Melissa M. Haulcomb

Melissa Haulcomb is an associate at Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik LLP.

Litigation

Dr. Haulcomb’s practice focuses on intellectual property litigation, with emphasis on patent infringement suits arising under the Hatch-Waxman Amendments to the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act and Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act (BPCIA). Dr. Haulcomb has experience with respect to a wide range of pharmaceutical technologies, including biologics and biosimilars, small molecules, pharmaceutical compounds and formulations, methods of treatment, dosing regimens, and various diagnostic tests and methods. Dr. Haulcomb is experienced in nearly every stage of litigation including pre-suit strategy development and notice letters, motion practice, fact and expert discovery, claim construction, mediations, and pre-trial preparation. Dr. Haulcomb is also experienced in appellate practice, including oral argument before the Federal Circuit. In addition to her practice in federal court, Dr. Haulcomb has experience with arbitrations and various proceedings before the USPTO’s Patent Trial and Appeal Board, as well as Section 337 Investigations before the International Trade Commission (ITC). In addition, Dr. Haulcomb has experience with contract disputes and complex license agreements involving intellectual property rights. She has also assisted with preparation of freedom to operate opinions and other due-diligence efforts.

Previous Experience

Prior to joining Rakoczy Molino Mazzochi Siwik LLP as an associate, Dr. Haulcomb was an associate in the Intellectual Property Litigation Group at K&L Gates LLP.

Prior to her legal career, Dr. Haulcomb had an extensive scientific career. She has technical experience in the life sciences, including neuroscience, molecular biology, and preclinical phases of drug development such as screening assays, target validation, H2L and lead optimization processes, experimental design, in vitro ADME and cell culture testing, in vivo pharmacology, formulation analysis, and in vivo efficacy testing. Dr. Haulcomb also has technical experience in clinical chemistry diagnostics, test method development and validation, physical and wet chemistry testing, immunology, neurodegenerative diseases, psychiatric disorders, neurochemistry, learning and memory processes, microscopy, as well as analysis of gene and protein expression.

A list of Dr. Haulcomb’s technical publications can be accessed via the following link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/myncbi/melissa.haulcomb.1/bibliography/public/.

Pro Bono Experience

Dr. Haulcomb has assisted the Illinois Torture Inquiry & Relief Commission (TIRC) in reviewing and investigating claims of torture at the hands of law enforcement under the Illinois Torture Inquiry and Relief Commission Act. Dr. Haulcomb has also assisted the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC) in their representation of asylum seekers both at the application stage and during removal proceedings. Dr. Haulcomb has also provided assistance to individuals through Chicago Volunteer Legal Services (CVLS).