The world is moving towards a knowledge economy and innovations are being considered as an important tool for technological development and economic growth. Intellectual property right, a bridge connecting innovation to economic growth, has always attracted innovators, investors, start-ups, academicians, etc.
An Intellectual Property Practitioner, Registered Patent and Trademark Agent with Doctorate in Bioinformatics, Dr. Shivani Shrivastava is a perfect blend of law and technology.
Currently, Shivani is an Associate Partner at LexOrbis, India’s premier Intellectual Property law firm, providing end-to-end services related to all aspects of IP laws, including advisory and consultancy, asset identification and clearances, procurement, protection, transactional, enforcement, and litigations. Having vast experience of more than 14 years she has been advising and assisting individuals, startups, SMEs to identify and protect their IP assets.
She works closely with clients and handles their IP portfolio. She is regularly advising and mentoring clients on building and managing IP. She is also impaneled with the Government of India as a facilitator under the startup India scheme to advise and assist DPIIT recognized startups to protect their patent, trademark, and design matters. She has filed more than 200 applications under SIPP (Scheme for Intellectual Property Protection) for DPIIT recognized startup.
A Journey Full of Passion and Determination
Her legal journey starts with receiving a scholarship from TIFAC (Department of Science &Technology, Government of India) under WOS-C in the year 2006 for training in IPR. WOS-C scheme has given her a platform and exposure to IPR. Working with various organizations including Government bodies, IP boutique firms, IP Law Firms, etc, helped her transition from the technical to a techno-legal domain. Being a registered Patent and Trademark agent, Shivani handles all forms of IP which includes patents, trademark, industrial design, and copyrights. She handled projects related to patentability searches, freedom to operate analysis, patent landscape, drafting and filing the patent applications, patent prosecution, trademark filing and prosecution, industrial designs registration, copyright filing, etc. She is also involved in IP valuation, due diligence, technology transfer, licensing, etc. She mostly specializes in Bio, chemical, pharma related inventions, licensing and commercialization of patents, and end to end trademark registration process.
Understanding customer requirements, pain points, and providing useful insights, and helping them to create a strong IP strategy has always fascinated her.
From Paper Documents to Digital Documents
Being a tech-savvy IP practitioner, Shivani is using technology for day to day work which includes, client communication, client meetings, filing of applications, etc. Digitization of documents at the office makes the easy transfer of information among colleagues and clients. Using databases for clients, projects, and docket management helps to get quick information and keeping track of the projects, deadlines, and any upcoming action. The arrangement already placed in practice helped a lot in managing work amid the covid-19 pandemic and provide uninterrupted services to the clients.
In the opinion of Shivani, e-court platforms and digitization of the judicial process was always needed. Current changes in the process due to Covid-19 can be considered as a revolution in the legal field. This would help streamline the process and increase the efficiency of courts and law firms. Digitization of documents allows easy access to the same even from a remote location.
Spreading IP Awareness
Having worked with hundreds of individuals, startups, and small entities, Shivani has mentored them on various aspects and implications of IP. She has involved herself in conducting many IP workshops to spread IP awareness. Lexorbis is also associated with various government and autonomous bodies like DST, DBT, MeitY, CII, FICCI, ASSOCHAM to participate in IP awareness programs.
Shivani understands the importance of IP and would like to be part of more IP awareness programs to spread IP knowledge. Apart from polishing her existing knowledge, she keeps working to acquire new skill sets that would help her to become an influential leader; “a woman leader”.
