Mayer Brown announced that Chicago Intellectual Property partner Melissa Anyetei has been named one of The Network Journal’s “40 under Forty” for 2017. The annual award series honors people under 40 years old “whose professional accomplishments have significantly impacted an industry or profession and who also have made an important contribution to their community.” (View profile.)
The Network Journal highlighted Ms. Anyetei’s success as a partner in Mayer Brown’s Intellectual Property practice, where she focuses on patent litigation, procurement and counseling and intellectual property transactions. She has experience in a wide range of technologies, including medical devices, pharmaceutical and chemical products, internet-based technology, consumer products, mobile devices and telecommunications. “It is exciting and challenging because I deal with new technology like smartphones and medical devices,” Ms. Anyetei told The Network Journal. “You see how these products are changing the world and you want to help clients be successful and protect their innovation.”
The publication recognized Ms. Anyetei’s commitment to diversity in the legal profession. She is a founding leader of Mayer Brown Black Lawyers and also served as the mentorship chair for the Black Women Lawyer’s Association. She insists that more recruitment must be done outside of the top law schools. “Many of the new entrepreneurs are women and we need to represent that more,” she said in her profile.
Founded in 1993, The Network Journal provides Black professionals and business owners news and commentary on issues that affect the growth of business and the advancement of professionals in the workplace.