Rachel Kahler is a registered patent agent with more than 19 years of experience in patent law. Rachel draws on her insight from both in-house and private practice to provide expert counsel to her clients. Her practice specialties include evaluating new inventions and implementing IP protection strategies, including drafting and prosecuting U.S. and international patent applications, maintaining, prosecuting, and organizing patent portfolios, and developing prosecution strategies within and between portfolios.
Rachel has worked in multiple technical fields, including molecular diagnostics, stem cells, pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals, food science and manufacturing, medical devices, and mechanical devices. Rachel’s graduate research on the Wnt signaling pathway in osteoblasts and undergraduate research on Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV) in macrophages set the foundation for her scientific curiosity and deep analytical skills.
Rachel brings her technical and patent law experience to litigation teams, where she has been responsible for identifying, reviewing, and summarizing prior art, contributing to prior art, written description, and enablement strategies, identifying and retaining expert witnesses, and assisting in drafting and reviewing various legal documents. Rachel’s experience also includes assistance in performing freedom to operate, due diligence, invalidity, and noninfringement investigations, and drafting opinions.
Rachel has a passion for building the IP profession, including advocating for and mentoring new and aspiring IP professionals, especially patent agents. Rachel serves on the Board of the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association.
EDUCATION
Ph.D., Cancer Biology, University of Minnesota, 2006
Thesis: The Role of Lymphocyte Enhancer-binding Factor 1 (Lef1) in Osteoblast Differentiation
B.S., Microbiology, Highest Honors, South Dakota State University, 1999
BAR ADMISSIONS
Registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (Registration Number 62,661)
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
American Intellectual Property Law Association, Board of Directors 2024-present, Patent Agent Committee (Vice Chair 2018-2020; Chair 2020-2022), Professional Programs Committee, Membership Committee Appointed Member 2019-2024 (Chair 2023-2024), Co-Chair of Law School Link 2023-2024
Minnesota Intellectual Property Law Association, AIPLA Representative to the Board of Directors 2023-present, Patent Agent Committee Member
PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITIES
- “Design Law Treaty: Harmonizing Global Design Protections,” Moderator, with Divyendu Verma, Ishita Kapoor, and Chris Carani. AIPLA Spring Meeting, May 2025
- “Ethics: A Fireside Chat with Will Covey, Office of Enrollment and Discipline Director, US Patent and Trademark Office”, Moderator with Will Covey, AIPLA Annual Meeting, Oct. 2024
- “Chemical Patent Conundrums: Industry Experts Share Solutions for Patent Prosecution Challenges”, with Joshua Goldberg and R. Andrew Patty, AIPLA Advanced Chemical Patent Practice Institute, May 2024
- “Munch on This! Insights into IP and Regulatory Issues Surrounding Nutritional Products in the U.S. and Beyond”, with Courtenay Brinckerhoff, Benjamin England, Jason Jardine, Abby Meyer, and Christian Thomae, AIPLA Mid-Winter Institute, Feb. 2023
- “Help Me Help You: The Art of Working with Inventors and Examiners”, with J. Burke and L. Hupp, AIPLA Annual Meeting, Oct. 2019
- “International Patent Law Harmonization Efforts”, with C. Li, AIPLA Annual Meeting, Oct. 2016
- “AIA Post-Grant Proceedings: Evolution of the Rules”, with C.B. Tokarczyk, AIPLA Annual Meeting,
Oct. 2015 - “Collagen 11a1 is indirectly activated by lymphocyte enhancer-binding factor 1 (Lef1) and negatively regulates osteoblast maturation,” with S.M. Yingst, L.H. Hoeppner, E.D. Jensen, D. Krawczak, J.T. Oxford, and J.J. Westendorf, Matrix Biol, 27, 4, 330-8 (2008).
- “Lymphocyte enhancer-binding factor 1 (Lef1) inhibits terminal differentiation of osteoblasts,” with M. Galindo, J. Lian, G.S. Stein, A.J. van Wijnen, J.J. Westendorf, J Cell Biochem, 97, 5, 969-83 (2006).
- “Wnt signaling in osteoblasts and bone diseases,” with J.J. Westendorf, T.M. Schroeder, Gene,
341, 19-39 (2004). - “Lymphoid enhancer factor-1 and beta-catenin inhibit Runx2-dependent transcriptional activation of the osteocalcin promoter,” with J.J. Westendorf, J Biol Chem, 278, 14, 11937-44 (2003).