Zareefa Burki Flener, M.S. with Distinction & J.D.
(Managing & Founding Partner)
- Recommended for Prosecution (USA & Illinois) (IAM Patent 1000)
- Top 250 Women in IP (Managing Intellectual Property)
- IP Star 2014-2018 (USA and Illinois) (Managing Intellectual Property)
- Top Rated Intellectual Property Attorney in Chicago, IL (Super Lawyer for Illinois in 2021)
Zareefa is the managing partner at Flener IP & Business Law, a Women-Owned business, and has extensive experience managing international and domestic patent and trademark portfolios in a wide range of areas. She has also been highly successful in obtaining company goals in M&A deals including preparing, revising and negotiating intellectual property related agreements. Zareefa regularly provides thorough and effective assistance to companies in their due diligence efforts.
She has a Bachelor of Science in biology and a double major in Psychology, and she received her Master of Science degree from Loyola University of Chicago, With Distinction, an accolade which had never before been awarded to a graduate student.
She is well regarded by her clients and her peers, worldwide, for her attention to, and assistance with, international patent portfolios ranging from the electrical, to the mechanical, to the pharma, to the biotech, to the design arts, just to mention a few. She has most recently been recognized in Managing Intellectual Property magazine as an IP Star in Illinois and in the United States as a whole, and one of the Top 250 Women in IP.
She was in the laboratory doing hands on research also for almost ten years before becoming a patent (intellectual property) attorney. Her research and scientific experience is in two particularly explosive areas: HIV transmission and pathology, and mapping of the human genome. Her masters project, from Loyola University of Chicago, involved mapping of the distal short arm of human chromosome 21, from the rDNA to the telomere, and she graduated with High Distinction. She is well published in the field of HIV pathology in such journals as the American Journal of Pathology, Clinical Immunology, and the Journal of Clinical Investigation.
Prior to founding Flener IP & Business Law, Zareefa practiced at a prestigious international intellectual property firm for almost ten years. She was voted in as the first female partner in one of the offices. Her dedication and responsiveness to her clients sets her apart from others and just one of the reasons for her honorable recognition and accolades from the international community.
Zareefa continues to work with a broad range of technology not the least of which is stem cells, virology, immunology, biochemical processes, cell culture, and laboratory instrument related inventions, among others. Zareefa also prepares and prosecutes applications in technology areas of design, mechanical, biochemistry, business methods, electrical and medical devices. Zareefa has had the fortune of being involved in the fast growing and changing cannabis industry, both on the patent and the trademark side, and has assisted clients in achieving prominence and value in an increasingly crowded field. See more at http://www.flipcannabislaw.com.
Zareefa’s clients have ranged from multinational companies to solo inventors, and she is well known to apply the same high level of care and dedication to each one.
Yongae (“Vicky”) Jun, USPTO Registration No. 63267 Patent Attorney | U.S. & International Patent Law Expert
As a seasoned patent attorney with over a decade of experience, Vicky Jun specializes in U.S. and international patent law, offering strategic counsel to a wide range of clients—from global corporations to emerging innovators. With a robust background in engineering and a track record of success representing major players like Ericsson, Medtronic, and Bridgestone Americas, Vicky provides expert legal services in preparing, prosecuting, and defending patent applications across a broad spectrum of technologies.
Vicky’s expertise spans wireless communications, artificial intelligence, medical devices, and consumer electronics, including groundbreaking work in 5G/6G, augmented reality (AR), and mobile technologies. Whether navigating complex patent landscapes or advising on patent infringement matters, Vicky’s legal acumen ensures her clients’ innovations are protected both domestically and internationally.
With a unique background as both an engineer at Lockheed Martin and a combat veteran in the U.S. Army Reserves, Vicky offers a distinctive combination of technical expertise and real-world problem-solving skills. This blend allows her to effectively bridge the gap between legal and technical teams, offering tailored patent solutions to businesses, in-house counsel, and foreign law firms seeking guidance on U.S. patent law.
Key Areas of Expertise:
- Patent Prosecution & Strategy
- Infringement and Patentability Opinions
- U.S. & International Patent Applications (PCT, EPO, etc.)
- Patent Litigation Support & Legal Research
- Wireless Communications, AI, AR, and Medical Devices
- Trademark Prosecution & Enforcement
Whether you’re a business owner seeking to safeguard your intellectual property or a foreign associate looking for expert assistance navigating U.S. patent law, Vicky is dedicated to providing high-quality, results-driven legal services to help clients achieve their goals.
Jessie Yang, Ph.D., J.D., U.S. PTO registered
Jessie Yang, Ph.D. (Molecular Biology), J.D., is a U.S. PTO registered patent attorney. Her almost two decades of scientific experience in academia, biotech startups, and the medical device industry gives her an insight which is invaluable to Flener IP & Law clients.
As a veteran scientist, Jessie has extensive knowledge and expertise in biotechnology, biochemistry, microbiology, biocompatibility, environmental science, analytical chemistry, organic chemistry, chemical engineering, formulation, product development, and medical devices. During her science career, she received highly competitive funding, published dozens of peer-reviewed papers, obtained patents, presented at national and international conferences, and served as a peer reviewer for prestigious scientific journals. Furthermore, Jessie worked in multidisciplinary teams and supported regulatory submission efforts.
Jessie brought her rigorous scientific training and well-rounded skillsets to her legal career. After her Ph.D., post-doctoral studies, and full professorship (in China), Jessie further developed her advocacy skills at Chicago-Kent College of Law. During law school, she was a member of Law Review as well as Moot Court Honor Society and an editor of Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property. She received eight CALI awards for highest grade, graduated magna cum laude, and elected a member of the Order of the Coif. She was a Judicial Extern to the Honorable Edmond E. Chang at the United States District Court, Northern District of Illinois. Last but not least, Jessie wrote several appellate briefs for moot court competitions and published an article titled “Enablement for Genus Claims: A Bifurcated Approach” in Chicago-Kent Journal of Intellectual Property.
Firm clients know they are in good hands with Jessie at the helm of their intellectual property matters. Jessie’s experience spans all things patent including patent preparation, drafting, counseling, prosecution, litigation support, infringement opinions, patentability and freedom to operate analysis, and landscape searches. She has also put her legal writing skills to good use in intellectual property protection and anti-counterfeiting litigation.
In her free time, Jessie likes traveling, cooking, watching movies, working out, gardening, and playing board games with her two daughters.
James Judge, J.D., Attorney at Law
James Judge, JD BFA, Attorney at Law, has almost three decades of experience providing clients with creative solutions to difficult problems in all avenues of commerce including legal clients, construction companies, and performing arts organizations. He has worked with client’s nationwide since 1980. Skilled in business and corporate transactions, the majority of James’ practice is concentrated in business formation, securities, and business combinations. James also provides pro bono counsel to commercial and entertainment CEOs about company formation, selling stock, including legal ramifications and possible outcomes/strategies, and thereafter, creating the private offering or IPO to propel the vision of the company.
In his free time, James is an avid and competitive sailor. He is often heard to say that “At sea, my team and I live in constant peril”. In the business world that translates into effective counsel in perilous situations for achieving business goals from corporate strategy, to forming companies, to supervising offerings of securities, both privately and publicly. James guides corporate clients through the murkey waters of raising capital, coordinating with tax and intellectual property professionals to ensure a uniform and consistent approach to market dominance.
Ying Chen, J.D. L.L.M., Attorney at Law
Ying Chen is an attorney at Flener IP & Business Law, with a focus on intellectual property protection and anti-counterfeiting litigation. She is licensed to practice law in Illinois and New York. She joined the team as a law clerk in 2021 and has been with the firm ever since.
She earned her J.D. and L.L.M. with a specialization in intellectual property law from IIT Chicago-Kent College of Law, where she was a member of the Intellectual Property Law Society (IPLS) and the Asian Pacific American Law Students Association (APALSA). She also contributed her expertise as a member of the Editorial Board for the book Texts and Cases in Responsible Conducts of Scientific Research, Wang, R., & Zhang, W. (Eds.) in 2021.
Before moving to the United States, Ying earned an L.L.B. in Intellectual Property and a B.Eng. in Computer Science from Xiangtan University in China. She was the vice president of the law school’s Debate Team and a member of the Legal Aid Centre. Additionally, she gained valuable experience when she participated in drafting the published report Analysis of Overseas Patent Application of Guangdong Province. She also successfully passed the Chinese Bar Exam after graduation.
In her free time, Ying is passionate about exploring new cuisines and enjoys traveling, playing tennis, and watching horror movies.
Nicole E. Nance J.D., Attorney at Law
Nicole E. Nance J.D., is an attorney at Flener IP & Business Law, specializing in Intellectual Property. Nicole graduated from Columbia Law School in 2019 and has an avid interest in trademark and copyright law. Since graduation, Nicole has advised clients of various sizes and in a myriad of industries including fashion, food services, pharmaceuticals, non-profits, and manufacturing regarding the protection and enforcement of their intellectual property rights. She has also assisted companies with developing strategies to expand, protect, and maintain their trademark portfolios and register their trademarks domestically and internationally. Additionally, she contributed her expertise as an editor and contributor to Trade Secret Protection, A Global Guide, Second Edition.
While at Columbia Law, Nicole was a board member of several organizations including Empowering Women of Color (EWOC), the Public Interest Law Foundation (PILF), and a member of the Black Law Students Association (BLSA). She also participated in the Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts Internship, Frederick Douglass Moot Court, and Lawyering in the Digital Age Clinic, further developing her lawyering, client counseling, and intellectual property skills. Her career goals are to protect and provide guidance to creators and innovators in the development and protection of their creations and contributions to the world including their word, slogan, logo, or color trademarks.
Nicole maintains membership in the Illinois State Bar Association and New York State Bar Association and is barred in both jurisdictions.
When not working diligently to protect client’s intellectual property rights, Nicole enjoys traveling, opera, and cooking.
