Iona N. Kaiser
Practice Areas
Industries
Education
- University of Houston Law Center, JD, magna cum laude, 2001
- Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, BS, chemical engineering, 1996
Bar & Court Admissions
Iona is a partner in the Vorys Houston office and a member of the technology and intellectual property group. She is a registered patent attorney, with a practice focused on patent preparation and procurement, trademark prosecution and intellectual property counseling. Iona has experience with reexamination and other post-grant procedures such as Inter Partes Review as well as with the preparation of legal opinions on issues of infringement, validity and enforceability. Iona also has significant experience in the medical device, emulsion chemistry, polymer, chemical and oilfield services industries.
Iona began her career as a process control engineer working with Hoechst Celanese after graduating from Virginia Tech University with a degree in chemical engineering. Iona began her practice of law with a mixture of patent litigation and patent prosecution. Iona’s representation of clients includes drafting and reviewing hundreds of original applications, client counseling, direction of foreign filings and management of worldwide prosecution.
During her career, Iona has written and prosecuted patents across the spectrum of the chemical arts including oilfield service applications relating to drilling, stimulation, completion, and servicing fluids; alternative fuel systems; cellulose modifications; medicine devices and compositions; and personal electronic devices. She has successfully argued appeals before the Board of Patent Appeals and Interferences and before reexamination examiners. Prior to joining Vorys, Iona was a partner with McDermott Will & Emery.
Iona is a member of the Texas State Bar, the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA), the Houston Intellectual Property Law Association (HIPLA), The National Associate of Women Lawyers (NAWL), and Texas Bar Association (TBA).
Iona received her J.D. magna cum laude from the University of Houston Law Center. She received her B.S. in chemical engineering from the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.
Professional and Community Activities
- Intellectual Property Owners Association, Member, 2017
Honors & Awards
- The Best Lawyers in America, Patent Law, 2018-2019
- The Legal 500, 2016
News
- 8/15/2018One hundred and thirteen lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease LLP were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2019.
- 8/17/2017One hundred and eight lawyers from Vorys, Sater, Seymour and Pease were recently selected by their peers for inclusion in The Best Lawyers in America® 2018.
- 1/25/2017Vorys announced that a team of four AmLaw 50 patent lawyers and their staff have joined the firm’s Houston office. Carey Jordan, Iona Kaiser and Jeremy Harrison will join as partners and Donna Haynes will join as of counsel.
Events
- 1/31/2018Vorys hosted the webinar, Year in Review: Our Top IP Developments of 2017 on January 31, 2018. Iona Kaiser, Bill Oldach, Tanya Curcio and Laura Geyer from the Vorys IP team presented.
Insights
- 9/7/2018A recent decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit changes the landscape for defendants in patent infringement cases, and in certain circumstances may limit their ability to challenge a plaintiff’s patent using the inter partes review (IPR) proceeding established in 2012.
- 12/7/2017In February 2015, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (the office) solicited comments as to whether it should recognize privilege for U.S. patent agents and foreign attorneys or agents. Following the comment period, the office published a notice and final rule in the Federal Register on Nov. 7, 2017 (82 Fed. Reg. 214 at 51572) officially recognizing the privilege, effective December 7, 2017.
- 4/7/2017Iona Kaiser, a partner in the Vorys Houston office, authored an article for Texas Lawyer about a recent case argued before the Texas Supreme Court related to non-compete agreements and geographical limitations.
- 7/15/2014Carey Jordan and Iona Kaiser, partners in the Houston office and members of the intellectual property group, co-authored an article for Nanotechnology Law & Business titled "2013 Nanotechnology Patent Literature Review: Graphitic Carbon-Based Nanotechnology and Energy Applications Are on the Rise."
- 6/1/2014Carey Jordan and Iona Kaiser, partners in the Houston office and members of the intellectual property group, co-authored an article for Intellectual Property & Technology Law Journal titled "Working with Inventors Post-AIA: Managing Inventor Challenges and Preventing Common Mistakes."
- 2/27/2014Carey Jordan and Iona Kaiser, partners in the Houston office and members of the intellectual property group, co-authored an article for IPWatchdog titled "Nanotechnology Innovation Trends."
- 6/1/2013Carey Jordan and Iona Kaiser, partners in the Houston office and members of the intellectual property group, co-authored an article for Nanotechnology Law & Business titled "2012 Nanotechnology Patent Review."
- 1/8/2013Carey Jordan and Iona Kaiser, partners in the Houston office and members of the intellectual property group, co-authored an article for Law360 titled "Texas Could Lead the Nanotech Revolution."
- 9/1/2012Carey Jordan and Iona Kaiser, partners in the Houston office and members of the intellectual property group, co-authored an article for Nanotechnology Law & Business titled "Nanotechnology Patent Survey: Who Will be the Leaders in the Fifth Technology Revolution?"