Kulene Dicerce

**** ********* ******, **

Apt ***e

Washington, D.C. 20016

202-***-**** Home and 202-***-**** Cell

A highly experienced Docketing/Foreign Filing Specialist who has demonstrated the ability to lead diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in a variety of intellectual property environments. Strong technical and business qualifications with an impressive track record of more than 20 years of hands-on experience in intellectual property support positions, including secretarial, litigation, docketing and training. Proven ability to successfully analyze and identify deficiencies and potential opportunities, and develop innovative and effective solutions for enhancing efficient docketing department procedures, increasing responsive team participation, and improving docketing department service offerings.

Professional Experience

Roylance, Abrams, Berdo and Goodman, L.L.P., Washington, D.C.

2001 – current IP Administrator

Hired as temporary assistant in docketing department and have eventually been promoted and motived to become the Firm’s IP Administrator. Responsible for maintaining, formatting and servicing Firm PATTSY database, including upgrades, maintenance and justification of daily actions both US and foreign; act as foreign filing specialist to prepare, organize and maintain foreign filing docket, records and file jackets, including obtaining instructions from clients, processing those instructions, billing and reporting actions; order certified copies as required for priority perfection in foreign countries, review incoming emails and annotate docket records as required; work closely with clients to assist in all aspects of their needs related to foreign prosecution of their RABG matters, including providing annotated dockets to several client’s as requested; and other portfolio reports as requested; act as foreign trademark specialist responsible for filing new foreign trademarks and handling renewals docket; including opening new matters, filing new trademarks, formalizing, billing and reporting; act as US docket clerk, including docketing official actions, forwarding, billing and reporting actions, 2nd reviewing docketed actions by others; troubleshooting for US prosecution matters, including lost documents, status checks and obtaining copies as requested, supervising transfers and the coordination of merging client records and/or files, opening and logging PTO mail as necessary; justify daily docket for non-extendible matters; payment of US Maintenance Fees, including obtaining instructions from clients, paying fees, billing and reporting same to clients; opening new matters as requested, including creating file jackets and corresponding database records; maintain Firm US PTO deposit account. Have worked to develop and provide sustainable and continuous service for an ever changing department over the past 15 years.

Banner & Witcoff, Ltd., Washington, D.C.

Docketing Supervisor : Assumed supervisory docketing position for Washington, DC office, designed and implemented 24-hour procedure for handling all of the Firms incoming papers; coordinated database product transfer to update Firm’s docketing process and procedures, including automation of annuities payment, hired and trained support staff, worked closely with attorney’s for development of in-house procedures for adherence to new docketing systems and processes.

Chandler Law Firm, Washington, D.C.

Trademark Specialist : Worked as trademark specialist for boutique firm that handled trademark matters for major telecommunications corporation; prepared and filed trademarks around the world; maintained database files and worked with corporate team for expanding the brand around the globe.

Penny & Edmonds, Washignton, D.C.

Patent Secretary/Litigation Specialist : Hired as legal secretary to senior partner who actually worked in NYC Office; became part of team that worked for biotech group and assisted with docketing duties and litigation support.

Foley & Lardner, L.L.P., Washington, D.C.

Patent Secretary : Patent secretary to senior biotech partner; organized and streamlined expanding practice; including designing a procedure for firm wide billing systems and supervised merger from local firm to Foley & Lardner family. Supervised patent docket for biotech team with annual receipts of over $6 million.

Fleit Jacobson, Washington, D.C.

Litigation Specialist/Patent Secretary : Litigation Specialist with team that prosecuted two ITC actions involving commercial grade plastic products for use in the United States; generally responsible for the preparation of exhibits and preparatory work for witness depositions and testimony; appealed case to the federal circuit and participated on team until final judgment and clean-up; then worked as patent secretary to senior partner.

Pierson, Semmes and Finley, Washington, D.C.

Legal Secretary/Litigation Specialist : Legal secretary for several partners over a six year tenure with the Firm, which specialized in energy practice, and represented large natural gas pipeline companies during the deregulation period of Take-or-Pay; prepared government filings for FERC, and became the Firm specialist in preparing briefs for various court actions (this was prior to lap tops!) during the deregulation period. Spent time as litigation specialist on several law suits, traveling with the legal team and setting up the temporary office space and supervising the opening of temporary staff and assets.

Education

1977 Catholic Central High School, Troy, NY

1981 University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland/ Brockport State University, Brockport, NY

Bachelor of Arts, Political Science/Women’s Studies

1983 University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario Canada

Masters of Arts, International Relations

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