Client Success

Aralea, a small business founded by Shawna Lattimore, PhD, had created a new fermentation process for sweet potatoes and other plant-based options in order to create alternatives to dairy products such as yogurt and cheese. The process results in options that don’t trigger food sensitivities, allergies, or inflammation. In addition, sweet potatoes have one of the lowest water footprint calculations making the process environmentally friendly. Shawna wanted to protect and claim this process as the company’s own, so Aralea came to Wiggin and Dana after they had an initial US provisional patent application on file.

With the firm’s assistance, they worked to file a follow-on provisional patent application for their process to be able to eventually seek patent protection in the US and other key geographies. Filing these applications is crucial for new companies to ensure that their inventions are protected before disclosing them to potential investors, partners, and parties for licensing. Doing so also enables them to work with vendors and service providers.

“The WOI program has enabled me to complete work on and file an international patent application critical to my business.  Without this filing, I would not have been able to continue discussions with potential partners and licensees. Dr. Anthony Sabatelli of Wiggin and Dana LLP, used his broad knowledge and expertise to guide me through the International Patent Application process for my plant-based dairy alternative product and processes,” said Shawna. “He treated me and my project with utmost respect, professionalism and promptness. He was also sensitive to my visual impairment. I am deeply appreciative of the WOI and the continuing opportunities and doors that open for me.”

So far, this process has been utilized to create a dozen yogurt flavors, seven kinds of cheese, flavored milk, creamers, spreads and frozen desserts. Shawna’s goal is to see her dairy alternative products sold in stores across the world in hopes of creating a healthier planet.

Among the Wiggin and Dana attorneys on the Aralea WOI team were Anthony Sabatelli, Brian Pattengale and Thomas Landman.