Alumni Spotlight: Maria Stubbings ‘15
The Intellectual Property Program was thrilled to catch up with Maria Stubbings ’15, a patent litigator at Perkins Coie with a diverse practice in science and technology, specializing in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. As a litigator, Maria navigates every stage of district court litigation as well as advocating in front of the Patent Trial and Appeal Board (PTAB). Beyond her practice, she is an active member of the IP community, participating in organizations like the PTAB Bar Association and ChIPs. Maria’s commitment extends to pro bono advocacy, where her efforts recently helped her team secure parole for an individual incarcerated for over 30 years, earning her the Perkins Coie Pro Bono Leadership Team Award in 2022. In this Alumni Spotlight, we explore Maria’s journey, her insights into a career in Intellectual Property law, and her advice for the next generation of legal professionals.
Why did you choose Maryland Carey Law? I always wanted to live on the East Coast, and I was looking for schools with strong health law and intellectual property programs. Maryland Carey Law also prioritized its clinical law program and was situated close to Washington DC, which also influenced my decision. Ultimately, I attended a reception for admitted students, where I received a warm and welcoming introduction to the school—an atmosphere which wasn’t present at other schools I visited. That atmosphere ended up making my time in law school very enjoyable and comfortable.
Can you trace your path after graduating to ending up at Perkins Coie? My job at Perkins Coie is actually the job I got right out of law school. I applied and reached out to a partner who is also a Maryland law graduate—who I still work with today—and they ended up bringing me in for an interview. I’ve been at Perkins for almost ten years now, working as an attorney in the patent litigation group.
With a degree in Genetics, what attracted you to IP Law? How has your MS in Life Sciences Communications affected your career? I’ve always found genetics to be fascinating, but I wanted a career that was more fast-paced than research, and patent litigation also provides me the opportunity to work on a wide variety of scientific topics. A key skill in patent litigation is to communicate complex scientific topics effectively to judges and juries who often don’t have much (or any) scientific education, and my degree in Life Sciences Communication taught me helpful skills to effectively present the subject matter I work with every day.
How has graduating from Maryland Carey Law helped in your career? On top of the solid foundation of coursework, Maryland Carey Law offered a lot of hands-on opportunities that allowed me to hit the ground running as a first-year associate at a large law firm. Between the intellectual property clinic, moot court, and IP-related internships and externships, I gained a lot of practical experience even before finishing law school. I also made connections—both fellow classmates and mentors—who I still keep in touch with today.
Any advice for current students? (1) Get involved with classes and activities you like—it will make your time in law school that much more enjoyable. And don’t forget to have a life outside of law school! (2) The more hands-on experiences you can do, the better. (3) Don’t be afraid to take a chance by reaching out to someone whose work interests you, volunteering for an opportunity, or attending an event that may seem uncomfortable to you!