KENNESAW, Ga. | Oct 6, 2025

As Kennesaw State University strives to conduct research with relevant societal impact, it remains essential to provide researchers opportunities to bring their findings into the market to maximize their reach.

A partnership with international law firm Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP, with its largest office in Atlanta, ensures KSU researchers have access to state-of-the-art diligence and patent-related technology, increasing the speed of evaluation and drafting of patent applications, allowing KSU to expand its portfolio.

The partnership has yielded significant results, with Kennesaw State seeing a 60 percent increase in disclosures last fiscal year and a 300 percent jump from 2023-2025.

Recently, Assistant Professor of Organic Chemistry Carl Saint-Louis had one of his provisional patent applications advanced to a non-provisional U.S. patent. The technology he discovered enables the real-time visualization of the release of complex molecules with anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.

Because the innovation deals with such complex chemistry, and since there are multiple aspects to consider for prosecution strategy, Saint-Louis’ submission would typically require a lengthy, time-consuming review. Additionally, Saint-Louis was already scheduled to present his findings publicly.

Additionally, through its streamlined process, SGR was able to support KSU with a robust landscape assessment, resulting in the strategic drafting of a U.S. non-provisional application, an international PCT application, and two provisional patent applications, while keeping Saint-Louis on a timeline that allowed him to publish and present his research.

“It’s critical that we don’t impede the academic dissemination of research findings when we can prevent it,” Assistant Vice President of Innovation and Strategic Partnerships Chris Cornelison said. “Adopting new technologies that streamline the assessment and drafting process make SGR a great partner for us that assists in delivery service to our KSU inventors, aligning with their needs as innovators, entrepreneurs, and scholars.”

More About Smith, Gambrell & Russell, LLP

For over 10 years, Michael Riesen and Robert Walling have applied their technical education and experience to developing legal technology to support their legal practice. Michael’s prior academic work in AI/Machine learning was published in several peer-reviewed journals at a time when AI and the law was only a fledgling idea in the legal field.

In 2019, Smith Gambrell formalized their AI and the law initiative with SGR Labs - SGR Labs - SGR Law – with a mission to develop and implement practical tech-enabled legal solutions, and to integrate legal practice with software, data analytics, and automation to drive value.

Now, in 2025, the value proposition is clearer than ever. From IP diligence and patent landscaping to preparation and prosecution of patent filings, SGR Labs has implemented AI-supported workflows to reduce delay and derive value for their clients.

In particular, Smith Gambrell recognized a discrete benefit to supporting University work with SGR Labs. Universities often have rich IP portfolios, heavy needs for thoughtful patent prosecution, and often limited resources. By partnering with universities, SGR Labs aims to bridge the gap between cutting-edge academic research and the rigorous demands of patent examination, ensuring that groundbreaking ideas can move more efficiently from the lab to the marketplace.

Through its partnerships, SGR Labs is helping universities:

Streamline IP Diligence – Using analytics to assess the strength and commercial potential of inventions before costly patent filings.

Enhance Patent Preparation – Leveraging automation and standardized drafting tools to accelerate application development.

 Optimize Patent Prosecution – Applying examiner data and AI-enabled insights to improve outcomes in patent examination.

Foster Collaboration – Providing digital platforms and robust reportings for faculty, researchers, technology transfer offices, and outside counsel to coordinate more effectively.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees to its more than 47,000 students. Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia with 11 academic colleges. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties, and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the country and the world. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 8 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.