Deeply committed to intellectual property law as the great intersection of law, science and business, Penny’s clients depend on her to safeguard their important innovations and brands.
Overview
A registered patent attorney, Penny applies her extensive experience in patent and trademark matters in the U.S. and internationally to help clients avoid infringement claims and protect their most valuable intellectual property. She has extensive experience in both patent and trademark prosecution, clearance opinions, licensing, due diligence, and other IP agreement work, as well as infringement assessments, cease and desist matters, trademark opposition and cancellation proceedings, and patent litigation before the US Patent Trial and Appeal Board, District Courts and the Federal Circuit.
Penny’s patent practice is directed to a variety of different mechanical and chemical inventions with specific focus on consumer products and industrial processes and equipment. She advises on freedom to operate concerns and guides early assessment and strategic direction for patent litigation matters. Her trademark experience includes managing international trademark portfolios and counseling clients on the adoption, use and infringement of valuable trademark assets.
Experience
Penny serves as outside IP general counsel for companies in all aspects of patent, trademark and copyright prosecution and enforcement strategies in various industries with particular focus on consumer products companies and OEM suppliers.
She manages the international trademark portfolio of a major sporting goods company and oversees the cease-and-desist enforcement program to protect its well-known brands.
Penny assisted a major manufacturer develop and introduce a new mechanical product/system into a competitive field, evaluating competitor patent portfolios, assessing risks and potential design-around alternatives, and providing freedom to operate opinions.
News & Insights
News
Recognitions
Recognitions
Recognized by Best Lawyers with the "Lawyer of the Year" award in Litigation – Intellectual Property, 2020, 2025
Recognized by Best Lawyers with the "Lawyer of the Year" award in Patent Law, 2024
Recognized in The Best Lawyers in America® list for Intellectual Property Law and Patent Law for over 15 years
Named a “Top 50 Under 45” IP lawyer in IP Law and Businesses, May 2008
Penny is listed as AV® Preeminent™ by Martindale Hubbell
Professional & Civic Activities
Professional & Civic Activities
International Trademark Association
American Intellectual Property Law Association
The Missouri Bar
Kansas City Metropolitan Bar Association
Women Lawyers Association
Practices & Industries
- Intellectual Property & Technology
- Copyright Litigation
- Patent Litigation
- Patent Preparation & Prosecution
- Copyright Protection
- Trademark Prosecution & Brand Management
- Trademark, Trade Dress, False Advertising & Unfair Competition Litigation
- Biotechnology
- Chemical & Pharmaceutical
- IP & Technology M&A Due Diligence
- IP & Technology Transactions
- Mechanical
- Trade Secret Litigation
Admissions
- Missouri, 1990
- U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, 1989
Education
University of Missouri – Kansas City, J.D., 1990
College of the Ozarks, B.A., Chemistry, cum laude, 1987