Wong creating a patent on her work

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Sarah Wong is fast establishing herself as an expert in intellectual property law at the Milwaukee-based firm Boyle Fredrickson SC. The 2012 Marquette University Law School graduate earned an undergraduate degree in biomedical engineering, which helped lead to her area of specialization within the law.

“It’s just rewarding to be able to communicate with the client in a technical way so they have confidence we’re able to take the invention they’ve described to us and get a patent,” Wong said.

In addition to helping clients with patient applications and litigation, Wong is working to become an expert in inter partes review, a procedure established by the 2012 American Invents Act. Through such work, Wong has gained insight into the various ways in which patents are commonly challenged and has worked to incorporate that knowledge into the beginning of patent applications.

“A patent isn’t only a piece of paper, but the value comes from what the patent owner is able to do with it,” she said.

Wong has already helped her firm succeed in two cases involving inter partes review and said she is working to establish herself as a thoughtful lawyer in the state. Her endeavors entail drawing on her past experience in biomedical engineering to discuss the subject of patents in minute detail with clients.

“Having the degree gives them confidence that I have the basic technical knowledge to understand when they communicate with me about different topics,” she said. “I know what they’re talking about.”

Wong often works with younger attorneys, and her passion for leadership extends beyond the firm into many community organizations. She, for instance, is president and founder of the Asian Pacific-American Young Professionals of Milwaukee and, additionally, works with various dance teams.