Sandra Weiss

As Chief IP Counsel, Sandy is responsible for managing and prosecuting NuMat's patent portfolio and trademarks, developing its intellectual property strategy, and IP licensing and acquisition activities. She has over 30 years of experience in intellectual property law, in both law firms and in-house. Sandy received both her bachelor's degree in chemistry and her master's degree in inorganic chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. She worked as a bench chemist for two years at the Department of Energy doing research on analytic methods for uranium. She transferred to the DOE patent group while pursuing her law degree at DePaul University of College of Law. Upon graduation, Sandy worked at law firms large and small, serving clients in all areas of intellectual property, particularly patents. In 2014 she joined Akzo Nobel, a global chemicals, paints, and coatings company, as Senior IP Counsel. In that role she worked closely with various business groups in providing IP protection for products across a wide range of industries, and in negotiating a range of contracts including joint development agreements, licenses, and confidentiality agreements, as well as IP provisions in commercial contracts.