Luiza Cotia is a patent specialist and an industrial pharmacist with nearly a decade of experience in patent prosecution in the chemical field. Pharmaceutical and agricultural patents are among her areas of expertise, but she also handles biotech and fine chemical patents. In addition, she participates in the drafting and prosecuting of patent applications according to the Brazilian Industrial Property Statute (Law #9,279/96) and the guidelines dictated by the Brazilian Patent and Trademark Office (INPI). 

 As an acting member of Licks Attorneys’ staff, Ms. Cotia analyzes Brazilian PTO’s written opinions as well as third party submissions – including their replies. She also carries out electronic and manual searches in general (equivalence, infringement, prior-art and so on) and freedom-to-operate analysis. Moreover, she works in the technical part of the lawsuits involving chemical patents and patent applications and has been nominated technical assistant in some cases.