Background
Nies, Helen Wilson was born on August 7, 1925 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Daughter of George Earl and Lida Blanche (Erckert) Wilson.
Nies, Helen Wilson was born on August 7, 1925 in Birmingham, Alabama, United States. Daughter of George Earl and Lida Blanche (Erckert) Wilson.
Bachelor, University Michigan, 1946. Juris Doctor, University Michigan, 1948. Doctor of Laws (honorary), John Marshall Law School, 1993.
Attorney, Department Justice, Washington, 1948-1951;
attorney, Office Price Stabilization, Washington, 1951-1952;
associate, Pattishall, McAuliffe and Hofstetter, Washington, 1960-1966;
resident partner, Pattishall, McAuliffe and Hofstetter, Washington, 1966-1977;
partner, Howrey & Simon, Washington, 1978-1980;
judge, United States Court Customs and Patent Appeals, 1980-1982;
circuit judge, United States Court Appeals Federal Circuit, 1982-1996;
chief judge, United States Court Appeals (federal circuit), 1990-1994;
senior status, United States Court Appeals (federal circuit), 1995-1996. Member judicial conference United States Committee on Bicentennial of Constitution, 1986-1992. Member public advising committee trademark affairs Department Commerce, 1976-1980.
Member of advisory board BNA's Patent Trademark and Copyright Journal, 1976-1978. Member board visitors University of Michigan Law School, 1975-1978. Advisory for restatement of law and unfair competition American Law Institute, 1986-1996.
Speaker World Intellectual Property Organisation, Forum of Judges, Calcutta, 1987, European Judges Conference, Hague, 1991, Kyoto (Japan) Comparative Law Center, 1992, others.
Member of Federal Bar Association, American Bar Association (chairman committee 203 1972-1974, committee 504 1975-1976), Women's Bar District of Columbia (Woman Lawyer of Year 1980), National Association Women Lawyers, American Patent Law Association, United States Trademark Association (chairman lawyer advisory committee 1974-1976, board directors 1976-1978), Bar Association District of Columbia (chairman patent trademark copyright section 1975-1976, director 1976-1978, Judicial Honoree award 1992), Phi Kappa Phi, Phi Beta Kappa, Order of Coif.
Married John Dirk Nies. Children: Dirk, Nancy, Eric.