Richard Gearhart’s Commitment to Human Health Patents, Purpose and Progress
There’s more than one way to change the world.
As the founding partner of Gearhart Law in Summit, Richard Gearhart, Esq., utilizes his decades’ worth of life sciences legal expertise (including a stint leading the U.S. Patent and Trademark group for Novartis Pharmaceuticals) to advise pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, diagnostics and health-technology companies on establishing patents, trademarks, licensing and intellectual property-driven commercialization strategies. What do these formal words mean to everyday patients in the U.S. and beyond? Simply put, Richard is there for startups and other entities responsible for prolonging or even saving their lives. “I was always passionate about trying to improve health, so I thought assisting in the preparation of medicines and medical devices was something that was really beneficial,” Richard says of his decision to launch Gearhart Law 20 years ago last month. “The pharmaceutical industry especially considers intellectual property and getting patents to protect medicines absolutely crucial to its business model.”
starting his practice, with their initial face-to-face meeting setting the foundation for a referral relationship that exists to this day.
“We met for lunch, and he was especially supportive and very knowledgeable,” Richard recalls. “He also had a rare mix of business sense, legal intuition and industry background. Those things position him uniquely in advising startups and life sciences businesses.
“I consider Phil a personal friend. He’s given me advice, and I’ve listened. Sometimes, I’ve supported him as well. What I like most about Phil is that he always acts with the highest levels of integrity and honesty. We both feel it’s more important to counsel a client in that client’s best interest rather than our own.” Speaking of Crowley Law, Richard was intrigued to learn that the light bulb and the transistor easily led the pack in the firm’s recent client survey of the most critical patents in American history. “It’s undeniable that electric light was a huge innovation that contributed to better human living conditions, including letting you work late into the night! Also, where would we be without our electronics, computers, phones, devices and
While Gearhart Law’s vast client base ensures no two days at the firm are the same, Richard is dedicated to helping innovative entrepreneurs navigate the common processes necessary to succeed. Early consultation with the firm is essential for startups to formulate a plan to file a provisional patent application and take the steps necessary to avoid premature public disclosures, such as drafting and implementing nondisclosure or confidentiality agreements. Above all, he advises clients to take a realistic, appropriately paced approach to pursuing their hoped-for patents. “One of the things that’s really important, whether it’s a patent or a trademark, is to understand the patent landscape before going
too far down the road in research and development. You want to make sure whatever you’re doing is new and original and doesn’t fall within the scope of someone else’s patent. “Waiting too long is another common mistake,” he adds. “There are deadlines that need to be respected in the U.S. and in other countries. Sometimes, inventors deprioritize the patent filing and, as a consequence, can lose out.” Considering Richard’s lengthy professional career in New Jersey, it’s no surprise he would eventually cross paths with Philip Crowley of Crowley Law LLC. The two first became acquainted when Philip was
televisions? All of that was made possible by the transistor; it’s a facet of just about everything that we’ve created since. It’s hard to top either invention, simply for the other technologies they made possible.”
As for what’s possible in the future, Richard remains committed to advancing human health with every new day at his firm.
“Helping people who are sick get better and live longer, healthier lives is one of the highest callings we can work on.”
For more information on Richard Gearhart and Gearhart Law, please visit GearhartLaw.com .
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