Genna is a multi-faceted legal professional, with small-business roots and a background in both hard science and research/writing. Inspired by the collaborative accomplishment of the Human Genome Project and impassioned by her mother’s struggle with Parkinson’s Disease in the US healthcare system, Genna became fascinated with the potential of biotechnology and genetic research in treating and preventing illness, and focused on the potential for regulatory mechanisms to increase patient access to cutting-edge healthcare technology.
Genna took her first job at 16, working for small businesses, large corporations, and government agencies throughout high school and college. After completing her undergraduate degrees, Genna excelled for three years as the Quality Assurance/Quality Control Laboratory Technician for a biomedia processing facility in Lenexa, Kansas. She also spent a year in Yoshino Village, Tokushima, Japan, teaching English to junior high school students.
In law school, Genna took all courses related to Health Law and Intellectual Property, and competed in relevant moot court events. Additionally, she interned for the Washington State Attorney General’s Office Torts Division, and held two judicial clerkships: for the Honorable Annette S. Plese of the Spokane County Superior Court in Spokane, Washington, and for the Honorable William R. Fairchild of the Douglas County District Court in Lawrence, Kansas.
Returning to the Midwest, Genna chose the Chicago area to establish her legal career. She has fallen in love with the regional diversity, passion, and pride for supporting local businesses. She also discovered a need for affordable intellectual property and commercial legal services, specifically tailored to small business owners and individuals. On January 1st, 2013, she formed Hibbs Law, LLC.
Since beginning her practice, Genna has:
- Registered trademarks and copyrights, handled TTAB proceedings
- Assisted entrepreneurs through entity formation
- Drafted a range of agreements
- Advised small business owners in maintaining and enforcing their intellectual property
- Navigated FDA regulatory compliance for medical device , food facility, and dietary/nutritional supplement manufacturers, as well as new hemp/cannabis regulations
- Navigated HIPPA compliance and evaluated insurance agreements for healthcare providers
- Litigated federal infringement actions for intellectual property clients
- Negotiated settlements and licenses for intellectual property clients
- Acquired registration as a patent attorney.
Genna’s professional achievements as an attorney are consistently met with satisfaction by her clients, approval by her peers and mentors, and a sense of accomplishment personally and professionally.
When she’s not working, Genna enjoys bicycling, taking her dogs for runs in the countryside, cooking meals from her garden, reading Sci-Fi with a cat on her lap, writing fiction and poetry, painting figurines, and playing a variety of tabletop, RPG, and video games. In the warmer months, Genna can be found on her hobby-farm with her retired father where veggies, berries, and chickens make for pleasant and tasty agrarian pursuits. She also supports her loving spouse in his pursuit of creating a non-profit organization dedicated to enabling increased internet access to McHenry County. Genna finds strength and fullness of spirit in the turning of seasons and the beauty of the Earth.