Life Sciences - IP

We help clients at every stage of development

• Global strategic counseling
• IP portfolio development
• International filing strategies
• Patent preparation and prosecution
• Reexamination, opposition, reissue, interference, and inter partes review proceedings, as well as third-party submissions
• Validity and non-infringement opinions
• Financing due diligence and opinions
• FDA patent listings and extensions
• Licensing and transactions
• Litigation and enforcement
• Trademarks and copyright

A multidisciplinary team of legal and technical professionals

• Our senior partners have more than 25 years of experience in the biologics field
• Our group includes patent attorneys, litigators and technical specialists
• Members of our team have Ph.D.s and Master’s Degrees in molecular biology, cell biology, biochemistry, medical microbiology, molecular genetics, immunology, and virology
• Nationally recognized by leading publications, including Chambers USA, US News–Best Law Firms, and Managing Intellectual Property

Our clients range from start-ups to leading pharmaceutical companies

• Biotechnology start-ups
• Global pharmaceutical companies
• Leading academic and research institutions
• Medical device companies
• Healthcare service companies

Protecting cutting edge technologies

Nelson Mullins’ Life Sciences team is known for developing and implementing effective IP strategies and building strong patent portfolios. These practices protect and facilitate commercialization of products for companies ranging from biotechnology start-ups to leading pharmaceutical companies.

Our life sciences services help you to

• Take your product from innovation through FDA approval – helping large and small clients at every stage of development, including IP strategies, worldwide patent portfolios, freedom to operate, financing, licensing and enforcement
• Strategically develop global IP portfolios – including expanding patent portfolios for product lines, obtaining broad protection for next-generation technologies and positioning portfolios for future worldwide commercial development
• Identify, assess and address the risks of patent litigation – enabling life science companies to make informed business decisions when enforcing or defending their IP in the U.S. or around the world
• Complete fundraising transactions – working with biotechnology companies and venture capitalist, we conduct the IP due diligence clients need to confidently move forward with public offerings, initial public offerings and other fundraising transactions
• Close multi-million dollar acquisitions – representing pharmaceutical companies and start-ups, our attorneys and technical specialist conduct IP due diligence and advise clients on the strength of patent portfolios related to multi-million dollar acquisitions 

Following is a selected sampling of matters and is provided for informational purposes only. Past success does not indicate the likelihood of success in any future matter.

Biotechnology Experience

Our attorneys, patent agents, and technical specialists include staff immunologists and molecular biologists who are graduates or postdoctoral fellows from top universities, including Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Tufts, and McGill.

We have knowledge of life science and antibody discovery / development technologies including

• Synthetic proteins
• Acellular expression
• Phage display
• Profusion
• Alternative scaffolds
• Yeast display
• Antibody humanization
• Affinity maturation
• B cell repertories for the expression/capture of human antibodies
• Transgenic avian systems for the expression of human antibodies
• Transgenic murine systems for the expression of human antibodies
• Fully human expression libraries

Chemistry Experience

Our attorneys, patent agents, and technical specialists include chemists who have doctoral and undergraduate degrees, as well as postdoctoral and industry experience in a variety of chemical arts, including synthetic organic, inorganic, and bioorganic chemistry, as well as chemical engineering and chemical processing.

We have worked with clients in many areas of chemistry patent prosecution and due diligence including

• Novel small molecules
• Novel methods of treatment
• New routes of administration
• New administration profiles
• Co-administered therapies
• FDA label developments
• Prodrugs
• Dosages
• Metabolites
• Methods of increasing bioavailability
• Salts/polymorphic crystal forms
• Packaging
• Chemical processes

Immunology/Antibody Experience

Our team of attorneys and senior patent agents includes immunologists with Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University and graduate and post-doctoral experience from top research universities, institutions, and companies. Because of our experience in the immunology area and our reasonable billing rates, we are able to complete projects efficiently and cost effectively. We work with clients to develop budgets and project goals.

We have worked with clients in many technical areas of immunology patent prosecution and due diligence including

• Antibodies to novel antigens
• Antibodies to known antigens
• Humanized, fully human and chimeric antibodies
• Antibody engineering
• Fc fusion proteins
• Screening of immunologically relevant targets
• Diagnostic assays
• Methods of treating immune disorders

IP Litigation Experience

We assess the costs and risks of patent litigation, and alternative resolutions, when our clients are involved in developing new technologies or engaged in due diligence. Our litigation risk assessments enable clients to make informed business decisions when contemplating whether to commence litigation, how to respond to cease and desist letters, and how to defend against lawsuits that have been filed against them.

• Our team approach to litigation provides the full range of experience of our best trial attorneys, patent lawyers, patent agents, and technical specialists to assist in teaching technology and patent law to judges and juries
• We also offer significant e-discovery experience and services, including the firm’s Encompass e-discovery division

• Jane Remillard – New England Legal Awards, Intellectual Property Attorney of the Year, Finalist (2024)
• LMG Life Sciences Rankings
  • Tier 3 – Patent Prosecution
  • IP Stars: Jane Remillard – Patent Strategy & Management
  • IP Stars: Jill Sloper & Susan Jackson – Patent Prosecution
• Chambers & Partners, Massachusetts, Band 4 – Intellectual Property (Practice Ranked)
  • Jane Remillard – Band 2, Intellectual Property (Individual Ranking)