Atty. Mandy Wilson "Mandy" Decker

Mandy Wilson Decker is a Patent Attorney and member of the Intellectual Property & Technology Service Group. Her practice focuses on intellectual property protection strategy, including counseling clients on infringement, validity and patentability, transfer of intellectual property, patent drafting, and patent prosecution. Contributing to her practice is a scientific background in chemistry and experience with academic and commercial research in the areas of biochemistry, biotechnology, and pharmaceutical sciences.

Recent Assignments

• Developed intellectual property portfolio protection strategies for various research institutions, universities, private companies, and entrepreneurs.
• Prepared and prosecuted patent applications in a wide variety of chemical, biochemical, pharmaceutical, cosmeceutical, dermatologic, biotechnological, medical, and mechanical arts derived from both academic and commercial research.
• Managed international patent portfolios and prosecution involving applications and patents in regions and countries including Australia, African Union (OAPI), Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Eurasia, Europe, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Mexico, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
• Negotiate agreements to transfer or license intellectual property rights.

Recent News, Articles & Speaking Engagements

• The Most-Read IP Law360 Guest Articles of 2023, by editor, Law360.com, December 22, 2023
• Navigating Intellectual Property in Manufacturing, co-speaker, Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM) 2023 Manufacturers Summit, Bowling Green, Ky., November 2, 2023
• What 70% of Americans Don’t Understand About Intellectual Property, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, October 26, 2023
• The challenges of protecting intellectual property, co-speaker, Startup Week Louisville, September 20, 2023
• Managing IP Selects Mandy Wilson Decker to 2023 “Top 250 Women in IP” List for Ninth Time, by staff writer, Attorney At Law Magazine, July 25, 2023
• Meet Mandy Wilson Decker, KYIPA Board of Advisors Chair, by staff writer, KYIPA.org, July 19, 2023
• UK Women Innovators Network Panel Discussion, Panel Moderator, University of Kentucky Office of Technology Commercialization, March 28, 2023
• An Applicant's Guide To USPTO's Examiner Incentive System, Law360, February 8, 2023
• Decoding the Crypto Brand Super Bowl Commercials, Stites & Harbison Client Alert, February 18, 2022
• Kentucky attorney named to global “Top 250 Women in IP” list, The Lane Report, July 19, 2021
• Tech Transfer: Methods That Work, IIPCC Fall IP Experts Panel Series, Panel 3, Moderator, International Intellectual Property Commercialization Council (IIPCC), October 6, 2020
• From Bench to Bar: Pursuing a Legal Career After Graduate Studies, University of Kentucky, College of Pharmacy, October 9, 2019
• Patentability in the Context of Personalized Medicine, Novel Targets, Treatment Methods, and Repurposed Drugs, University of Kentucky, Office of Technology Commercialization, June 26, 2019

Community Involvement

• Legal Aid Society, Justice for All Campaign Committee (2005-present), Chair (2019); Associates for Justice Campaign Committee, Chair (2007)
• Leadership Louisville Center, Member (2014-present)
• Kentucky Intellectual Property Alliance (KYIPA), Board of Advisors, Chair (2023-present); Executive Advisory Committee (2021-present)
• Kentucky Bar Association, Intellectual Property Section, Chair-Elect (2023-Present)
• St. Agnes, Parish Council (2021-24), Chair (2022-23); School Board (2015-18), Chair (2017-18)

More Than Stites & Harbison

Ms. Decker joined the firm after working as a scientific research associate at the University of Kentucky in laboratories housed in the Advanced Science Technology and Commercialization Center (ASTeCC). Her scientific research experience also involved working with Niadyne, Inc., a biotechnology company involved in the research and development of dermatology products, including cosmeceutical and pharmaceutical skin care products to address various health care needs.

Ms. Decker served on the Board of Saint Agnes School from 2015-2018 and served as Chair during the 2017-18 school year. She also serves on the Annual Campaign Committee of the Legal Aid Society and is a member of the Leadership Louisville Center. She served for nine years as a member of the Board of Directors for Crane House, a Louisville organization dedicated to improving understanding between Asia and the United States. During her time with Crane House she served as a Vice President, and as Chair of various committees including the Nominating Committee and Personnel Committee.

She also served as Chair and as a member of the Legal Aid Society Associates Campaign Committee for more than fifteen years. Ms. Decker has also been involved in a number of other non-profit organizations in the community, including Dress for Success Louisville and Junior League of Louisville. She lives in the Highlands with her husband, Deck, and their children, Molly Kate and Ben.