KYIPA Signature Event: Plant Patents

KYIPA welcomes Heidi Sease Nebel of McKee, Voorhees & Sease for a virtual presentation on plant patents on June 26. Heidi will discuss how new and unique plant characteristics can be protected as intellectual property and the basics of plant patents.  

The Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance offers this free virtual event for aspiring entrepreneurs, innovators, attorneys, students, or anyone looking to learn more.  

For questions or more information, email cstivers@kstc.com.

About Heidi:

Heidi Sease Nebel is an Intellectual Property Attorney at McKee, Voorhees & Sease and Chair of the MVS Biotechnology & Chemical Practice Group. She served as managing partner for more than 10 years and is currently on the firm Management committee. Heidi has over 30 years of experience obtaining patents and designing IP strategy in the areas of biotechnology, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Her clients include over 40 universities and research institutions, as well as fortune 500 companies, around the world.

Heidi participated in the seminal United States Supreme Court case, Pioneer v. J. E. M. Ag Supply, 534 U. S. 124 (2001), which confirmed the availability of utility patent protection for plants.

Heidi has been involved with AUTM for over 25 years, having just recently served a three-year term on the AUTM Board of Directors. Prior to that she served on the Central Region Planning committee (10 years), the Crop Productivity Partnering forum planning committee, in helping to coordinate the Plant Special Interest Group at the AUTM Annual Meeting, and in supporting diversity initiatives for women inventors and entrepreneurs. She has presented on current issues more than 25 times for AUTM.

Heidi is serving a third term on the PVP Advisory Board as she was re-appointed by the United States Secretary of Agriculture. The USDA PVP Advisory Board helps shape the country’s IP policy for plants through the Plant Variety Protection Act. In 2021 she was appointed to the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) Patent Public Advisory Committee (PPAC) by the United States Secretary of Commerce. The PPAC committee is a direct report to the Under Secretary of Commerce and the USPTO Commissioner for Patents, Kathi Vidal and the PTAB both report to the PPAC to help shape patent policy for the United States. Heidi is Vice Chair of the PPAC for 2023 and was appointed by Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.

Heidi is rated as AV Preeminent® by LexisNexis/Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible peer review rating for legal ability and ethical standards. She was also the recipient of the 2022 Iowa Biotechnology Association Biotech Leader Award for her accomplishments and significant achievements in biotechnology and one of 5 finalists for the 2022 CEO of the Year by the Technology Association of Iowa.