Emer is a partner in the Intellectual Property practice group. A registered patent attorney, she is an accomplished litigator with substantial experience successfully representing both patent challengers and patent owners in Hatch-Waxman and patent infringement matters before the U.S. District Court and the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB).
With a science degree from Cambridge University, Emer possesses a keen understanding of the pharmaceutical, chemical, and biotech fields. She focuses her practice on client counseling and patent litigation in the life sciences space, with a particular focus on pharmaceuticals.
Emer prides herself on building strong relationships with clients to assist them in decision making to support their business objectives. Clients rely on Emer’s ability to apply her knowledge of science and the law to develop and defend their intellectual property throughout its life cycle. She collaborates with research and development teams to maximize the value of new product and line extension efforts and deftly navigate freedom to operate issues.
Emer is always prepared to vigorously advocate for her clients at trial should the need arise. She has extensive experience managing complex pharmaceutical patent disputes before the U.S. District Court and on appeal to the Federal Circuit, including management of parallel inter partes review (IPR) proceedings.
Originally from Ireland, Emer is a qualified barrister. Prior to joining the firm, Emer was a partner at Green, Griffith & Borg-Breen LLP. She is highly lauded for her legal acumen. In 2020, she was chosen as one of the top “40 Under 40 Illinois Attorneys to Watch” by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin, honored as one of “Chicago’s Notable Women Lawyers” by Crain’s Custom Media and named an “IP Star” by Managing IP. Emer is a member of the firm's Women's Network.
Representative Matters
- InfoRLife SA and WG Critical Care, LLC v. Hikma Pharmaceuticals USA, Inc. – Counsel for Hikma in Hatch-Waxman litigation concerning Hikma’s Abbreviated New Drug Application for midazolam 0.9% sodium chloride (50 mg/50 ml and 100mg/100 ml) solution, for intravenous use.
- Represented NDA holder and patent owner in Hatch-Waxman litigation concerning Cambia® (diclofenac potassium powder for oral solution). Obtained favorable settlement.
- Represented 503B outsourced compounding manufacturer in a trade secret action brought in federal district court regarding vasopressin for injection. That litigation was successfully settled.
- Successfully defended private pharmaceutical company at trial against alleged infringement of Orange Book-listed patents for lansoprazole delayed-released orally disintegrating tablets (ODT). As a result of this ruling, the first lansoprazole ODT product was sold Over-The-Counter (“OTC”) in the U.S. market.
- Counsel for innovator company in multiple Hatch-Waxman litigations filed against generic drug companies concerning RAVICTI® for the treatment of UCD in patients two months of age and older. Those litigations were successfully settled.
- Counsel for innovator company in Hatch-Waxman litigation filed against generic drug companies concerning Rayos®. That litigation was successfully settled.
- Represented multinational pharmaceutical company in litigation arising from its Abbreviated New Drug Application seeking approval to market a generic desvenlafaxine product. That litigation was successfully settled.
- Represented multinational pharmaceutical company in litigation related to its generic quinapril product. That litigation was successfully settled.
- Represented pharmaceutical company in litigation arising from its Abbreviated New Drug Application seeking approval to market generic oxycodone extended release products.
- Represented pharmaceutical company in litigation arising from its Abbreviated New Drug Application seeking approval to market a generic posaconazole product.
- Represented multinational pharmaceutical company in litigation arising from its Abbreviated New Drug Application seeking approval to market a generic choline fenofibrate product. That litigation was successfully settled.
- Represented pharmaceutical company at trial in litigation arising from its Abbreviated New Drug Application seeking approval to market a generic pemetrexed product.
PTAB
- Lead counsel for Fonterra Cooperative Group Limited and Fonterra (USA) Inc. in IPRs challenging U.S. Patent Nos. 10,709,146 and 10,729,150 assigned to Arla Foods AMBA concerning whey protein products.
- Successfully defended a pharmaceutical company’s Orange Book-listed patent for its RAVICTI® product in an IPR proceeding against competitor. Competitor appealed PTAB’s decision to the Federal Circuit. The Federal Circuit affirmed per curiam PTAB’s decision upholding the patentability of client’s ’012 patent.
- Successfully defended a pharmaceutical company in multiple IPR proceedings filed by competitor against client’s patents relating to its RAVICTI® . Pursuant to a settlement agreement reached between the parties, the IPRs were terminated.
- Represented pharmaceutical company in defending IPR proceedings filed by multinational pharmaceutical competitor against client’s patents relating to its RAVICTI® product. Pursuant to a settlement agreement reached between the parties, the IPRs were terminated.
- Represented pharmaceutical company in defending IPR proceedings filed by competitor against client’s patents relating to its RAVICTI® product. Client appealed PTAB’s final written decision to the Federal Circuit. Pursuant to a settlement agreement reached between the parties, competitor withdrew as Appellees from the Federal Circuit Appeal.
- Selected as one of the top “40 Under 40 Illinois Attorneys to Watch” by the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin in 2020
- Honored in “Chicago’s Notable Women Lawyers” by Crain’s Custom Media, 2020
- Listed in Intellectual Asset Management’s (IAM) Patent 1000 in Litigation, 2020-2022: Silver - Illinois.
- Named as an “IP Star,” Managing IP, 2020, 2022
- Named in the Illinois Rising Stars list, as published in Illinois Super Lawyers, 2012‐2021
- Selected by peers as a Leading Lawyer in Intellectual Property Law and Patent Law–Leading Lawyers Network, 2016–2022
- The Best Lawyers in America, recommended in “Litigation - Patent” since 2023
Bar Admissions
Court Admissions
- State of Illinois Supreme Court
- U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
- U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois
- American Bar Association
- Intellectual Property Owners Association
- The Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, Secretary (2021); Board Member (2020-present)
- Chicago Women in IP