Jennifer M. Hayes

Washington, DC
Phone: 202.683.9317
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Jennifer M. Hayes, Ph.D., J.D., LLM., a Principal of the firm, focuses on patent procurement, patent portfolio strategies, counseling, and opinion work, primarily in the pharmaceutical, chemical, biotechnology, and material science technology areas. Dr. Hayes ombines scientific, legal, and technical expertise to assist clients with complex intellectual property matters involving emerging technologies and innovation-driven industries.

Dr. Hayes has extensive experience across a broad range of technologies, including small molecule drugs, pharmaceutical formulations, compositions, and methods of treatment; chemical compounds, compositions, methods of making and use; food science; yeast and fermentation, and baked food products; extracts, cosmetics, and fragrances; polymer compounds, compositions, synthesis and methods of use; multi-layered plastic materials, methods of making, and methods of using; molded articles, stock, and packaging materials; synthetic oils, fuel additives, catalysts, fuel cells, batteries, structural materials, and composites. 

Dr. Hayes earned her Ph.D. in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a focus in medicinal chemistry from Howard University, where her research examined the application of artificial intelligence and large language models to pharmaceutical patent analysis and Markush claim interpretation. Her dissertation, Evaluating Large Language Models (LLMs) for Markush Claim Interpretation in Pharmaceutical Patents: A Structure-Aware Framework for Extraction and Complexity Analysis, explored structure-aware methodologies for evaluating AI-assisted extraction and analysis of complex pharmaceutical patent claims.

Before joining the firm, Dr. Hayes was a partner at a well-known Intellectual Property boutique law firm in Washington, D.C. Ms. Hayes has also worked at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as a Patent Examiner in Technology Center 1700 (Chemicals and Materials Engineering), examining patent applications for compliance with formal requirements and patentability, and also as a Petitions Attorney in the Office of Petitions reviewing petitions and rendering decisions regarding matters of procedure, policy, and practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

Dr. Hayes has traveled extensively to Europe and Asia to visit clients and give lectures on topics of interest relating to U.S. patent law. Before entering the area of patent law, Ms. Hayes was a registered pharmacist in the state of Maryland and employed and practiced pharmacy proessionally.

Education

• Ph.D., Pharmaceutical Sciences (Medicinal Chemistry), Howard University, 2026
• Master of Science (M.S.). Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Florida, 2021
• LL.M., Intellectual Property, The George Washington University Law School, 2002
• Juris Doctor (J.D.), Howard University School of Law, 1994
• Bachelor of Science (B.S.), Pharmacy, Howard University College of Pharmacy, 1991

Bar Admissions

• District of Columbia, Attorney-At-Law
• State of Maryland, Attorney at Law
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, Registered Patent Attorney 
• U.S. Supreme Court, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, Member

Professional Activities

• Co-Chair, National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF) Pharmaceutical and Biotech Practice Area Committee, Current
• Howard Intellectual Property Program (HIPP) Advisory Board, Former Member
• Institute for Intellectual Property and Social Justice (IIPSJ) at the Howard University School of Law, Moderator/Speaker
• National Bar Association (NBA), Member
• American Chemical Society (ACS)
• American Association of Pharmaceutical Scientists (AAPS)

Publications

• Hayes, J.M.U., Olawode, E.O., Andy, A. et al. “AI-assisted interpretation of Markush structures in pharmaceutical patents: a review of emerging tools, datasets, and challenges.” Journal of Cheminformatics (2026). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13321-026-01172-y

• Dissertation: Evaluating Large Language Models (LLMs) for Markush Claim Interpretation in Pharmaceutical Patents: A Structure-Aware Framework for Extraction and Complexity Analysis. Howard University, Ph.D. Dissertation, 2026.

• Contributor, Chapter Eleven: “Claim Construction,” The Essential Case Law Guide to PTAB Trials, ABA Book Publishing (2018).

 Selected Speaking Engagements

• Panelist, "Patentability in the Age of Machine-Generated Discovery: Can AI be Prior Art?" 2025 Annual Law and Technology Summit, North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham Convention Center, Durham NC (October 17, 2025).

• Panelist, “Intellectual Property Rights in the Age of AI”, 2024 Annual Law and Technology Summit, North Carolina Central University School of Law, Durham Convention Center, Durham NC (October 11, 2024).

• Panelist, CLE Session: “IP Portfolios on a Budget: Get the Biggest Bang for Your Buck,” National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), Annual Meeting, Atlanta, GA (September 16, 2024).

• Speaker, "The Inventor's Patent Academy Webinar Series: Understanding Patent Law," Women in Engineering ProActive Network (March 5, 2024).

• Panelist, "AI and ChatGPT: Transforming Innovation in Pharmaceuticals?," National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms (NAMWOLF), Driving Diversity and Leadership Conference (DDLC), New Orleans, LA (March 4, 2024). 

• Panelist, "Patent Implications of Generative AI," 2023 Annual Law and Technology Summit, North Carolina Central University Law School, Durham NC (October 13, 2023).

• Speaker, “Advocating for STEM Equity in the Current Legal Landscape," Plenary Session, ADVANCE Equity in STEM Community Convening, Durham, NC (June 6, 2023).

• Moderator, "Scandal: Gladiators Breaking Down Diversity and Inclusion Barriers in IP Law," 2019 Annual Meeting & Law Firm Expo, National Association of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, Los Angeles, CA (September 24, 2019).

• Moderator of Panel Discussion of the topic, “Corporations as Change Agents for Enhancing Diversity & Empowering Pro Bono,” 16^th Annual Intellectual Property and Social Justice CLE Seminar, Howard University School of Law, Washington, DC (March 1, 2019).

• Panelist, “Patent Protection for Pharma and Biotechnology in 2018,” LIVE Webcast, broadcast by The Knowledge Group (January 26, 2018).

Affiliations

• Who's Who in America, The Marquis Who's Who Publications Board, 2024-2025.
• Founder and President, I Am Kept Foundation, Inc.
• Member, Top Ladies of Distinction, Inc.