Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Languages
References
Timeline
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Colleen F. Sullivan

Canton,GA

Summary

Dynamic Patent Paralegal with extensive experience, excelling in domestic filings, international filing coordination, and budget management. Proven track record of successfully managing high-volume dockets and fostering client communication. Recognized for problem-solving skills, including navigating complex patent applications during challenging circumstances. Passionate about driving global prosecution strategies.

Overview

28
28
years of professional experience

Work History

Patent Paralegal

JOHNSON, MARCOU, ISAACS, & NIX, LLC
Hoschton, GA
01.2010 - Current
  • Prepare and file U.S. patent applications, including utility, provisional, and design filings, with full command of USPTO procedures and formal requirements
  • Coordinate international filings under the PCT and Paris Convention, including national phase entries and Article 19 and Article 34 submissions
  • Draft and manage formal documents such as declarations, assignments, and powers of attorney, including complex chain-of-title documentation
  • Maintain and oversee high-volume dockets for both U.S. and foreign matters, proactively monitoring deadlines and status updates
  • Liaise with foreign associates and clients to support global prosecution strategies and maintain alignment across jurisdictions
  • Assist with preparation of annual patent prosecution budgets and cost analysis for clients
  • Conduct due diligence reviews for ownership, assignment, and portfolio analysis
  • Spearheaded the rebranding and re-filing of 70+ U.S. and international patent applications post-merger, ensuring continuity of rights, global compliance, and zero disruption to prosecution timelines.

Patent Paralegal

KING & SPALDING LLP
Atlanta, GA
01.2006 - 01.2010
  • Assist patent attorneys with patent prosecution for clients in the areas of biotechnology, chemistry, electrical and mechanical engineering
  • Apply extensive knowledge of domestic and world-wide patent filing requirements and formal rules
  • Serve as liaison between foreign counsel and domestic patent attorneys to meet strict foreign prosecution deadlines
  • Create annual and monthly patent prosecution budgets for various clients
  • Provide firm-wide Spanish and Portuguese translation and interpretation services
  • Assist with corporate transfers of ownership and name changes in broadly filed patent portfolios.
  • Oversee foreign and domestic annuity payments
  • Meet duty of disclosure requirements before the United States Patent and Trademark Office and foreign patent offices
  • I took 'going the extra mile' to an extreme when I helped one of our clients file a patent application in Iraq at the height of the Iraq War. I was in constant communication with the Iraqi counsel and our courier regarding alternative shipping routes to get the patent application to Baghdad, its destination.

International Filing Paralegal

WOLF GREENFIELD
Boston, MA
01.2001 - 01.2006
  • Managed attorney dockets for foreign patent prosecution
  • Assisted patent attorneys with patent filing and patent prosecution in the following regions: Asia, the Middle-East, Europe, South America, North America, and the Caribbean
  • Served as liaison between foreign counsel and domestic patent attorneys
  • I mastered the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment. Within the first two years of working at Wolf Greenfield, our foreign-filing department (of four paralegals) filed nearly five hundred foreign patent applications.

ESL/Citizenship Coordinator

TRI-CITY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
, MA
01.1999 - 01.2001
  • Company Overview: Multi-service, anti-poverty agency serving the cities of Malden, Medford, and Everett, MA
  • Oversaw the English as a Second Language and Citizenship program for the tri-city area of Malden, Medford and Everett, MA
  • Designed and taught ESL and citizenship classes and supervised volunteer teachers
  • Provided assistance completing application for citizenship forms
  • Multi-service, anti-poverty agency serving the cities of Malden, Medford, and Everett, MA
  • My greatest success was when my 70-year old Vietnamese student passed her citizenship exam and became a United States citizen, an event featured in the local newspapers.

Adjunct Spanish Professor

TUFTS UNIVERSITY
Medford, MA
01.1998 - 01.2001
  • Taught Elementary and Intermediate Spanish courses to undergraduate students
  • Applied the communicative approach to teach listening comprehension, speaking, reading, writing and culture
  • Promoted development of oral and speaking skills and the practical use of language in a variety of social settings
  • During my last year of teaching, I received a 'Most Influential Person' award from one of my students. Students could award an instructor of their choice to receive this distinction.

Education

Master of Arts - Spanish

Pennsylvania State University
01.1995

Bachelor of Arts - Spanish

Pennsylvania State University
01.1992

Undergraduate Semester Abroad -

University of Salamanca
Spain
01.1990

One-year Exchange Student Program -

American Field Service Intercultural Program
Ambato, Ecuador
01.1987

Skills

  • Patent application preparation
  • International filing coordination
  • Docket management
  • Document drafting
  • Due diligence reviews
  • Budget management
  • Client communication
  • Portfolio analysis
  • Foreign counsel liaison
  • Problem solving
  • Team collaboration

Languages

Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
Portuguese
Full Professional

References

References available upon request.

Timeline

Patent Paralegal

JOHNSON, MARCOU, ISAACS, & NIX, LLC
01.2010 - Current

Patent Paralegal

KING & SPALDING LLP
01.2006 - 01.2010

International Filing Paralegal

WOLF GREENFIELD
01.2001 - 01.2006

ESL/Citizenship Coordinator

TRI-CITY COMMUNITY ACTION PROGRAM, INC.
01.1999 - 01.2001

Adjunct Spanish Professor

TUFTS UNIVERSITY
01.1998 - 01.2001

Master of Arts - Spanish

Pennsylvania State University

Bachelor of Arts - Spanish

Pennsylvania State University

Undergraduate Semester Abroad -

University of Salamanca

One-year Exchange Student Program -

American Field Service Intercultural Program

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