Meet Brian Chellgren, KYIPA Board of Advisors IP Awareness & Education Pillar Lead

Brian Chellgren, PhD is a registered patent attorney and partner at Dentons, the world’s largest law firm. His practice spans all aspects of intellectual property law, and he is the co-chair of the firm’s national Intellectual Property and Technology practice group. Brian obtained his JD and a PhD in biochemistry from the University of Kentucky, and a BS in molecular biology from Vanderbilt University.

KYIPA is excited to name Brian as its inaugural Board of Advisors IP Awareness & Education Pillar Lead. In this position, Brian will lead strategic advisement of KYIPA IP awareness & education efforts, supporting KYIPA activities for the next year and longer term strategic planning. Learn more about Brian in our Q&A with him below!

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How long have you been working in the field of intellectual property?

15 years.

What originally piqued your interest in intellectual property?

While working at a large biotech company, I met a scientist who was taking evening classes at a local law school with the intent of becoming a patent attorney. This piqued my interest in IP, and patent law in particular. I enjoyed scientific research and discovering new knowledge while pursuing my doctorate in biochemistry, but I became frustrated that discoveries would take months or years to confirm and that my focus would only narrow over time. I enrolled in law school with the intent to become a patent attorney so that I could constantly interact with new technologies in a wide range of fields.

What types of intellectual property have you worked on?

My legal practice has covered all aspects of intellectual property, including patent prosecution, patent validity and infringement opinions, licensing, and transfer; trademark selection, clearance, prosecution, and enforcement; copyright registration and enforcement; general IP counseling; and the negotiation and drafting of agreements relating to the protection, development, licensing, publishing, and distribution of IP.

What's the most exciting part of working with intellectual property?

Learning new technologies and working with clients who are excited about their new inventions, their brands, or their creative works.