Dr. Shieh-Newton has significant patent experience in a wide range of life sciences areas that allows her to provide creative solutions and render practical legal advice to life sciences clients. Her practice includes strategic patent counseling, comprehensive portfolio management, construction of valuable portfolios, preparation and prosecution of patent applications, interferences, reissues, and reexaminations. Dr. Shieh-Newton has managed and/or conducted numerous IP due diligences for investors and for privately held and public companies. Dr. Shieh-Newton has also conducted a number of freedom-to-operate assessments, patentability and invalidity opinions. She has extensive experience in evaluating patent landscapes to advise clients seeking to enter competitive markets, as well as advising clients on third party challenges and risk mitigation strategies. She also has experience with biotechnology patent litigation.
Dr. Shieh-Newton has expertise in matters pertaining to stem cells, regenerative medicine, immunology, antibodies, biofuels, microbial engineering, industrial fermentation, enzymes, vaccines and adjuvants, diagnostics and assays for personalized medicine, cancer, immunological diseases such as HIV, autoimmune diseases, and Alzheimer’s disease, amongst other subject matters.
Dr. Shieh-Newton is the co-chair of the firm’s Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Practice Group where she works with various stem cell and regenerative medicine companies. In addition, Dr. Shieh-Newton is active in the greater stem cell community and is involved in matters pertaining to stem cell with Stanford School of Medicine Institute of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine.
Dr. Shieh-Newton has worked with start-up companies as well as mid-size and larger companies and institutions, including Genentech, Genencor/Danisco/DuPont, Abraxis/Celgene, Dynavax Technologies, the University of California and the Buck Institute for Aging. She has also worked with nonprofit entities and for-profit spin-outs from nonprofit entities.
Dr. Shieh-Newton received her J.D. from Santa Clara Law School with honors. She received her Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Medicine from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Her doctoral research focused on the early immune responses to HIV and SIV infection. Dr. Shieh-Newton was a student fellow in the laboratories of Nobel Laureates Dr. Joseph Goldstein and Dr. Michael Brown, conducting research on farnesylated ras proteins. Dr. Shieh-Newton received her bachelor’s degree in biochemistry from Rice University in Houston, Texas. While at Rice University, Dr. Shieh-Newton conducted research on oxysterols and their metabolisms as part of an honors research program.
Dr. Shieh-Newton worked as a patent agent in the Patent Prosecution Group for several years at Morrison & Foerster prior to attending Santa Clara Law School.
Dr. Shieh-Newton is a member of the State Bar of California and is admitted to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.