Nikhil A. Heble

In-House Patent Counsel, Colgate Palmolive

Nikhil A. Heble recently left private practice to pursue an in-house opportunity with Colgate-Palmolive Company, where he is responsible for managing its global oral care patent portfolio, and Colgate’s business interests related thereto. Prior to Colgate, Mr. Heble was an associate in the Philadelphia office of Pepper Hamilton LLP, where he handled all aspects of intellectual property, including patent procurement, infringement and validity studies, due diligence, licensing and client counseling. His practice focused particularly in the areas of pharmaceuticals,
biotechnology, organic chemistry, immunology and medicine; and included both prosecution and transactional IP, including acquiring and licensing patents, as well as litigation.

Prior to attending law school, Mr. Heble worked as a staff pharmacist at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital. In addition to his experience at Jefferson, Mr. Heble has pharmacy experience in both government and industry settings. Mr. Heble’s speaking engagements include the Spring 2009 Symposium on Intellectual Property Law, hosted by the Temple University School of Law, where he was a panelist on “The Inequitable Conduct Doctrine: Managing Foreign Counsel and Local Prosecution.”

• Saxon Innovations Corp. v. Nokia, et al., 6:07-CV-490-LED (E.D. Tex.): Represented Saxon Innovations in a patent infringement suit involving wireless technologies.
  
• Certain Electronic Devices Including Handheld Communications Devices, (Inv. 337-TA-673 and 337-TA-674): Represented Saxon Innovations in patent-based Section 337 investigation involving wireless technologies.
  
• Medtronic Sofamor Danek USA, Inc., et al. v. Globus Medical, Inc., 06-CV-4248- NS (E.D. Pa.): Represented medical device manufacturer in patent dispute involving nearly a dozen accused devices and six patents concerning thoracolumbar spinal fixation methods and devices.
  
• Dr. Reddy's Laboratories, et al. v. Eli Lilly & Co., 3:09-CV-192 (D. N.J.): Represented innovator drug company in generic challenge to branded drug product.
  
• Ariba, Inc. v. Emptoris, Inc., 9:07-CV-90 (E.D. Tex.): Represented provider of supply management and contract management software solutions, in appeal to the Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit.

Education
Pharm.D. 2001, magna cum laude, Temple University School of Pharmacy J.D. 2006, University of Miami School of Law

Bar Admissions
Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania and New Jersey and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office