(CHICAGO) September 20, 2019 – Carolyn Blessing, a Partner in Locke Lord’s Chicago office and member of the Firm’s IP Pharmaceutical Practice Group, has been named to the 2019 “40 Under Forty” list by Law Bulletin Media, publisher of Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer. The list recognizes up-and-coming lawyers nominated by peers and chosen by a selection committee for their intelligence, passion, success and work in the community.
Blessing, who serves as the Firm’s Chicago office Hiring Partner and is a member of its Women’s Initiative and Law School Recruiting Coordinating Committee, is passionate about the advancement of women throughout their careers and is committed to empowering other female attorneys to develop their own strengths. She is the 2019 President of the Chicago Chapter of the Coalition of Women’s Initiatives in Law, a nonprofit membership association dedicated to enhancing the recruitment, retention and promotion of women lawyers and supporting women's initiatives in law firms and companies. She has served in various leadership positions within the organization, including as a member of the Executive Committee and the Board Liaison for Locke Lord. Blessing is a past Vice President, former Treasurer for two terms and a former Co-Chair of the Associates’ Steering Committee. She received the Coalition’s 2018 Leadership Award for her work in support of its mission. She also volunteers her time with Step Up as a mentor to teen girls.
In addition, Blessing was recognized for her significant contributions to the Chicago legal community. She sits on the outreach committee of Chicago Women in Intellectual Property and on the Women’s Advisory Board of the Chicago Daily Law Bulletin and Chicago Lawyer. Blessing served as Chair of the St. Procopius Legal Aid Clinic from 2014 through 2016, for which she earned the 2016 Distinguished Service Award from Chicago Volunteer Legal Services. She has also served as a Board member with the Richard Linn American Inn of Court.
An ardent supporter of the arts throughout Chicago, Blessing has been deeply involved with the Joffrey Ballet since 2012. Currently, she Co-Chairs its Generation J Leadership Council (formerly the Joffrey Auxiliary Board), a position she has held since 2016. Blessing also serves as Vice President of the Board for 137 Films, a nonprofit documentary production company that promotes science through storytelling.
Blessing concentrates her practice in IP pharmaceutical matters and Hatch-Waxman litigation. She represents pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies in all aspects of federal intellectual property litigation, including pre-litigation activities, Paragraph IV Certifications, filing, fact and expert discovery, claim construction, motion practice, pre-trial, trial, post-trial and appellate phases.
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About Locke Lord LLP
Locke Lord is a full-service law firm with global reach and 20 offices designed to meet clients’ needs in the United States and around the world. The Firm has a history that spans more than 130 years and is a leader in the middle market arena. Locke Lord focuses on providing the highest levels of commitment, quality and service to clients across its five Key Sectors: Energy and Infrastructure; Finance and Financial Services; Insurance and Reinsurance; Pharmaceutical; and Private Equity. In addition, the Firm advises clients across a broad spectrum of other industries, including fund formation, venture capital, health care, public finance, real estate, technology, cybersecurity and white collar, while providing a wealth of experience through its complex litigation, intellectual property, tax, regulatory and transactional teams.
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