Jonathan M. Benns, Ph.D.
Registered Patent Attorney • Partner
Education
J.D., University of Utah, S.J. Quinney College of Law
Ph. D., University of Utah, Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry
B. S., University of Utah, Chemical Engineering
Expertise
U. S. Patent Prosecution • International Patent Prosecution Licensing • Transactional Work & Client Counseling
Jonathan Benns is a shareholder and an intellectual property attorney with Maschoff Brennan, where he focuses on patent drafting and prosecution of international patent applications in order to obtain granted patents all across the world. He has particular experience in preparing patent applications that provide the required basis and support for obtaining international patent claims that result in broad coverage for patent protection in each jurisdiction. His experience in handling both domestic and international patent prosecution, whether locally or foreign sourced, gives his clients a unique advantage from obtaining counsel based on seasoned education in the intellectual property arts. Jonathan frequently provides counsel on numerous patent issues to advise his clients on clearance inquiries, patentability assessments, freedom-to-operate reviews, infringement analyses, non-infringement strategies, and other patent-related issues.
Dr. Benns received his Bachelor of Science degree in chemical engineering in 1996 from the University of Utah. He then received his Ph.D. in pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical chemistry in 2001 from the University of Utah, and then he received his J.D. from S. J. Quinney College of Law at the University of Utah in 2004. Now, he leverages those experiences to provide technology-based intellectual property law counsel to his clients. During his legal career, Jonathan has had the opportunity to broaden his technological background to work on a number of complex inventions from areas ranging from chemistry, pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to nutraceuticals, biocompatible medical devices, complex materials, laser semiconductors, analytical and diagnostic equipment, distance measurement and imaging systems, and artificial intelligence systems for complex chemical structure generation.
My Focus
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Technical Experience
Pharmaceuticals
Biotechnology & Life Sciences
Chemistry
Chemical and Fuels Engineering
Polymers
Polymer Chemistry
Nanotechnology
Nucleic Acid Technology
Nucleic Acid Delivery
SiRNA and RNAi Technology
Genetics
Gene Therapy
Virology
Immunodiagnostics
Nutraceuticals
Medical and Dental Device Technology
Energy and Fuel Technologies
Plastics
Material Sciences – Starches, Cementitious Materials, Biodegradable Consumer Products, Foam Materials and Product, and Asphalt Products
Inkjet Technology
Computer Systems, Software, E-Commerce, Business Methods & Information Technology
Bioinformatics
Bioanalytical Systems and Software
Computer Diagnostic Systems for Compositions
Automated High Throughput Systems and Software
Automated High Content Systems and Software
Rapid Prototyping Systems
Alternative Energy
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Professional Admissions & Associations
Utah State Bar
Registered Patent Attorney
American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)
American Bar Association (ABA)
Supreme Court Historical Society
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Publications & Presentations
Optimization of Factors Influencing Transfection Efficiency of Folate-PEG-Folate-Graft Polyethylenimine JM Benns et al., J of Controlled Release; 79(1-3): 255-69 (2002).
Folate-PEG-Folate-Graft Polyethylenimine-Based Cytokine Gene Delivery for Cancer Treatment JM Benns et al., J of Drug Targeting; 9(2): 123-39 (2001).
pH-Sensitive Cationic Polymer Gene Delivery Vehicle: N-Ac-Poly(L-histidine)-Graft-Poly(L-lysine) Comb Shaped Polymer JM Benns et al., Bioconjugate Chemistry; 11(5): 637-45 (2000).
Tailoring New Gene Delivery Designs for Specific Targets JM Benns et al., J of Drug Targeting; 8(1): 1-12 (2000).
International Symposium Extracts
Folate-PEG-Folate-Graft Polyethylenimine Gene Carrier JM Benns et al.
International Symposium on Biomaterials and Drug Delivery Systems In Conjunction with 2nd Asian International Symposium on Polymeric Biomaterials Science Cheju Island, Korea (2000)
Transport Into Cytoplasm Via pH Sensitive Cationic Polymer Gene Delivery Vehicle: N-Ac-Poly(L-histidine)-Graft-Poly(L-lysine) Comb Shaped Polymer JM Benns et al.
26th International Symposium on Controlled Release of Bioactive Materials Boston, MA (1999)
Sequence Listing Requirements in Patent Applications – Continued Legal Education Seminar Salt Lake City, UT May 16, 2008
A Chemical Engineer in Patent Law – Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT – Chemical Engineering 4755 guest lecture: Jan. 24, 2006
Merck v. Integra: Infringement or FDA Exemption? – Continued Legal Education Seminar Salt Lake City, UT – Jul 1, 2005
Gene Therapy and Gene Delivery – Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT – Pharmaceutics 7030 guest lecture: Apr. 20, 2001, Apr. 17, 2002, and Apr. 17, 2003
Tailoring Functional Polymeric Gene Carriers – Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT – Doctoral Dissertation Defense: Apr. 11, 2001
Folate-PEG-Folate-Graft Polyethylenimine Gene Delivery – Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry – University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT – Seminar: Nov. 20, 2000
Enhanced Transfection by pH Sensitive Cationic Polymer – Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT – Seminar: Jan. 10, 2000
Advanced Gene Delivery Designs – Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Chemistry, University of Utah – Salt Lake City, UT – Seminar: Oct. 26, 1998
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Awards & Recognition
U.S. News & World Report’s Best Lawyers; Patent Law (2021 – 2025)