The Grüneberg and Myers team is fortunate to include highly-experienced and deeply knowledgeable specialists in the administration of intellectual property legal practice.
Malika Ash Shakur
Head of Operations
Malika Ash Shakur has been specializing in intellectual property law since 2003. She has extensive knowledge and experience in domestic patent prosecution, including the filing of hundreds of U.S. and international PCT applications. She previously oversaw a team of about a dozen people responsible for preparing and filing U.S. National Stage applications. Ms. Ash Shakur also has many years of experience coordinating with foreign associates to manage patent portfolios outside of the U.S. She has worked at large and small patent firms that supported many different clients in fields including chemistry, pharmaceuticals, and electrical and mechanical engineering. Malika is a member of the Association of Legal Administrators and its Northern Virginia chapter.
W. Michael Buck
Intellectual Property Specialist
Michael Buck’s work in patent prosecution spans nearly 18 years, including 12 years serving as an assistant supervisor to a group of over seventy formalities specialists in a large patent firm. Mr. Buck brings a valuable breadth and depth of knowledge to the firm, and is comfortable researching and working with various professionals and the staff of the USPTO to proactively resolve problems which sometimes arise during pendency. Mr. Buck’s experience has helped to establish best practices and to streamline the efficient preparation and processing of filings as well as maintaining effective and timely communications with our clients.
Ashley Connelly
Associate Director of Operations
Ashley Connelly supports the firm’s IP practice based on nearly ten years working in intellectual property law. Prior to working at the firm, Ms. Connelly gathered experience at a large IP boutique firm. There, her responsibilities included supervising foreign filing personnel. She also acquired broad experience as an IP specialist in both the firm’s electrical/mechanical patent prosecution group and in the firm’s chemical patent prosecution group. Her expertise includes management of worldwide patent portfolios, including U.S., foreign, and PCT international applications.
Angela Henz
Intellectual Property Specialist
Ms. Henz is an IP Specialist with extensive experience in processing and responding to official communications from the USPTO. She works closely with other members of the firm to manage and maintain clients’ varied patent portfolios. Ms. Henz also assists with the preparation of U.S. patent applications, as well as managing and maintaining patent and client docketing systems. Her previous experiences in law firms, both inside and outside of the sector of intellectual property, informs her commitment to high-quality work.
Mariah Staten
Intellectual Property Specialist
With nearly ten years of experience in intellectual property, Ms. Staten has handled all stages of U.S. patent prosecution. In addition to handling USPTO and client communications, Ms. Staten’s professional contributions have also included enhancing office workflow procedures. Before joining the Grüneberg and Myers team, Ms. Staten built her expertise at a large IP boutique firm, where she held positions including IP Specialist, Support Specialist/Team Leader, and Docket Clerk.
Charles Pace
Senior Intellectual Property Specialist
Charles Pace has nearly 20 years of experience in the field of patent prosecution. Over the years, he has worked as a Formalities Specialist, Information Disclosure Specialist, New Applications Specialist, and most recently, as a Patent and Foreign Filing Specialist. His background in IP extends to various areas of patent prosecution and litigation, including supporting multiple attorneys, maintaining multiple dockets, and handling the entire scope of patent prosecution, from filing new applications through to the issuance of Letters Patent. Charles has also designed and implemented working methods to improve office workflow and efficiency.
Amparito Ruiz
Information Disclosure Specialist
Amparito Ruiz works as Information Disclosure Specialist (IDS) for the Grüneberg and Myers firm. Ms. Ruiz has over 15 years of experience in patent prosecution, specializing in IDS/Related Cases filings. She previously managed a team of four individuals, supervising the IDS/Related Cases docket and overseeing IDS filings. She was also responsible for the timely reporting requirements to clients. Her previous experience includes training as an IP Specialist and working as a Docket Clerk for a Japanese firm in their Fairfax, Virginia office.