, 2009)

Guest Speaker: Biotech Patent Primer - What an Inventor Needs to Know about Patent Law, Business of Biotechnology Course, Wayne State University School of Medicine (February 13, 2009)

Intellectual Property Discussion in Conjunction with U.S. State Department Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs' International Visitor Leadership Program, Discussion Leader (June 2007)

Professional Summary

Kathleen Petrillo's practice is devoted to intellectual property law and, more specifically, to patent related issues, including the development, management and enforcement of worldwide patent portfolios. Ms. Petrillo has extensive experience in counseling pharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical and food science companies, including Fortune 500 companies as well as start-up and emerging growth companies, universities, and venture capital firms. She works closely with her clients to protect their commercially important products and achieve their business objectives while helping them avoid infringement of competitors' patents.

She frequently prepares opinions relating to infringement and validity of pharmaceuticals, biopharmaceuticals, vaccines, herbicide formulations and generics, and advises her clients with respect to freedom to operate involving products with multi billion dollar annual sales. Ms. Petrillo also evaluates intellectual property portfolios in connection with venture capital and private equity financings, acquisitions and joint development initiatives by her clients. Ms. Petrillo has handled re-examination and reissue matters, and regularly works with foreign counsel in developing worldwide intellectual property protection and devising strategies for patent oppositions in foreign jurisdictions. Ms. Petrillo has also acted as in-house patent counsel for clients and has negotiated their license agreements and drafted other technology related agreements.

Ms. Petrillo has worked in a wide range of technologies including diagnostic assays for detecting various disease states, polymeric formulations for reducing potassium or sodium levels in vivo, small organic molecules for treating pain, cancer and other indications, contrast agents for use in MRI and optimal imaging, NF- B inhibitors, herbicide formulations, oil processing methods and enhanced oil compositions, solid oxide fuel cells, carbon capture technologies, protein purification processes, biocides, single crystal silicon manufacture, biofuel cells, immobilized enzyme materials, transgenic plants, assays for measuring ribosomal translational activity in normal, stressed, or dying cells, microalgae for biofuels, bioactive conductive polymers, high throughput screening methods, engineered tissues for use as vasculature or cartilage replacement, and recombinant proteins for use as blood substitutes or in treating anemia or chronic heart failure.

Ms. Petrillo represents clients including Monsanto Company, Baxter Healthcare Corporation, The Solae Company, Ilypsa, the University of Missouri, St. Louis University, and Washington University of St. Louis.

Ms. Petrillo studied chemical engineering at the University of Delaware, where she was recognized as an Alison Scholar and was awarded the President's Achievement Scholarship. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh in 1987, graduating cum laude. During her undergraduate studies at Pitt, she was on Dean's List each semester, was inducted into the Omega Chi Epsilon chemical engineering honorary, served as Treasurer of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, and served as Secretary and Fundraising Chair of the Society of Women Engineers. Ms. Petrillo interned at the Aluminum Company of America (ALCOA) where she derived mathematical model simulations and determined diffusion in alloy processing reactors.

Ms. Petrillo was employed as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office while attending law school at George Mason University. She worked as a patent agent at Arnold, White & Durkee in Chicago while completing law school. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from The John Marshall Law School in 1993, graduating cum laude and was inducted into the Order of John Marshall. She continued working as an associate at Arnold White until relocating to St. Louis. Ms. Petrillo became a partner at Senniger Powers in 1998.

Ms. Petrillo currently serves as the Group Leader of our Chemical and Life Sciences practice, and has served on the firm's Executive Committee as Chief Financial Partner. She is also a member of the Bar Association of Metropolitan St. Louis (Patent, Trademark and Copyright Steering Committee; Past Chair of the Trademark, Copyright and Unfair Competition Subcommittee) and the American Intellectual Property Law Association. She was a past Vice Chair of the Patent, Trademark & Copyright Law Committee of the Missouri Bar and a past Vice Chair of the Judicial Appointments Committee of the Intellectual Property Law Association of Chicago.

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