TAMPA, FL.—As Tampa Bay cements its position as an attractive location for company headquarters and a flourishing technology and startup hub, Shumaker is reinforcing its intellectual property (IP) team with new talent.
The firm is delighted to welcome Samantha Regala as a new associate, fully licensed in the State of Florida and registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). At Shumaker, Samantha will specialize in transactional and litigation IP work, encompassing trademarks, patents, copyrights, and trade secrets.
"As the number of tech companies and startups in Tampa Bay continue to soar, safeguarding their innovations through robust IP law becomes paramount," said Mindi Richter, Shumaker Partner and Intellectual Property and Technology Regional Service Line Leader. "To meet the surging demand for IP protection, Shumaker is expanding its capabilities to support and foster innovation and growth throughout our region."
Samantha joins the firm’s IP team, which already includes six accomplished female IP attorneys. One of the team's goals is to address the patent gender gap both in terms of female patent attorneys and female patent holders. Despite women founding roughly half of all U.S. startups and constituting the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, only 13 percent of patents are held by women.
"We acknowledge this disparity and are dedicated to increasing female patent attorney numbers and empowering women inventors to obtain the intellectual property protections they require to attract investment and attain sustainable success," affirmed Mindi.
In addition, Shumaker has introduced new scholarships for women and minority students who are interested in IP law. The Shumaker Undergraduate Diversity Science Scholarship grants tuition support and includes a paid summer internship with IP professionals at Shumaker. By providing opportunities for underrepresented groups to pursue careers in IP law, Shumaker aspires to inspire the next generation of diverse legal professionals.