Chess, Music
Sonal Kirty
IP Professional | Registered Indian Patent Agent ; Bangalore
Summary
- Dynamic Intellectual Property Manager with over two decades of extensive experience in IP strategy, management, and analysis.
- Proven track record in driving innovation and protecting intellectual assets while ensuring compliance with legal standards. Adept at collaborating with cross-functional teams to enhance IP portfolios and support business objectives.
- Eager to contribute my expertise and passion for intellectual property to a forward-thinking organization, fostering growth and competitive advantage.
- To work with an organization where I could implement my conceptual knowledge and industry experience, learn and grow with the team and organization.
- Domain expertise: Pharma, Biotech, FMCG, Chemical, Engineering etc.
- LLB from Karnataka State Law University.
- Registered Patent Agent, registration no.IN/PA/1735.
- Six sigma yellow-belts certified.
- Proven leader with excellent Team management, Project & Programme, Management experience.
- Able to withstand pressure, meet deadlines and maintained consistently high standard work.
- Excellent interpersonal skills, written and oral communication.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Intellectual Property Manager
ITC Limited
Bengaluru
01.2023 - Current
- Lead business-aligned patent portfolio management and IP strategy to support innovation, commercialization, and long-term business objectives.
- Delivered strategic IP guidance on product development and technology commercialization, optimising portfolio while promoting an innovation-driven culture.
- Managed patent lifecycle from drafting to prosecution and opposition, ensuring alignment with business objectives and effective coordination with external counsel.
- Collaborated with R&D and cross-functional teams to identify and convert research outcomes into patentable inventions, enhancing innovation pipeline.
Manager
Evalueserve Ltd
09.2021 - 01.2023
- Led team of 10 internal patent analysts, including assistant manager, senior research associate, research associates, and interns.
- Provided intelligence and strategic insights to enhance client account management.
- Acted as single point of contact for select MNC clients, including world leaders in chemical domain.
- Cultivated and nurtured client relationships through regular communication and support.
Associate Consultant
TekIP Knowledge Consulting Private Limited
Bangalore
06.2014 - 09.2021
- Led team of 5 internal patent analysts to ensure timely and accurate patent processing
- Patent drafting, filing and prosecuting at IPO
- Evaluated the quality of the work product sent to client
- Coordinated multiple client portfolios to enhance service delivery and client satisfaction
- Acted as the primary contact for MNC client, a leader in chemical industries
Research Associate
ITC Limited, R & D center
Bangalore
09.2012 - 06.2014
- Advised R & D on new and ongoing research projects to align innovation with market needs
- Identified patentable concepts to enhance researchers' work and drive innovation
- Drafting and prosecuting patent applications
- Assessed freedom to operate for in-house formulations to ensure compliance and mitigate risks
- Patent landscaping, identification of Defined specific market segment for targeted innovation, Conducted analysis to identify market gaps and opportunities
- Technology area related to personal care products, foods, paper and pulp, tobacco and others
IPR - Executive
Biocon Ltd
Bangalore
02.2009 - 08.2012
- Patent prosecution for pending patents related to both small and large molecules for India, PCT and foreign countries
- Patent drafting for inventions related to formulations and API
- Patent portfolio management including both in-house and acquired patents including merging and demerging of patent portfolio
- Conducted detailed analysis of formulation and API patents and developed IP strategies for invalidation and opposition, strengthening patent portfolio resilience
- Preparing IP analysis report, FTO/NIO opinion for the proposed formulations and manufacturing process for both small and large molecules
- Prepared patentability reports based on invention disclosure forms to assess potential for intellectual property protection
- Responded to in-house R&D and marketing IP queries regarding earliest market launch dates for APIs, polymorphs, and formulations, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives
- Patent landscaping for new molecules
- Addressed customer IP inquiries to provide clarification and support
Jr Research Associates - IPM
Macleods Pharmaceutical Ltd.
Mumbai
06.2008 - 01.2009
- Performed patent landscaping for API and formulation to analyse trends and inform R&D strategies.
- Conducted patent searches across paid and non-paid databases to identify relevant patents for API and formulations, preparing comprehensive search reports.
- Conducted product patent searches for API to identify existing patents and assess market competition. for API
- Performed detailed infringement analysis of proposed formulation and manufacturing processes to assess legal risks associated with in-house developments.
- Drafted formulation patents to safeguard intellectual property and ensure protection of innovations.
- Preparing patent opposition drafts
IP Analyst
ITAG Business Solutions Ltd
Kolkata
10.2007 - 04.2008
- Conducted prior art searches and filed patent, trademark, and copyright applications to protect intellectual property
- Presented on intellectual property rights issues for internal newsletter, enhancing team awareness and compliance
- Observed court procedures and confidentiality policies.
- Reviewed case files and case progression, keeping proceedings compliant with legislation.
- Supervised progress of cases from opening to closing.
Education
LLB -
Rammanohar Lohia College of Law (KSLU)
Bangalore01-2014
Patent Agent -
Patent Agent Examination
Indian Patent Office01-2010
M Pharm -
MCOPS
Manipal01-2008
B Pharm -
Birla Institute of Technology
Mesra, Ranchi01-2006
Skills
- Client relationship management
- Project management
- Risk assessment
- Patent prosecution
- Portfolio management
- Intellectual property strategy
- Analytical thinking
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Innovation facilitation
- Team leadership
- Negotiation skills
- Strategic planning
Accomplishments
- Team awesome award for valuable contribution within the IPRD-01 and making difference to organization during 2021.
- Management award presented for providing excellent IP support to one of our clients in 2015
- Awarded twice for Excellent team work for assessing patent portfolio as a stretch project without impacting deliverables on regular projects in 2016
- Selected for research paper presentation in IPC - 2007 (India Pharmaceutical Congress). Title of the paper 'Double Patenting- Court verdict and company Tactics' held on 2007-12-22
- Qualified GATE in the year 2006; GATE score is 411(94.14percentile). All India Rank: 836
- Successfully completed the certificates course on Intellectual Property 'General course on Intellectual Property', DL -101, from WIPO Distance Learning Academy
- M Pharma Thesis presentation. Topic - 'Para IV filing - An Important Business Strategy'.
- Guest lecture at Manipal University, BIT Mesra, IIT Patna Incubation center, Dayanand Sagar University, ISM Dhanbad, GNIOT, Noida, Brindavan College of engineering
Custom
On request
Interests
Timeline
Intellectual Property Manager
ITC Limited
01.2023 - Current
Manager
Evalueserve Ltd
09.2021 - 01.2023
Associate Consultant
TekIP Knowledge Consulting Private Limited
06.2014 - 09.2021
Research Associate
ITC Limited, R & D center
09.2012 - 06.2014
IPR - Executive
Biocon Ltd
02.2009 - 08.2012
Jr Research Associates - IPM
Macleods Pharmaceutical Ltd.
06.2008 - 01.2009
IP Analyst
ITAG Business Solutions Ltd
10.2007 - 04.2008
LLB -
Rammanohar Lohia College of Law (KSLU)
Patent Agent -
Patent Agent Examination
M Pharm -
MCOPS
B Pharm -
Birla Institute of Technology