Kristin Smith

Kristin Smith’s practice focuses on intellectual property across multiple technological areas, with a primary focus in life sciences, in particular patents in the biotechnology and pharmaceuticals areas. Kristin’s practice spans all aspects of patent portfolio development and management, including domestic and foreign patent preparation and prosecution, ex parte reexamination proceedings, as well as patentability, freedom-to-operate, patent invalidity and non-infringement opinions. Kristin also provides patent portfolio assessments and conducts due diligence reviews in corporate transactions. A former general counsel, Kristin has particular knowledge and skill in helping clients navigate the day-to-day challenges of managing large IP portfolios.

With a background in chemical engineering, Kristin has patent expertise in the fields of genetics, biochemistry, immunology, neuroscience, cancer therapeutics, vaccines, drug development, and nutritional products. Her clients range from early-stage biotech start-ups to established publicly funded companies, as well as nonprofit research institutes and universities. Before joining Sheridan Ross, Kristin was the general counsel of a San Francisco-based biotechnology company.

Kristin holds a law degree and a master’s in business administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as well as a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Among other academic pursuits, Kristin was a Senior Executive Fellow at the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University, and also spent a year studying Chemical Engineering and the History and Philosophy of Science at Cambridge University.