The Grüneberg and Myers team is fortunate to include highly-experienced and deeply knowledgeable specialists in the administration of intellectual property legal practice.
Ashley Connelly
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.
W. Michael Buck
Intellectual Property Specialist
Michael Buck’s work in patent prosecution spans 24 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.
Angela Henz
Senior 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.
Daniel Costas De La Fuente
Paralegal
Daniel Costas is a highly skilled paralegal with over 10 years of legal experience supporting some of the country’s largest companies and insurers. Mr. Costas’s invaluable experience has garnered him unique insight in identifying risk at all levels and stages of legal support, including Intellectual Property (IP). At Grüneberg and Myers PLLC, his expertise extends into spearheading potential IP conflicts, and integrating advanced technologies, such as Large Language Models (LLMs), into the patent prosecution lifecycle. By leveraging technology to make data-driven decisions, Mr. Costas plays a key role in optimizing patent issuance. With a proven track record in maintaining high standards, navigating complex matters, and providing expert-level paralegal support, Mr. Costas has supported proceedings involving portfolios of some of the world’s largest companies. Known for his exceptional attention to detail, passion for technology, and commitment to efficiency, Mr. Costas excels in conducting audits, identifying hidden risk, ensuring meticulous compliance, and optimizing workflows.
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.