Paul Klecha

Paul Klecha began working with Patterson + Sheridan in 2017 as a summer associate. After graduating from the University of Notre Dame Law School the following year, he joined the firm’s Life Sciences practice group. During law school, Paul was active in several organizations, including the Intellectual Property Law Society and Student Bar Association. Additionally, he worked as an editor for the University’s legal publication, the Notre Dame Journal of Law, Ethics & Public Policy. Paul’s participation in these organizations and others provided him with a critical set of skills in communication and advocacy that continue to shape his growing practice today.

Before joining Patterson + Sheridan, Paul first began honing his practical legal skills as a patent analyst at an intellectual property research and consulting firm. There, he prepared novelty, validity, landscape, and FTO-type analyses for a variety of mechanical and life sciences technologies. Paul also successfully completed an externship with the USPTO’s Office of Patent Legal Administration, where he worked side-by-side with legal advisors as they prepared updates to the Manual of Patent Examining Procedure (MPEP) and resolved issues related to patent prosecution. Today, Paul helps clients secure foreign and domestic IP protection for technologies in the fields of life sciences, biotechnology, medical devices, chemicals, and semiconductors.

Paul’s technical background has equipped him to handle the complex technologies that make up our client’s patent portfolios. In addition to an undergraduate biotechnology degree that concentrated on areas such as healthcare and pharmaceuticals, genetic engineering, bioinformatics, agriculture, and green energy, Paul earned a graduate degree in business and science, with a concentration in biotechnology and genomics. This not only allowed him to delve deeper into the technical aspects of the field, but also to gain the insight needed to translate such scientific and technological ideas into commercial assets.

With multiple research positions under his belt, Paul’s academic credentials are backed by hands-on laboratory experience. Most recently, he worked as a senior research associate at a global biopharmaceutical company where he conducted experiments for lead candidate selection and optimization. Paul’s time in the lab instilled a firm understanding of the drug discovery and pre-clinical stages of drug development, as well as the value of good IP protection in the process.

In his spare time, Paul likes to cycle, travel and taste the local cuisine. He is also a sports fan and enjoys everything from soccer and hockey to Muay Thai.