Vern Maine & Associates Staff

Debra "Debbie" Stengel

Debbie is our paralegal administrator and staff leader for all paralegal matters and services. She brings 20 years of business and management experience to the firm's management team, and is the team leader for maintaining the firm's operating procedures.  Debbie works very closely with all our attorneys and foreign agents, supporting them in all aspects of US and International patent, trademark and copyright matters. She prepares domestic and foreign filing budgets for clients, is our principle troubleshooter for U.S. patent office problems, coordinates foreign filing procedures and resolves problems with our agents. Debbie prepares periodic full docket reviews for clients, and is generally involved in every aspect of our case management. She is also responsible for staff training and quality control functions, and supports the accounting department. Debbie is the go-to person for assistance with pre-grant patent and trademark questions, International pre and post grant matters, and all copyright issues.  Debbie has been with the firm since 2000.  She can be contacted at dstengel@vernmaine.com or by phone at 603-886-6100.

Jacqueline Smith

Jacqueline joined the firm in 2008. She is the Receptionist/ Administrative Assistant. She answers all incoming phone calls and directs them to the appropriate person. Jacqueline is very involved with the marketing side of the firm. She helps create and distribute postcards and puts together our brochure packet that teaches the process of patents & trademarks. In addition she helps the attorneys with our quarterly newsletter and monthly news bulletin. She also works with Karen Labrie, our Chief Financial Officer. She assists with our monthly billing, payroll, and collections. She is responsible for processing all of our invoices into payable/receivables. Besides the above mentioned tasks, she also manages any incoming and outgoing mail, coordinates client filing and helps with any special projects that may arise. You can contact Jacqueline at or by phone 603-886-6100 x7004.

Jacqueline"Jackie" Judkins

Jackie joined the firm in 2005. She began here as receptionist, and has through diligence and willing assistance developed her skillset to that of a skilled patent and trademark paralegal. She works closely with all of our attorneys, assisting in the preparation of provisional patent applications and other prosecution documents. She executes the filings, typically electronically, and manages the provisional docket through final disposition of these temporary applications. She is also chiefly responsible for managing, preparing and filing Information Disclosure Statements in support of utility filings, as well as collecting and recording patent assignments and managing domestic and international post issue fees required to keep patents active. Jackie has primary responsibility for physical management of case files from start to archiving. She coordinates closely with and supports our paralegal administrator, Debbie Stengel. Jackie is also our primary U.S. trademark paralegal, supporting and working closely with Attorney Andrew Cernota with our U.S. trademark work, state trademark and trade name cases and management of the overall trademark docket. Under attorney supervision, Jackie prepares and files trademark applications and specimens, shepherds the cases through the registration process, and handles post registration filings required to keep a registration active. Please contact her at jjudkins@vernmaine.com or by phone at 603-886-6100.

Karen Labrie

Karen is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with 20 years of accounting experience, and has served the firm since it's beginning in 1993. She functions as chief financial officer and advisor to the management team, handles all of the firm's financial accounts and banking, and provides essential support to larger clients and foreign agents. She can be reached at klabrie@vernmaine.com or by phone at 603-886-6100.

William B. Abbott

Bill is a graduate of the University of New Hampshire with a BSEE and Northeastern University with a MSEE. He holds a Professional Engineer License, and is a 40 year engineering veteran of the military/industrial environment. He has served in various engineering capacities with Sanders Associates (now BAE), RCA, and Kollsman Instrument Company . Bill has a wealth of experience in both analog and digital design. He is an adjunct professor at the New Hampshire Community Technical College-Nashua, teaching electronic, computer and mechanical courses.   Bill is also a sailor, marksman, bicyclist, a licensed airplane pilot and an Amateur Radio Operator. He can be reached at wabbott@vernmaine.com.