Philip E. Alford is a registered patent attorney practicing before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office with an emphasis on organic chemistry, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, materials science, medical treatments, medical devices, polymers, industrial processes, and food science.

Philip has worked with clients of all sizes to build and manage patent portfolios in the U.S. and internationally. Including his work as a patent agent and scientific advisor, he has more than a decade of experience working in patent law, primarily prosecution and portfolio management. Philip also has experience with post-grant proceedings (e.g., Inter Partes Review), diligence related to intellectual property acquisitions, opinion work, and patent analytics.

Philip earned his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. His doctoral research focused on synthesis of small molecule heterocycles and natural products. After receiving his Ph.D., Philip joined a boutique IP firm in New York, New York where he worked as a scientific advisor several years before joining SLW in Minneapolis, Minnesota as a patent agent. Dr. Alford then attended law school at the University of Minnesota, earning his J.D. cum laude, and was admitted as an attorney.

Philip has published on various topics in science and law, including several book chapters on advanced organic chemistry and a review discussing how the FDA approval process intersects with patent law.