Porzio Promotes Two Attorneys to Principal and Two to Counsel

Porzio, Bromberg & Newman P.C. (Porzio) is pleased to announce the promotions of John McKeague, Ph.D. and Brian P. Sharkey to principal, and of B. Dell Chism and Kelly D. Curtin to counsel. The promotions are effective July 1, 2016.                                                                                                                                                                                         

John McKeague, Ph.D. joined Porzio as counsel in 2014 and is a member of the firm's Intellectual Property Department. Dr. McKeague, who holds a Ph.D. in molecular biology, helps clients protect and enforce their intellectual property rights. He applies his in depth knowledge of technology and the law to obtain broad patent protection for their innovative products. Dr. McKeague uses his knowledge of the pharmaceutical, dietary supplement and biotech industries and regulatory compliance to identify issues and obtain favorable outcomes for clients. He also assists clients in navigating crowded technology areas and regularly advises on product development. Dr. McKeague also advises clients on in-licensing technology and evaluates the strength of intellectual property for new business initiatives.

Dr. McKeague earned his J.D. from George Washington University Law School and his Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Ulster at Coleraine. He is admitted to practice in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and in the state of Virginia, practice limited to federal courts and agencies.

Brian P. Sharkey joined Porzio as associate in 2001 and is a member of the firm's Life Sciences Practice Group and Vice President of Porzio Life Sciences, a subsidiary of the firm. He counsels life sciences companies on a variety of compliance-related issues, most significantly those relating to ex-US marketing disclosure and gift limitation laws and industry codes. In particular, Brian focuses on helping companies understand and comply with global reporting requirements for transfers of value to healthcare professionals, healthcare organizations, and patient organizations. 

Brian earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Seton Hall University School of Law in 2000. He is admitted to practice in New Jersey and New York.

B. Dell Chism joined Porzio as an associate in 2014. Clients benefit from Dell's extensive technical knowledge in complex matters involving biotechnology intellectual property. Dell is experienced in the preparation and prosecution of U.S. and foreign patent applications in the chemical, biochemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology fields. His background also includes assisting with the preparation and research of freedom-to-operate, validity, infringement and patentability opinions.

Dell earned his J.D. from George Mason University School of Law in 2008. He is admitted to practice in Washington, DC, Virginia and the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Kelly D. Curtin joined Porzio as an associate in 2009, and currently concentrates her practice in the areas of bankruptcy, financial restructuring, debtor-creditor relations and commercial litigation. She has represented debtors, committees of unsecured creditors, post-confirmation trusts, as well as individual creditors in bankruptcy and related proceedings both in and out of court. She also has extensive experience in representing both plaintiffs and defendants in various bankruptcy-related litigation matters, including preference and fraudulent conveyance actions, and successfully achieved a nondischargeability judgment on behalf of creditors after a two-day trial.

Kelly earned her J.D. from the George Washington University Law School in 2009. She is admitted to practice in New Jersey; New York; the United States District Court, District of New Jersey; the United States District Court, Southern District of New York; the United States District Court, Eastern District of New York; and the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.