Place of Employment: The Joint Commission
Area of Practice: Corporate Law and Intellectual Property
Year of Admittance: 2022
CBA Involvement: CBA @ the Bar blog steering committee member, Creative Arts Committee Co-Chair
A Paragraph Describing Your Professional Background: Before pursuing a legal career, Natalie spent several years in the microbiology department at Evanston Hospital where she conducted comparative research studies, performed quality control testing, and worked on state-of-the-art medical device technology. After doing a swift 180 and finding law as her true calling, Natalie focused her efforts into intellectual property. Natalie spent a few years advising clients on matters pertaining to trademarks, copyrights, and patents. In this capacity, she represented clients across diverse sectors such as technology, healthcare, manufacturing, and consumer goods, maximizing the value organizations derived from innovation initiatives amidst dynamic regulatory landscapes.
Natalie is currently the Assistant General Counsel with The Joint Commission, where she provides comprehensive legal support, advises on contractual issues, and manages various other legal matters to support TJC’s mission to empower healthcare organizations, public health agencies, and others in improving the quality and safety of patient care.
Prior to law school, Natalie attended Loyola University Chicago and received a Bachelor of Science in Molecular Biology, with a minor in Biostatistics, gaining valuable co-op experience in pharmaceuticals as well as research and development.
Natalie’s background in science in combination with a broad range of IP experience allows her to provide a unique and multidimensional perspective on the legal and business issues that companies encounter.
A Paragraph Describing Your Interests When You Aren’t Billing or Blogging:
When Natalie is not busy working or entertaining her cat, she loves traveling and seeing the world. A big foodie and avid theater-nerd – she can also be found tasting new cuisines, attending the latest show on Chicago’s Broadway stage, or binging a season of Doctor Who.
Best thing about being a lawyer: Learning something new every single day and being able to help people along the way. The people encountered in this profession consistently inspire growth and the discovery of innovative solutions to the legal challenges encountered.
Pieces by Natalie:
Anonymity in the World of Intellectual Property
U.S. v. Bertelsmann SE & CO. KGaA: The Publishing Trial of The Century
A Winding Web: The Importance and Nuances of Licensing Agreements