Mary An Merchant has been practicing intellectual property law for over 25 years. Ms. Merchant began her practice in Atlanta, Georgia, at the intellectual property boutique law firm, Jones & Askew, where she became a partner in 2000. Jones & Askew merged with Kilpatrick, Townsend & Stockton, where she was a partner for several years before establishing medical device/ pharmaceutical/ biotechnology intellectual practices as a partner with Troutman Sanders, Ballard Spahr, and Morris, Manning & Martin. Ms. Merchant has published many articles on intellectual property law and a book about the America Invents Act of 2011. Currently, Ms. Merchant serves as legal counsel to Femasys Inc. and Poly-Med, Inc. Ms. Merchant holds a BA in Biology from Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, a PhD in Virology from the University of Florida College of Medicine and a JD from University of Florida College of Law.