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Joan Optican Herman

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Partner

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(913) 647-9057

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Joan has almost 40 years of experience in the intellectual property field, where she regularly advises clients on patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret matters. Joan's depth of experience allows her to work closely with her clients through all development and growth phases to build a long-lasting and valuable intellectual property portfolio.

Joan's extensive trademark experience includes handling large inernational portfolios as well as small regional portfolios, regularly counseling clients in the trademark selection and search process, prosecuting trademark applications through registration, both in the U.S. and in foreign venues, and maintaining appeals, oppositions and cancellations before the Trademark Trial and Appeal Board. Her practice also includes defending her clients' trademark rights from infringement, from contacting infringers through the settlement or litigation process.

In addition, Joan prosecutes and defends her clients in domain name dispute proceedings before the World Intellectual Property Organization.

Likewise, Joan counsels clients in the patent area, including patentability and noninfringement opinions, prosecution of patents, both in the U.S. and in foreign venues, and appeals before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences. Although Joan has worked in a variety of technology areas, her primary experience has been in the chemical and mechanical fields.

Joan's business counseling practice also includes a variety of transactional matters, including licenses, assignments, a variety of business agreements, and general counseling. She also maintains large intellectual property portfolios for clients both domestically and internationally, and works with clients to recognize their continually updated needs.

Areas Of Practice

  • Intellectual Property
  • Trademark Rights

Bar Admissions

  • Missouri, 1987
  • Texas, 1984
  • Kansas, 1987
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 1984

Education

  • Tulane Law School, New Orleans, Louisiana
    • Juris Doctor - 1984
    • Honors: cum laude
  • Tulane University
    • Bachelor of Science - 1982
    • Honors: cum laude
    • Major: Chemistry

Professional Associations and Memberships

  • Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association (KCMBA)
  • American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
  • American Bar Association (ABA)
  • Association for Women Lawyers of Greater Kansas City (AWLKC)
  • Missouri Bar Association (MoBar)

Honors and Awards

  • Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® for Trade Secrets Law - 2023