Managing Member/Partner

jedwards@edwardsneils.com

Jean has more than 25 years experience in the arena of intellectual property law. She specializes in counseling high technology companies on their IP portfolios - ranging from multi-million dollar companies to start-ups - as well as experience handling patent and trademark prosecution, copyright registration, supporting patent litigation, opinion work, and licensing of all forms of IP rights. Jean also handles corporate matters, particularly for startups.

Technologies include wired circuit boards, imaging/optical equipment, radiographic equipment, cell phone films, nanotechnology, financial systems, optical films, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, computer software, video games, semiconductors, fuel cells, automotive safety systems, robotic vehicles, and consumer products. Jean has also represented clients in a 337 litigation before the International Trade Commission (ITC).  In addition, Jean has a specialty in design patents.

Jean started her legal career in intellectual property (IP) at Sughrue Mion in 1996.  In 2000, Jean was Of Counsel at Sonnenschein (now Dentons), and then a Partner at Dickinson Wright LLP, all in Washington DC.  Jean headed the IP Group at Akerman Senterfitt LLP, Tysons Corner, Virginia, from 2005 until 2011, when she and Paul Neils started Edwards Neils in Reston, Virginia, before moving the office to Annapolis, Maryland, and then to Nashville, Tennessee.

Prior to her legal career, Jean had 10 years of international experience with the U.S. government, and 5 years as a mechanical engineer and Project Manager for Cordis Corporation, now part of Johnson and Johnson, in Miami, Florida, as well as a year as the Manufacturing Manager for Elexis Corporation, a consumer electronics company. Jean has a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Miami, a B.S. in Physics and a B.A. in French (Honors) from Emporia State University. Jean has her J.D. (Honors) from University of Miami, and her Master's degree (Dean''s List) from Harvard University, in the History of Science, Technology and Medicine. Jean is licensed to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and is a member of the Maryland, Virginia, D.C., and Florida Bars, and a member of the Tennessee Bar. Jean speaks French, and some Spanish.

Mary has more than 25 years of experience in intellectual property, particularly in patents, trademarks, prosecution, opinions, advising, strategy, analysis, litigation, and contentious matters. She has written over 100 original patent applications. Mary has enjoyed gaining patent allowances for clients from solo inventors to large multi-national companies. She is comfortable working in most technologies and has handled matters across many chemical, electrical/mechanical, and computer/software areas. Mary’s experience includes communicating with colleagues who are outside the US, in many different countries, on a variety of IP issues.

Mary has a B.A. in Natural Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University. Her J.D. (with honors) is from University of Maryland School of Law, where she was on the Maryland Law Review (Articles Editor), served as a Teaching Assistant, and received awards (Civil Procedure). Mary is registered as a patent attorney with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and is a member of the Maryland Bar. 

Maureen has seven years’ experience in Intellectual Property at Edwards Neils where she handles Patent and Trademark prosecution matters. Maureen particularly specializes in Trademark prosecution and enjoys obtaining registration of Trademarks for the firm’s clients.

Maureen has a Bachelor of Laws degree LL.B. from Kampala International University and a Master of Laws Degree LL.M from the University of Maryland. While in Law School, Maureen clerked at the Supreme Court of Uganda in Kampala. Maureen is actively pursuing bar membership in the State of Maryland. Maureen is fluent in English, Swahili and some German.

Paul Neils was one of the founding partners of Edwards Neils and was with the firm from 2011 until December 2021. Paul is remembered as having almost 30 years experience in intellectual property law, of which 19 years were at Sughrue Mion, Washington DC, 10 years of which was as a Partner and Senior Manager. Paul was with Akerman Senterfitt's Intellectual Property Practice, Tysons Corner, Virginia, from 2008-2011. Prior to Paul's law firm experience, he spent 6 years with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) as a Patent Examiner. Paul authored treatises in design patents and had a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Michigan State University, and a J.D. from Catholic University of America.