Bernard Rhee is a registered patent attorney who focuses his practice on resolving business issues for clients. He counsels clients on licensing, joint ventures, and research and development collaborations often involving pharmaceuticals and biotechnology. He also routinely advises clients on product manufacturing, commercialization, supply, and distribution issues. He concentrates on complex licensing transactions and acquisitions that frequently involve patents and other intellectual property.

Mr. Rhee has extensive experience analyzing individual patents and complex patent portfolios for inventors, investors and other parties. In this capacity, he conducts patent due diligence and risk assessment investigations, and also provides strategic legal advice with respect to business matters.

He has rendered opinions on patentability, validity, infringement, licensing and right-to-use issues. In addition, he has experience in the litigation of patent infringement disputes. He has advised both patent holders and patent infringers during pre-litigation and litigation phases.

He has assisted companies in fulfilling their business objectives within a complicated United States Food & Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory framework. From different types of new drug applications to Hatch-Waxman Act issues, "Orange Book" listings, and enforcement actions, Mr. Rhee has advised clients on FDA issues affecting product development, clinical trials, commercial distribution, product detentions, and seizures.

Mr. Rhee brings a strong background in biochemistry, biology, chemistry, health care, medical devices, microbiology, pharmaceuticals and pharmacology. He has experience with antibody-antigen interactions, hyperinsulinemia, polypeptide chemistry (vaccines and therapeutics), and recombinant DNA technology.

He has also worked with intellectual property issues in the area of automotive technology. He gained considerable practical experience in this field having been involved in automobile racing for five years.

Mr. Rhee also practiced as a licensed pharmacist for eight years before becoming an attorney. During this time, he gained considerable experience in clinical settings, traditional community pharmacies, and in the management of a pharmacy corporation.

Prior Legal Experience

• DLA Piper
• Venable LLP
• Powell Goldstein LLP (now Brian Cave LLP)
• Shanks & Herbert (now Reed Smith LLP)
• Saul Ewing LLP

Bar Admissions

• Maryland
• District of Columbia
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

Education

• J.D., University of Baltimore School of Law, 2000
• B.S., University of Maryland School of Pharmacy, 1991

Professional and Civic Activities

• Past Member, Alumni Board of Governors, Gilman School (Past President)
• Past Member, Board of Trustees, Gilman School (Financial Aid and Executive Committees)
• Licensed Pharmacist (Maryland)
• Member, American Bar Association
• Member, American Intellectual Property Law Association
• Member, Maryland State Bar Association
• Appointed to the Trial Courts Judicial Nominating Commission by Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley in 2007 (4 year term)

Publications

• Co-author, IP Representations in Business Agreements, Maryland Bar Bulletin (March 2008)
• Co-author, Bringing Your Medical Device to Market (2006) - Mr. Rhee authored chapters on intellectual property rights (patents, copyrights and trademarks) and related business strategies for commercialization.