Prior to founding Calyx Law in 2016, Graham gained over a decade of experience obtaining, asserting, and defending some of the country’s most valuable patents, representing numerous companies in the agricultural, chemical, pharmaceutical, biotech, and technology industries.

Graham has worked on litigation teams challenging high-profile patents in court, including Monsanto’s patents on GMO crops, Apple’s on touchscreen devices, Microsoft’s on FAT file systems, and Amgen’s on recombinant EPO, and he has worked on several landmark patent cases both at trial and on appeal.

Graham’s current work centers on patent prosecution and strategic counseling for life sciences startups, with a particular focus on small molecule drug development. He also advises venture capital firms on intellectual property due diligence, especially in connection with investments in the mental health and neurotech spaces.

Frank Gerratana is a high-tech and intellectual property attorney at the intersection of law, business, and emerging technology. With degrees in computer science & electrical engineering, he brings deep technical acumen to his clients’ most complex legal challenges. Frank works with a wide range of organizations—from venture-backed startups to Fortune 500 corporations—helping them develop robust patent strategies, navigate legal hurdles, and mitigate IP-related risks. His forward-looking guidance enables companies to protect and commercialize their innovations, whether they involve artificial intelligence, blockchain, robotics, medical devices, microprocessor architecture, or financial technology.

Recognized as one of the “World’s Leading IP Strategists” by Intellectual Asset Management magazine, Frank helps organizations tackle their most complex IP challenges with practical, results-driven counsel. Frank’s insight into emerging technologies and his knack for translating complex legal topics into actionable guidance have made him a sought-after thought leader. He has been quoted on AI and blockchain matters in outlets such as Business Insider, The New York Times Deal Book, and Financier Worldwide Magazine. He has also spoken on these topics to bar associations around the country and at the United States Patent & Trademark Office.

Prior to joining Calyx Law in 2021, Chris spent 15 years working for a wide variety of stakeholders from both the private and public sectors, focusing on intellectual property disputes, patent licensing, and IP-related public policy concerns.

Chris first developed a passion for intellectual property while in Divinity School, working with human rights organizations in South Asia and grappling with the role IP plays in securing access to medicines, protecting public health, and ensuring equitable access to knowledge and technology.

Ariel Donthnier Waagosh (she/they) is an attorney advising clients in highly regulated and emerging spaces. For over 15 years, Ariel has provided business, corporate, and regulatory support to organizations, non-profits, government agencies, tribes, healthcare providers, and practitioners with an emphasis on cannabis, plant medicines, and psychedelics. 

Ariel was at the forefront of cannabis policy reform in California, advising clients as they transitioned from the “Prop 215 days” to the highly-regulated systems in place today. Her front-row seat with hundreds of cannabis start-ups provides valuable guidance for her clients. 

Matt Spark is Of Counsel with a practice focused on domestic and international patent prosecution, post-grant proceedings, and patent litigation support. Before entering the legal profession, Matt was a Member of the Technical Staff at Hughes Aircraft’s Space and Communications Group, where he designed wire harness subsystems and integrated them into spacecraft. His engineering background informs his patent practice and led him to pursue a career in patent law.

Janice Goh is Of Counsel, advising on trademark, brand protection, and licensing matters. She counsels clients on IP clearance, prosecution strategy, enforcement, and portfolio management, drawing on her experience both in-house at major brands and in private practice. She also works closely with business, marketing, and creative teams on the launch, advertising and marketing of products and services, including structuring and negotiating licensing arrangements, influencer and talent agreements, production agreements, as well as compliance and regulatory issues.

Ed Ryan is an intellectual property attorney with broad experience across patent prosecution, trademark prosecution, and litigation at both the USPTO and federal court levels. With a background in physics, Ed brings a rigorous technical foundation to every matter — enabling him to quickly master clients’ technologies across a wide range of fields and render complex innovations in clear, precise language.

Antony Novom is an intellectual property attorney with experience across patent and trademark prosecution, copyright registration, IP enforcement and dispute resolution, licensing, and brand development and protection. He has practiced at large general-practice firms, IP boutiques, and in-house at biotechnology companies, giving him a broad perspective on the development and management of intellectual property portfolios. Antony works closely with clients to translate complex legal and technical issues into practical business guidance.

James is a patent attorney who translates complex technical and legal concepts into clear, actionable guidance for innovators. With a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a J.D. from Boston University School of Law, he bridges the gap between technology-focused inventors and business-minded legal teams, ensuring mutual understanding and aligned IP strategies.

Trained at a Boston-based intellectual property firm, James specializes in domestic and international patent prosecution, portfolio management, and strategic counseling for innovations in medical devices, mobile software, and energy technologies. His work includes drafting patents for inventions ranging from life-saving medical devices to data storage optimization systems, alongside conducting patentability analyses and freedom-to-operate opinions that simplify legal risks for engineers and executives alike.

Ricky DeMello is an intellectual property attorney with experience prosecuting patent and trademark applications. He brings an interdisciplinary technical background spanning neuroscience, electrical engineering, and computer science, and advises clients on protecting and commercializing innovation across a wide range of industries.

Celeste Alvarez is a Patent Agent with a practice focused on life sciences patent prosecution. She works closely with inventors and legal teams to support robust, strategically aligned patent protection. In particular, Celeste advises biotech and pharmaceutical clients on protecting innovations throughout the patent lifecycle, including drafting and prosecuting patent applications and supporting portfolio development.

Through his undergraduate studies at McMaster University, Noah developed an interest in the intersection between health and law. His desire to learn more about the impact that legal and political institutions have on health led him to pursue a Master’s degree in Global Health. Throughout his graduate studies, Noah dedicated his time and efforts to examining the influence that laws, policies, and systems have over the development and adoption of innovations in health. He hopes to eventually carry these interests and insights forward into a future legal career.

Kody, a Wisconsin native, studied neuroscience at the University of Minnesota, supplementing his education with minors in psychology and computer science. His passion for understanding the brain stems from both practical and philosophical perspectives. Kody’s interest in quantifying subjective experiences inspired a career in neuroimaging, starting by using electrophysiology to analyze auditory processing in 2012. In 2014, he began analyzing functional MRI data related to Major Depressive Disorder and Substance Use Disorder at the Medical University of South Carolina. The following year, he joined the University of Washington as a scientist working with functional diffusion and volumetric neuroimaging data.

Hannah Goodman is a Technical Specialist supporting Calyx’s life sciences patent practice. Her work includes prior art research and patentability analysis, with a particular focus on small-molecule inventions and other innovations in chemistry and the life sciences.

Sherrie is an essential member of our team, multitasking her way through every day to keep the team and our client’s matters running smoothly and efficiently. She brings over 15 years of general operations and paralegal experience, working closely with attorneys and clients at all levels. Our team leans on Sherrie for expert administrative support, scheduling, case management, permitting, licensing, regulatory, and paralegal work, among many other critical tasks.

Lisa Becker is a Senior IP Paralegal and Operations Manager with nearly 40 years of experience in the intellectual property field. She has worked in both law firm and in-house settings, bringing deep institutional knowledge and operational expertise to her role. Lisa supports the Calyx team with patent prosecution and a broad range of IP operational functions. Her prior experience also includes contract management, billing, and the development of inventor recognition programs.