Providing Top-Tier IP Legal Services to the UTMB Community
The IP Legal Transactional Group of the Department of Legal Affairs primarily provides legal services to the Office of Innovation & Technology Transfer, which ensures that UTMB's inventions, copyrights, trademarks are protected for the benefit of the inventors and UTMB. The IP Legal Group manages UTMB's patent portfolio. In addition, the IP Legal Group negotiates contracts in accordance with UT System and UTMB Intellectual Property Policies.
Industry Funded Research Agreements (Including Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer Program Subcontracts and related Letters of Support) for basic research and/or animal studies
Collaboration Agreements with Industry
Negotiation Assistance, Consultation, and Review of Complex IP Clauses Located in Contracts, Grants, and Related Documents for All UTMB Departments
Carolanda Bremond Woodgett joined the University of Texas Medical Branch in January of 2011. She is an attorney specializing in employment law and litigation management, and she currently serves as the Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer for the Office of Legal and Regulatory Affairs. Prior to joining UTMB, Carolanda worked in the Labor and Employment Section in the Houston office of Fulbright & Jaworski L.L.P., where her practice focused on a variety of labor and employment issues, including Title VII, ADA, ADEA, FMLA, FLSA, workers' compensation, and other employment-related tort and contract issues. Carolanda received a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and minor in Africana Studies from Wellesley College and a Juris Doctorate degree from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. She is licensed to practice law in the State of Texas.
Frances Streeter is a licensed attorney for the States of Texas, Tennessee and Arkansas, and is a registered patent attorney. Frances is responsible for handling UTMB's intellectual property issues regarding sponsored research related agreements, technology transfer agreements, and IP related agreements. For over a decade, she has served as the university's export control representative. Additionally, Frances teaches classes and conducts regular trainings and presentations on intellectual property and export controls. Frances is also the Chair of UTMB's Export Control Compliance Committee. Frances received her bachelor of science degree from the University of Central Arkansas at Conway and her juris doctor degree from the William H. Bowen School of Law at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.
George Jordan III is an intellectual property attorney responsible for handling material transfer agreements involving UTMB’s Office of Technology Transfer. George has practiced intellectual property law for over two decades, including as a registered patent attorney, and he is a past chair of the American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law. George received a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Duke University and received a law degree from the University of Texas School of Law.
Nadia Ali is a registered patent attorney and licensed to practice law in Texas and New York. Nadia is responsible for handling issues related to data use agreements, material transfer agreements, and other IP related agreements. Prior to joining UTMB, Nadia drafted and negotiated contracts at Houston Methodist. She also has experience in patent prosecution and litigation, and medical malpractice defense. Nadia has a bachelor's degree in biology from the University of Texas at Austin and a Juris Doctor degree from Southern Methodist University.
Taylor Nunley joined University of Texas Medical Branch in April 2025. She currently serves as an Associate Legal Officer for the Intellectual Property team where she negotiates IP and research related agreements. Prior to joining UTMB, Taylor practiced Intellectual Property Law where she assisted in preparing patent, copyright, and trademark applications. Prior to law school, Taylor gained valuable experience working at the Brookhaven National Laboratory implementing a program to encourage the commercialization of highly technical early state innovations. Taylor holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology with minors in Chemistry and Health from the University of Houston, and a Juris Doctor from Indiana University Maurer School of Law. Taylor is licensed to practice law in Indiana, with her Texas application pending.
Joshua Shamburger is a patent attorney responsible for handling confidentiality agreements and patent matters for UTMB's office of Technology Transfer. He has practiced for 15 years, first as a litigator and subsequently as a preparation/prosecution attorney in before the USPTO in private practice where he shepherded hundreds of inventions from disclosure to post-grant proceedings. Joshua received his Bachelor of Science degree from Texas A&M University and his Juris Doctor degree from University of Texas - Austin.
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