Registered Patent Attorney
Intellectual Property Law Services:
Patent
Trademark
Copyright




Anything you want to do, I can do. TM

Registered Patent Attorney

Jonathan’s practice includes all aspects of patent preparation and prosecution in pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry, organic chemistry, inorganic chemistry, nucleic acid chemistry, peptide chemistry, polymer chemistry, material science, semiconductors, catalysts, biotechnology, nanotechnology, drug delivery, nucleic acid delivery, gene therapy, gene silencing, virology, medical devices, biological application software, rapid prototyping systems, and ink-jet technologies.  His practice includes all realms of patent prosecution, as well as patent validity, infringement, and freedom-to-operate opinion support.

Jonathan spent his entire academic career at the University of Utah – 13 straight years.  During that time, he received his undergraduate training in Chemical Engineering, and his Ph.D. in Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry before going to law school.  His graduate research, conducted at the University of Utah Center for Controlled Chemical Delivery, involved designing, synthesizing, and characterizing polymeric gene carriers for cancer gene therapy.  As a postdoctoral fellow, Jonathan worked with various cardiologists to develop polymeric gene therapies for ischemic heart and hind-limb conditions.   Jonathan has presented his research at several conferences, and published papers in a variety of peer-reviewed journals.

Jonathan spends his free time enjoying the many different activities you can do in the Utah mountains, and can often be found skiing, mountain biking, motorcycling, or hiking depending on the season. He is also devoted to his family and has enjoyed passing his love of the mountains on to his wife, son, and daughter. You can follow him on Twitter @JonathanBenns.

Education:

• J.D., University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law, 2004
• Ph.D., University of Utah, Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, 2001
• B.S., University of Utah, Chemical Engineering, 1997

Practice Focus:

• U.S. Prosecution of IP
• International Prosecution of IP
• Licensing, Other Transactional Work & Client Counseling

Technical Experience:

• Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Biotechnology & Life Sciences
• Chemistry
• Chemical and Fuels Engineering
• Polymers
• Polymer Chemistry
• Biotechnology
• Nanotechnology
• Nucleic Acid Technology
• Nucleic Acid Delivery
• SiRNA and RNAi Technology
• Genetics
• Gene Therapy
• Virology
• Immunodiagnostics
• Pharmaceuticals
• Nutraceuticals
• Medical and Dental Device Technology
• Energy and Fuel Technologies
• Plastics
• Material Sciences - Starches, Cementitious Materials, Biodegradable Consumer Products, Foam Materials and Products, and Asphalt Products
• Inkjet Technology
• Computer Systems, Software, E-Commerce, Business Methods & Information Technology
• Bioinformatics
• Bioanalytical Systems and Software
• Computer Diagnostic Systems for Compositions
• Automated High Throughput Systems and Software
• Automated High Content Systems and Software
• Rapid Prototyping Systems
• Alternative Energy

Publications and Presentations: 
Optimization of Factors Influencing Transfection Efficiency of Folate-PEG-Folate-Graft Polyethylenimine
JM Benns et al., J of Controlled Release; 79(1-3): 255-69 (2002).

Folate-PEG-Folate-Graft Polyethylenimine-Based Cytokine Gene Delivery for Cancer Treatment
JM Benns et al., J of Drug Targeting; 9(2): 123-39 (2001).

pH-Sensitive Cationic Polymer Gene Delivery Vehicle: N-Ac-Poly(L-histidine)-Graft-Poly(L-lysine) Comb Shaped Polymer
JM Benns et al., Bioconjugate Chemistry; 11(5): 637-45 (2000).

Tailoring New Gene Delivery Designs for Specific Targets
JM Benns et al., J of Drug Targeting; 8(1): 1-12 (2000).

INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ABSTRACTS: Folate-PEG-Folate-Graft Polyethylenimine Gene Carrier
JM Benns et al.

International Symposium on Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Systems In Conjunction with 2nd Asian International Symposium on Polymeric Biomaterials Science
Cheju Island, Korea (2000)

Transport Into Cytoplasm Via pH Sensitive Cationic Polymer Gene Delivery Vehicle:
N-Ac-Poly(L-histidine)-Graft-Poly(L-lysine) Comb Shaped Polymer
JM Benns et al.

26th International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials
Boston, MA (1999)

Lectures: Sequence Listing Requirements in Patent Applications
Continued Legal Education Seminar
Salt Lake City, UT
May 16, 2008

A Chemical Engineer in Patent Law
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Chemical Engineering 4755 guest lecture: Jan. 24, 2006

Merck v. Integra: Infringement or FDA Exemption?
Continued Legal Education Seminar
Salt Lake City, UT
Jul 1, 2005

Gene Therapy and Gene Delivery
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
harmaceutics 7030 guest lecture: Apr. 20, 2001, Apr. 17, 2002, and Apr. 17, 2003

Tailoring Functional Polymeric Gene Carriers
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Doctoral Dissertation Defense: Apr. 11, 2001

Folate-PEG-Folate-Graft Polyethylenimine Gene Delivery
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Seminar: Nov. 20, 2000

Enhanced Transfection by pH Sensitive Cationic Polymer
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Seminar: Jan. 10, 2000

Advanced Gene Delivery Designs
Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah
Salt Lake City, UT
Seminar: Oct. 26, 1998

PROFESSIONAL ADMISSIONS AND ASSOCIATIONS:

• Utah State Bar
• Registered Patent Attorney
• American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
• American Bar Association
• Supreme Court Historical Society