Whitney Meier Howard

Partner
Whitney Meier Howard

Whitney Meier Howard is a pharmaceutical and biotechnology patent litigator who has successfully counseled clients in obtaining and asserting patents through trial and appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit. Whitney represents companies of all sizes, including some of the largest pharmaceutical companies and emerging biotechnology startups, and has appeared before the federal district courts, the Federal Circuit, and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Her courtroom experience includes taking fact and expert witnesses and arguing dispositive motions in district court.

Whitney assists clients with coordinating global patent proceedings and provides strategic advice regarding patent portfolios and freedom to operate. Her litigation and counseling experience encompass a range of technologies and therapeutic areas, including chemotherapies, bisphosphonates, antipsychotics, antihypertensives, hormone-receptor antagonists, therapies for autoimmune disease, drug formulation, drug metabolism, gene therapy, genetically modified mice, and antibody manufacturing. Whitney’s practice also involves many aspects of trademark law, including clearing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign trademarks.

Experience

Representative Matters

  • Represented Sanofi in a series of Hatch-Waxman litigations, appeals, and IPRs involving patents on its Jevtana® product (D.N.J., D. Del., Fed. Cir., PTAB)
  • Represented Astellas, Medivation, and the University of California in a series of Hatch-Waxman litigations involving patents on the Xtandi® product (D.N.J., D. Del.)
  • Represented Novartis in Hatch-Waxman litigations involving patents on its Entresto® product (D. Del.)
  • Coordinated litigation and contested proceeding preparation in 10+ countries for large pharmaceutical companies
  • Conducted pre-suit investigations for large pharmaceutical companies in anticipation of Hatch-Waxman litigations
  • Defended a pharmaceutical company against allegations of infringement regarding its therapeutic antibody product
  • Conducted freedom to operate analyses for large pharmaceutical companies and coordinated analyses in 10+ countries, including assisting Australian counsel with successful patent opposition
  • Counseled a biotechnology company on a patent portfolio relating to gene therapy for autoimmune diseases
  • Counseled large pharmaceutical companies on patent prosecution strategy, including preparing expert declarations and PTAB appeals

Representative Clients

  • Astellas
  • Pfizer
  • Sanofi
  • Alkermes
  • Allergan

Insights

Credentials
+

Education

  • J.D. cum laude Georgetown University Law Center 2011
  • B.S. Biochemistry high distinction University of Virginia 2008

Bar Admissions

  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
  • New York

Court Admissions

  • U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York
  • U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York
  • U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit

Recognition
+

  • The Best Lawyers in America, Ones to Watch, 2021 – 2024