King and Spalding, established in 1885 and headquartered in Atlanta, is a prominent full-service law firm.  The firm is comprised of over 800 lawyers and has offices in 8 cities of the United States, as well as offices in England, Germany, several locations in the Middle East.  The firm represents over 250 public companies, including half of the Fortune 500, as well as mid-sized companies.  King and Spalding also enjoys representing small, innovative companies that bring forward emerging technologies.

Among the firm's many specialties are a growing presence in chemistry, a concentration in energy and natural resources, and broad experience related to environmental issues and litigation.
 

Lead Attorney:
Peter J. Dehlinger, Ph.D., J.D.
Phone: (650) 590-0700
Fax: (650) 590-1900
Email: pdehlinger@kslaw.com
 
Peter is an award-winning attorney, recognized as a leader in the IP field in California.  He received the J.D. degree from Lewis and Clark/Northwestern in 1982.  Earlier he was awarded the Ph.D. in biophysics from Stanford University in 1971 and the B.S. degree in physics from the University of Oregon in 1966.

Patent Agent:
LeeAnn Gorthey, Ph.D. 
Phone: (503) 535-0573
Email: lgorthey@kslaw.com

Lee Ann received the B.S. in chemistry from the University of Texas in 1979, summa cum laude.  She was awarded the Ph.D. in organic chemistry from Stanford University in 1984.  She worked for DuPont as a research chemist for 6 years, then for several years as an information specialist with Dialog, before becoming a patent agent.  Lee Ann prepares and prosecutes U.S. and international patent applications, as well as participating in writing opinions regarding patentability, freedom to operate, infringement, and validity.


Recent Aquero Patents and Patent Applications

Sikes, C. Steven.    April 28, 2011.  PCT application PCT/US11/34311.  Lysine based polymer coagulants for use in clarification of process waters.  Novel lysine copolymers as coagulants for clarifying process waters, potable water, and others.  Other uses include biostatic and preservative applications. 

Sikes, C. Steven, T. Daniel Sikes, and Mark A. Hochwalt.  July 23, 2008.  PCT application PCT/US09/51589.  Flotation and separation of flocculated oils and solids from waste waters.  Rapid and effective method and apparatus for treating difficult reverse emulsions of oil, oily solids, and water.  A layer of highly buoyant oily solids is generated that floats on top of the bulk phase of clarified water.  The oily solids are quickly and efficiently separated from the aqueous phase, now completely clean of oily residuals.

Sikes, C. Steven, Mark A. Hochwalt, and T. Daniel Sikes.  January 27, 2009.  Canadian patent CA 2,595,723.  Amino acid, carbohydrate, and acrylamide polymers useful as flocculants in agricultural and industrial settings.  Features examples and claims of compositions of matter, methods of preparation, and uses for clarifying oil-in-water reverse emulsions with emphasis on oil-sands mining including SAGD operations.

Sikes, C. Steven, Mark A. Hochwalt, and T. Daniel Sikes.  October 12, 2006.  Amino acid, carbohydrate, and acrylamide polymers useful as flocculants in agricultural and industrial settings.  PCT application US 2006/040168.  World wide filing featuring examples in a claim set about compositions of matter, methods, and uses for clarifying oil-in-water reverse emulsions.

Sikes, C. Steven.  August 15, 2006.  Copolymers of amino acids and methods of their production.  US continuation patent 7091305.  Use in shampoos, conditioners, lotions, and thickening agents.

Sikes, C. Steven, Mark A. Hochwalt, and T. Daniel Sikes.  June 22, 2006.  Amino acid and carbohydrate polymers for soil retention, water conservation, water clarification, and dust control.  US patent application 11/472,958.  Compositions of matter, methods of synthesis, uses in treating process water in mining operations with an emphasis on oil-sands water treatment, dust control, includes PAM/activated polysaccharides among many other compositions.

Sikes, C. Steven, Mark A. Hochwalt, and T. Daniel Sikes.  June 22, 2006.  Use of amino acid and carbohydrate polymers for soil retention, water conservation, and water clarification.  US patent application 11/473004, pending.  Uses in agriculture, soil retention, etc.

Sikes, C. Steven.  June 6, 2006.  Copolymers of amino acids and methods of their production.  US continuation-in-part patent application 11/448374.  Compositions and uses in body wash, hand-soaps, and other cleansers.
 
Sikes, C. Steven.  May 30, 2006.  Preparation of high molecular weight polysuccinimides.  US patent 7053170.  Co-solubilized monomer and catalyst claims. 

Sikes, C. Steven.  May 15, 2006.  Preparation of high molecular weight polysuccinimides.  US continuation patent application 11/434648.  Electrolysis of water and ion-exchange claims.

Sikes, C. Steven.  November 30, 2004.  Copolymers of amino acids and methods of their production.  US patent 6825313.  Compositions of matter, methods of synthesis, includes polysaccharide graphs, uses as flocculants.  PCT and other international filings pending.