Dr. Monroy is a partner in the Palo Alto office of Morrison & Foerster, and former Co-chair of the firmwide Patent group and former co-chair of the Life Sciences group. With a focus on patent law and biotechnology, she has practiced intellectual property law since 1986.

Dr. Monroy practices in the areas of patents and technology transfer agreements and has a wide range of experience in the life science related practice areas. Dr. Monroy’s practice includes strategic counseling and comprehensive patent portfolio management for small, medium, and large companies. She has special technical expertise in molecular biology, immunology, diagnostics, therapeutics, virology, drug delivery systems, high throughput screening, microarray technology, gene therapy, liposomal technology, small molecules, proteomics and bioinformatics. Dr. Monroy’s practice includes writing and carrying on all matters related to prosecuting patent applications, including interferences, re-examinations, and reissues. Dr. Monroy’s practice also includes conducting due diligence studies in connection with venture capital, private and public financing, mergers and acquisitions, opinions on patentability, non-infringement and patent validity, and counseling during product development.

Dr. Monroy holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry and an M.S. in biology from New York University, a B.A. in chemistry from Hunter College, and a J.D. from the University of San Francisco Law School. She was an NIH post-doctoral fellow in molecular biology at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and was on the faculties of the New York Medical College and the University of California, San Francisco.

Dr. Monroy is a past President of the Silicon Valley Intellectual Property Law Association, a former member of the Executive Committee of the California State Bar Intellectual Property Section, and of the Board of Directors of the Silicon Valley Intellectual Property Law Association, and has served as chair or co-chair of a number of other committees of intellectual property law associations.

Dr. Monroy has received public recognition for her work, including election to the Patent Hall of Fame and listings in as a leading attorney in Health Sciences by Global Practical Law Co. She has also been named in the Best Lawyers in America directory, as well as one of the top lawyers in Silicon Valley.