Photo Illustration: Georgia BioBusiness Center
Representative Engagements
Practice Description
I have extensive experience in university technology transfer, representing technology startup companies spun out of university research laboratories, individual scientist / entrepreneurs, businesses licensing university patents and companies entering into sponsored research agreements. I understand the challenges faced in the technology transfer process, and am committed to furthering the important work of bringing technological innovations from the university or research institute laboratory to the marketplace, through commercial licenses and formation of startup companies.
My extensive experience with all of the relevant constituencies β the faculty / entrepreneur, the venture capital firm, the technology transfer professional and the corporate research sponsors β enables me to help bridge the gap between their different cultures to get to a mutually satisfactory and beneficial deal. I understand the difference between academic and commercial environments, and can guide the academic entrepreneur through unfamiliar territory.
A successful transition of inventions from the laboratory bench to commercially viable products requires a confluence of innovation, vision, teamwork, financing and much effort. My breadth of expertise in venture capital and angel financing, patent licensing, joint ventures, entity formation, mergers and acquisitions, public offerings and general business law enable me to address the entire life cycle of the university-based startup. In addition to providing top notch legal services, I can provide feedback on business plans and an extensive network of investors and other useful contacts.
My newsletter, Tech Transfer Update, is circulated to a list of approximately 3,000 tech transfer professionals, informing them of current legal developments of interest to them. I am an active member of the Association of University Technology Managers, and a contributor to its Journal.