Biotechnology and Life Sciences

The vast majority of our intellectual property lawyers are registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and hold advanced technical degrees (M.S., Ph.D. or M.D.) in areas including molecular genetics, biochemistry, microbiology, cellular development, medicine, pharmacology, biomechanical engineering, chemical engineering and electrical engineering. We also have several attorneys who are former U.S. Patent Examiners.

Our attorneys possess experience on the industry side, having worked in a variety of professions ranging from defense contracting to software development to biomedical research. Our industry knowledge and technical know-how, coupled with broad licensing and litigation experience, allow for a keen understanding of the legal issues affecting our clients’ businesses.

Further, our boutique-level technical training and experience is backed by the resources of a full-service law firm.

Our intellectual property clients range from nonprofit universities and research institutions to entrepreneurial start-up companies to large multinational corporations. In addition to practicing regularly in state and federal courts throughout the United States and before U.S. and foreign patent and trademark offices, we have litigated on behalf of our clients before the U.S. International Trade Commission in Section 337 cases involving gray market issues.

We have also represented clients in arbitration proceedings before the International Chamber of Commerce; the London Court of International Arbitration; the Zürich, Stockholm, Paris and Finland Chambers; the World Intellectual Property Organization; and in mediation and arbitration proceedings in venues throughout Europe and the Americas.

Sutherland’s biotechnology team spans across the firm. We represent clients on all types of matters ranging from intellectual property to FDA counseling; organization of corporations, partnerships and LLCs;
and tax counseling, restructuring and controversy resolution. Our attorneys have helped clients protect and commercialize discoveries in areas that include:

  • Animal and agricultural;
  • Biotechnology;
  • Biomedical devices;
  • Biotechnology research tools;
  • Drug delivery;
  • Environmental biocompatibility;
  • Genetics and protein expression systems;
  • Molecular diagnostics;
  • Nanobiotechnology applications;
  • Pharmaceuticals and drug discoverystem;
  • Cell and tissue;
  • Engineering therapies; and

  • Vaccines and prophylactics.

We have provided full-service legal support for Biotech companies on Intellectual Property matters that include:

  • Patenability opinions;
  • Patent drafting and U.S. and foreign patent prosecution;
  • Freedom-to-practice opinions;
  • Patent infringement analysis and strategy counseling;
  • Technology transfer, licensing and other cooperative commercialization and development agreements;
  • Complex Intellectual Property litigation and interferences;
  • FDA regulatory; and
  • Confidentiality and material transfer agreements.

We have also provided full-service legal support for Biotech companies on Corporate matters that include:

  • Organization of corporations, partnerships and LLCs;
  • Employment agreements;
  • Stock option and employee benefits plan;
  • SBIR grants;
  • Angel, seed and venture capital financing;
  • Initial public offerings;
  • Mergers, acqusitions and joint ventures;
  • International transactions; and
  • Tax counseling, restructuring and controversy resolution.

© 2010 Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP