Cynthia A. Neal

Cindy’s practice focuses on patent preparation and prosecution with an emphasis on chemical technologies, including materials, polymers, coating, food, biotechnology, and consumer goods. 

Cindy has counseled a broad range of clients, from individual inventors and startups to Fortune 500 companies, on intellectual property matters, including reviewing disclosures, rendering clearance and validity opinions, handling prior art searches, conducting due diligence, and portfolio management. She regularly represents multi-national corporations with diverse, global patent portfolios and partners with her clients to identify the specific outcomes they desire.  Cindy approaches intellectual property development holistically, frequently working through pros and cons of both patent and trade secret protection with her clients to determine the right type of protection for each new invention. She works closely with in-house counsel to develop a strategic partnership to ensure that the client’s assets are protected to their fullest potential based on their business and technology goals. 

Cindy also advises clients on compliance with U.S. export controls, trade and economic sanctions, export controls (International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and Export Administration Regulations (EAR)), and other regulations related to the possession, trade, and export of U.S. controlled assets. In particular, she works with companies to analyze product, service, and technology portfolios to identify and classify assets subject to export controls, register under the ITAR or EAR, and develop, implement, and improve export control compliance programs. She regularly advises companies on various compliance issues related to sanctions programs administered and enforced by the Office of Foreign Asset Control (OFAC), including U.S. sanctions targeting China and Russia/Crimea. Cindy assists companies with drafting and submitting license applications, disclosures, and classification requests to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) and the Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC).

Additionally, Cindy has provided legal and strategic advice to clients regarding a variety of international trade matters, including issues regarding the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) and Section 301 duties on imports from China as, tariff classifications, and country of origin rulings.  She works closely with her corporate colleagues in conducting due diligence of international trade (ITAR, EAR, customs) and government contracts matters.

Cindy earned her J.D. from the University of Cincinnati College of Law in 2009 and her B.S. in Biochemistry from Miami University in 2005.

She joined Calfee from a Cincinnati-based law firm in 2021, and she was elected Partner in 2024.

Honors & Recognitions

• The Best Lawyers in America^®, Litigation - Intellectual Property (2025) and Patent Law (2024-2025)
• Ohio Super Lawyers, Intellectual Property (2025)
• Cincy Magazine, "Cincy Leading Lawyers," Intellectual Property (2023)

Education

J.D., University of Cincinnati College of Law, 2009

B.S., Biochemistry, Miami University, 2005

Experience

Intellectual Property

• Assist in managing the entire patent portfolio directed to radiation oncology therapeutics and analytics technology for this publicly traded, multinational company headquartered in California. The portfolio encompasses dozens of seminal patents, particularly in the areas of combining imaging and therapeutic techniques in one integrated device. Due to its extensive scientific and technical background, the Calfee team assists the client at an extremely high technical level. In particular, the team takes an active role helping them secure intellectual property rights on new and developing technologies emerging from its vigorous research group, including drafting and prosecuting its domestic and international patent applications. Calfee works with the company’s scientists and engineers, as well as notable university researchers with whom the company collaborates. Calfee also manages the company’s numerous international applications. (2024)
• Work with a small team of in-house patent/IP counsel and manage a larger team of external Calfee attorneys to draft and prosecute a publicly traded, Fortune 500 company client's patent applications and provide legal opinions and consultation on patent portfolio growth. Together, Calfee and the client’s in-house IP counsel handle the implementation of the client’s IP protection objectives for the company’s four divisions. This work includes interfacing with Research & Development and business leaders concentrated in Europe, including Great Britain, France, and Finland. Calfee oversees the drafting and prosecution of hundreds of patent applications throughout the world on behalf of this client, as well as counseling the client on critical IP-related issues such as freedom-to-practice, trade secret strategies, and innovation harvesting. (2024)
• Serve as Chief Outside Intellectual Property Counsel for a publicly traded, Fortune 500, multibillion-dollar, multinational holding company with multiple operating companies based in the U.S. and abroad. Calfee is responsible for patent annuity payments on all patent matters and assists many of the operating companies with the prosecution of patent applications, both in the U.S. and abroad. Calfee manages the U.S. trademark and patent work directly and supervises a network of foreign associates when action is required in foreign jurisdictions. Calfee regularly assists the client with enforcement matters involving any aspect of IP, including representing the operating companies in infringement litigation brought by or against them. Calfee also offers primary counsel on the impact of corporate reorganization efforts on the ownership and management of the operating companies’ IP. Calfee IP lawyers also supervise most of the intellectual property due diligence related to the mergers and acquisition activity of the client. Calfee represents the company in several trade secret matters. (2024)
• Serve as the preferred IP counsel for non-catalyst innovations, including implementing protection strategies encompassing patent filings worldwide for our client, a global leader in technology licensing in the clean energy and petrochemicals industry. Calfee provides general IP-related counseling for the client, specifically providing patent preparation and prosecution, global portfolio maintenance, and IP counseling. (2024)
• Manage the entire IP portfolio, including patent and trademark portfolios, for a leading mineral mining services company with facilities across North America. This includes preparing and prosecuting patent and trademark applications both in the U.S. and internationally, counseling and advising on patent and trademark strategy, including patent and trademark clearance analyses, patentability, agreements, and licensing, as well as competitor portfolio analysis. (2024)

International Trade Regulation

• Representing a medical device manufacturer in an internal investigation and voluntary self-disclosure of potential export violations to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS), Office of Export Enforcement, within the Department of Commerce.

Professional & Community

• Northern Kentucky University, Chase College of Law, Adjunct Professor (2023-Present)
• Ohio Supreme Court Lawyer to Lawyer Mentoring Program, Mentor (2019-Present)
• American Intellectual Property Law Association, Member
• CincyIP, Member
• Cincinnati Bar Association, Member
• All Ohio Annual Institute on Intellectual Property, Planning Committee (2022-2023)
• Sweet Cheeks Diaper Bank, Board of Directors, Chair (2016 – 2019)

Presentations

• "Start-Up 101: Protect Your Tech!," Women in Start-Ups and NAWL Women in Intellectual Property & Tech Law, Panelist, Webinar (September 2021)