Keisha Hylton-Rodic
Keisha Hylton-Rodic, Ph.D. is an associate in the firm’s Intellectual Property Practice Group and a member of its Patents Team.
Keisha prepares and prosecutes U.S. patent applications in the chemical and pharmaceutical arts. She also oversees the prosecution of foreign applications.
Keisha conducts freedom to operate clearances and prepares opinions. She counsels clients on matters such as potential formulations, preparation of active pharmaceutical ingredients and product launches.
Keisha has represented universities, and chemical and pharmaceutical companies. She has experience representing clients in the pharmaceutical and chemical arts, including small molecules, chemical synthesis, polymers, and pharmaceutical formulations.
In General. Keisha’s doctoral research focused on W(CO)6-catalyzed carbonylation as an alternative to phosgene or phosgene derivatives such as 1,1-carbonyldiimidazole for the conversion of amines to ureas. Specifically, her research included preparing the core structure of the HIV protease inhibitors DMP 323 and DMP 450 by catalytic carbonylation of diamine intermediates. Keisha’s research also included intermolecular urea formation in related acyclic systems by catalytic carbonylation of O-protected phenylalaninol derivatives and W(CO)6-catalyzed carbonylation as successfully applied to the preparation of analogs of DMP 323 and DMP 450. Her research further included carbonylating amino alcohols to selectively form hydroxyl ureas.
While at law school, Keisha was named to the University of Florida Levin College of Law’s Dean’s List and won the Book Award for the highest grade in evidence. Keisha served on the Journal of Technology, Law and Policy’s editorial staff and was a member of the IPTLA Intellectual Property Law Moot Court Team.
Keisha was nominated by the University of Florida Levin College of Law for the 2006 American Intellectual Property Law Education Foundation’s Jan Jancin Award for excellence in the study of intellectual property law.
She received alternative dispute resolution training through the Florida Dispute Resolution Center and was certified by the Florida Supreme Court as a county court mediator.
Keisha is actively involved in the legal community. She served as a judge for the last three years (2008-2010) at the American Bar Association (ABA) Law Student Division’s National Appellate Advocacy Competition Washington DC Regional. Keisha also graded briefs for the 2009 American Intellectual Property Law Association’s Giles Sutherland Moot Court Competition.
Keisha is also actively involved in the IP Law Section of the ABA. She is the incoming chair of the Patents in the Chemical and Life Sciences Committee and serves as chair of Subcommittee A (Committee No. 103). This subcommittee reviews and comments on the proposed changes set forth by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office in Rules of Practice Before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences (Board) in ex parte appeals, 75 Fed. Reg. 69828 (November 15, 2010).