SAN DIEGO I.P. LAW ASSOC. ELECTIONS

Home TREASURER BOARD PROXY BALLOT 

CANDIDATES FOR SDIPLA TREASURER

DAVID S. GUTTMAN
(SDIPLA Webmaster)

SUSAN LYNCH
(Patent Agent)

ROB PRINCE
Board's Nominee

I earned BSEE, MSEE & EE degrees at MIT, and a J.D. from Loyola Univ. of Chicago (1974). I'm admitted in IL, CA, and at USPTO, and have done substantial IP work in Japan.  I began by prosecuting patents & trademarks at Brunswick, also coordinating its foreign prosecution. In a leading pro bono §2(a) servicemark case, I established the standing of just two women to Oppose as disparaging to women a chicken restaurant's attempted registration of "ONLY A BREAST IN THE MOUTH IS BETTER THAN A LEG IN THE HAND".

While working six years at high tech patent firms in Japan (1979-85), I also edited the IP sections of "Doing Business in Japan" published by Matthew Bender.  Returning home, I moved Los Angeles in 1988 to work at Spensley Horn Jubas & Lubitz and later at Poms, Smith Lande & Rose.  In 1995 I joined T.I.'s patent department in Dallas, prosecuting patents on semiconductors, signal processing, and networking, until opening the Guttman Patent Office (www.patentlore.com), an international IP boutique.

Three years as Webmaster have acquainted me with SDIPLA's operation and tight finances.  I will reenergize the Treasurer's function, issuing regular budget and unpaid dues reports to stimulate membership and participation.  I favor expanding SDIPLA's committees and their activities so our members can better cope with the PTO's serious problems. I also propose SDIPLA assist San Diego's Patent Depository Library to rejuvenate its resources and events for local inventors and inexpensive attorney CLE.

 

Nomination of Susan by Past SDIPLA Pres. Laurie A. Axford:

Susan Lynch of Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis has worked in the field of Intellectual Property in San Diego for many years. She has experience with both trademarks and patents, in both an in-house and law firm setting. Susan is a Patent Agent, and as such, would bring a different perspective to the SDIPLA board. She would provide representation of our growing Agent population - over 25% of the USPTO registered practitioners in the City of San Diego are Patent Agents, not Attorneys. Thus, it seems both appropriate and timely to have a Patent Agent on the SDIPLA board.

More importantly, Susan's enthusiasm for patent practice is unsurpassed. She has taught U.S. and PCT practice courses for Paralegals and Agents, and has participated in many local organizations to promote both PTO practice and the field of Biotechnology, which is her technical area of experitse. She is dedicated and earnest, and will make a great Treasurer. Please join me in giving her your support.
 


 

I have been an IP attorney since 1999 and a registered patent agent since 1994. After graduating from the University of Denver School of Law, I began my IP career at Lyon and Lyon, a patent boutique firm, working on all aspects of biotech and pharmaceutical patent law. Later, I joined the IP group at Brobeck where I continued to focus on biotech and pharmaceutical patent law. After leaving Brobeck, I joined Agouron/Pfizer where I was Senior Patent Counsel and served as the Biotech Group Leader. Presently, I am Director of IP at Salmedix, an oncology drug development company.

My desire to be elected the SDIPLA Treasurer stems from my participation in SDIPLA events for the last five years, and my recent involvement as Co-Chair of the SDIPLA 2004 Awards’ Committee. As an SDIPLA member, I have appreciated and benefited from the SDIPLA’s commitment to support and promote educational seminars and other IP related activities in San Diego.

My election to the Board as Treasurer would give me the opportunity to play an active role in continuing the fine tradition of the SDIPLA in bringing quality educational seminars to the San Diego IP community. Further, my service on the SDIPLA Awards’ Committee has allowed me to establish good working relationships with the present SDIPLA Board Members, which will assist me in my role of Treasurer, if elected. I would consider it an honor and pleasure to serve on the SDIPLA Board and hope you will give me your support.