Sima S. Kulkarni

Special Counsel

  • Sima S. Kulkarni
  • Phone: +1 215 979 1847

    Import to Address Book

  • Duane Morris LLP
    30 South 17th Street
    Philadelphia, PA 19103-4196
    USA

Sima S. Kulkarni has over two decades of experience practicing in the area of intellectual property law with a focus on patent and trademark prosecution for clients in the biotech, life sciences, chemical arts and food technology industries. Ms. Kulkarni conducts all aspects of global patent and trademark portfolio prosecution, including obtaining invention disclosures, application drafting, response submission, appeals, on-site Patent Office interviews, inter-partes review (strategy and support) and risk assessment (FTO). She is a member of the firm's Life Sciences and Medical Technologies industry group as well as the Technology Transactions, Licensing and Commercial Contracts group. Ms. Kulkarni’s practice also focuses on FemTech-related companies, including those that are led by women and those that cater to the diverse interests and experiences of women in various aspects of their lives.”

Ms Kulkarni has advised numerous start-up companies with regard to the creation and implementation of intellectual property infrastructure resulting in significant fundraising and partnering opportunities for such companies. Most recently, Ms. Kulkarni supported a Maryland-based life science company in attracting funding from a multi-billion dollar fund allowing the company to enter into clinical development with their cutting-edge nanoparticle therapeutic technology to be paired with cell and gene therapy.

Ms. Kulkarni is a 1996 graduate of the University of Georgia School of Law, where she was on the editorial board of the Intellectual Property Law Journal. Ms. Kulkarni received an M.S. in Biology from Georgia State University and a dual B.Sc. Biology and B.A. Philosophy from Emory University.  Ms. Kulkarni has also worked at the Ronald McDonald Cancer Research Center assisting on oncology and hematological research projects.

Admissions

  • Pennsylvania
  • Georgia
  • U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)

Education

  • University of Georgia School of Law, J.D., 1996
    - Editorial Board, Intellectual Property Law Journal
  • Georgia State University, M.S., Biology, 1992
  • Emory University, B.Sc. Biology, 1992
  • Emory University, B.A., Philosophy, 1992

Experience

  • Duane Morris LLP - Special Counsel, 2022-present
  • DLA Piper - Of Counsel, 2016-2022
  • KPPB Law - Of Counsel, 2015-2016
  • SK Intellectual Property - Founder and Principal Attorney, 2011-2013
  • Johnson & Associates - Sr. Patent Counsel, 2010-2011
  • King & Spalding - IP Counsel, 2006-2010
  • Kilpatrick Stockton - IP Associate, 2000-2006
  • Jones & Askew - IP Trademark Associate, 1996-2000

Honors and Awards

  • Selected to Metro Philadelphia's AAPI Power Players List, 2024

Professional Activities

  • Philadelphia Alliance for Capital and Technologies (PACT)
    - FemTech Advisory Board Lead
  • Women in Bio
    - Founding Member
    -  Advisory Board, 2021-present
    - Chapter Chair, 2020-2021
    - Program Committee Vice-Chair, 2016-2019
  • South Asian Bar Association of Georgia
    - Founding Organizer

  • Selected for participation in Buckhead Business Leadership Development Program

Selected Speaking Engagements

  • Presenter, "Innovation & Intellectual Property Summer Education Series," L2C Partners and Villanova University, June 12, 2025
  • Moderator, "From Fundraising to Exit: How to Build a Startup's Legal Armor," SAPA-GP @Philly Cell and Gene Therapy Annual Conference, June 15, 2024
  • Presenter, "Introduction to Patents," MTEC Educational Webinar Series on Intellectual Property, June 12, 2024
  • Presenter, "IP Concerns Start-Ups," Global Entrepreneurship Week, PhillyVIP, Annually, November 2019-2023
  • Panelist, "Intellectual Property and Licensing," Cell and Gene Conference, Drexel Law, Center for Law & Transformational Technology, November 10, 2023
  • Speaker, "Alternative Career Paths for Science Professionals-IP Law," Clinical Research Management Network at Rutgers School of Health Professions, October 17, 2023
  • Panelist, "People You Should Know in Lifesciences," Philadelphia’s Center City Business Organization, October 3, 2023
  • Judge for Poster Presentations at Life Sciences Pennsylvania's event: Life Sciences Future - Biopharm, September 27, 2023
  • Presenter, Start-up Challenge and Accelerator: Fostering Entrepreneurial Diversity on Legal Considerations for Early Stage Life Sciences Companies, NIA, September 19, 2023
  • Panelist, "The Intersection of Science and Technology Accelerating Innovation and Breakthroughs," Philly Builds Bio, September 12, 2023
  • Presenter, Philly Cell and Gene Therapy Annual Conference on Legal Considerations for early stage life sciences start-ups, (SAPA), June 23, 2023
  • Frequent presenter at the University City Science Center on topics relating to legal considerations for early stage life sciences start-ups, including:
    - Capital Readiness Program, February 2023 and June 2023
    - Science Center and Assuta -Rise with the US Program with Israeli Start-Up Cohort, July 2023

Selected Publications