Janell T. Cleveland

Biography

Janell Cleveland is a registered patent agent with over eighteen years of experience in patent law. Her practice focuses on patent prosecution, due diligence and portfolio management in the U.S. and internationally. She has a wide range of experience in the areas of biotechnology and agricultural products. Her experiences includes plant genetics, virology, bioinformatics, proteins, oligonucleotides and signaling pathways. She also has experience in the areas of medical device and pharmaceuticals. Janell has a unique perspective on intellectual property, as she has worked as a research assistant in a lab, as a patent examiner for the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, as a patent agent for a law firm, and as an intellectual property manager for a small company. This blend of experience allows her to help her clients navigate the many-faceted aspects of intellectual property, to “think big,” and to take a realistic approach to patent strategy.

Janell worked for several years as the Intellectual Property Manager for Zirus, Inc., where she managed the company’s extensive intellectual property portfolio. She gained a wealth of experience in balancing the needs of the company with the findings from the lab, and synthesized it all into valuable intellectual property. While at Zirus, Inc., she was involved in licensing and grant acquisition, as well as funding negotiations.

Before becoming a patent agent, Janell spent four years at the United States Patent & Trademark Office, where she served as a patent examiner. There, Janell gained extensive experience conducting prior art and patentability searches. Janell served on a special detail assignment for the Director of Biotechnology, tracking and analyzing patent applications involving cloning and stem cells. She also served as a member of the “Biotechnology and Computer Council,” and was given an award for outstanding service by the Director of Biotechnology for her service.

Janell has also worked as a research assistant for the Navy’s Biological Research Defense Program. She was heavily involved with the most cutting edge technology for detecting biological weaponry in the field. She routinely dealt with level 3 pathogens, and worked closely with the facilities at Ft. Detrick to rapidly determine whether exposure to a biological agent had occurred. She was involved with creating the most effective test kit for detecting anthrax in the field, the basis of which is still used today.