Patent Preparation and Prosecution
Townsend & Banta works closely with our clients in preparing, filing and prosecuting patent applications in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the international receiving office therein.   In addition, the firm manages foreign filings of patent applications worldwide for patent applications originally filed in the U.S. by working with our international associates.

The firm has extensive experience in the Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT) regimen, and assists our clients in planning and managing international filings for their strategic technologies, based on both business and legal considerations.

Patent Application/ Filing Strategy
Working with a client’s in-house counsel, or as exclusive patent counsel, Townsend & Banta can make significant contributions to both the patent application and the filing strategy.   Considerations such as multiple uses and/or improvements and multiple filings, provisional patent applications, Patent Co-Operation Treaty (PCT) applications, foreign filings and patent assignments are addressed and a course of action recommended.

Patent Opinion Preparation
More than almost any other technology, the preparation of thorough and well-reasoned opinions is critical for our clients working in the areas of biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, chemicals and cosmetics.   Frequently, our advice sets the client’s strategic agenda for years to come, as well as their strategies in negotiating licensing agreements and/or conducting intellectual property litigation.

For example, in biotechnology, the company's decisions turn on the strength of its intellectual property claims.   Thus, such clients value our opinions on patentability, validity and infringement.   Many of our clients have relied on our expertise in deciding whether to pursue research programs and/or financing in particular areas of technology Areas of recent concern to clients include the following.