The advent of numerous technological innovations has generated a new dimension for biotechnology - the generation, management, and use of genetic and other biological information. Heralded by the sequencing of our genome, bioinformatics presents numerous new and technologically-intensive opportunities. Establishing a proprietary position will be critical to success in this emerging sector. Patents allow innovators to protect rapidly and aggressively their inventions, which can range from instruments and drugs to software and business plans. Equally important for developing a comprehensive business plan is the need to evaluate the intellectual property of competitors from the point of view of infringement and overall strategy.

Fish & Richardson, nationally renowned for its biotechnology, chemistry, software, and business methods prosecution, has established a group of attorneys and technology specialists to protect intellectual property in the emerging bioinformatics sector. Just as new bioinformatics inventions can capitalize on synergies between these disciplines, the group exploits synergies in the sophisticated and diverse technical backgrounds of our attorneys to serve our clients. The group combines unparalleled knowledge of intellectual property rights with expertise in virtually all bioinformatics-related technologies. Because of their sophisticated technical backgrounds, our attorneys have an unusual capacity to understand clients' technologies and can communicate with clients at their level.

IP Strategy and Planning

The firm provides patent portfolio planning, patent portfolio analysis in connection with financing, evaluating, and acquiring technology, patent-related assessment of competitive and other third-party positions, and opinions with respect to freedom to use, infringement and validity, and patentability. The firm's expertise encompasses various types of intellectual property transactions including licensing, development agreements, joint venture agreements, and technology transfer agreements.

Patents

No other law firm can match Fish & Richardson's understanding of the complex patent laws. Our patent prosecution work in the bioinformatics area is far-ranging and includes:

• Computer software: databases, data management, algorithms, data mining, and modeling/prediction
• Engineering: arrayers, high-throughput screening devices, biochips, microfluidics, and instrumentation
• Gene discovery and function: high-throughput genetic sequencing, genetic linkage studies, genome sequencing and annotation, polymorphism, gene expression profiles, gene chips, and microarrays
• Protein function: protein expression/modification databases, protein interaction maps, phylogenetics and evolution, protein function prediction, and protein structure
• Cellular function: modeling metabolic pathways, cell signaling pathways, cell image databases, and microscopy imaging and data analysis
• Medicine: computer-aided disease diagnosis, image databases and analysis, simulators, and patient data and medical informatics
• Drug design and development: computer aided drug design and molecular modeling, high-throughput screening, small-molecule compound libraries, clinical trial data analysis, pharmacogenomics, pharmacogenetics, and toxicology

Litigation

We have extensive experience litigating disputes involving all types of intellectual property rights, including cases involving biotechnology, chemistry, software, and business methods patents.

Regulatory practice

Fish & Richardson's drug and device regulatory practice group provides legal advice for clients who manufacture, distribute, and sell products regulated by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA). The group's attorneys also have significant experience practicing before regulatory agencies in many countries overseas.

Bioinformatics Attorneys

Richard G. A. Bone
University of Cambridge B.A. Natural Sciences 1988 First Class Honours
University of Cambridge Ph.D. Theoretical/Computational Chemistry 1992
Santa Clara University School of Law J.D. 2002
Editorial Board Member, Santa Clara University Law Review

Jack Brennan
University of Dayton B.Sc. Biology 1990
University of British Columbia Ph.D. Genetics 1996
Boston University School of Law J.D. 1999 magna cum laude
Boston University Law Review

John A. Dragseth
University of Minnesota B.S. Mechanical Engineering 1992 summa cum laude, Tau Beta Pi
University of Minnesota Law School J.D. 1996 magna cum laude, Order of the Coif
Managing Editor, Minnesota Law Review

J. Peter Fasse
Massachusetts Institute of Technology B.S. Bioelectrical Engineering, May 1983, and B.S. Life Sciences, December 1983
George Washington University J.D. 1987

J. Patrick Finn III
Pennsylvania State University B.S. Biology 1991 with distinction
University of California, Los Angeles Ph.D. Microbiology and Immunology 1997
William Mitchell College of Law J.D. 2002 cum laude

Tamara Fraizer
University of Kansas B.S. Biology 1986 honors and highest distinction
University of California at Davis Ph.D. Population Biology 1996
Stanford Law School J.D. 2001
Editor-in-Chief, Stanford Environmental Law Journal

Charles Hieken
Massachusetts Institute of Technology S.B., S.M. Electrical Engineering 1952 Tau Beta Pi, Eta Kappa Nu
Harvard Law School LL.B. 1957

Cameron M. Luitjens
University of North Dakota B.S. Biology 1994 summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa
University of Wisconsin Ph.D. Cellular and Molecular Biology 2000
Boston College Law School J.D. 2005
Staff Writer, Boston College Intellectual Property and Technology Forum

Ronald C. Lundquist
Kansas State University B.S. Biochemistry 1969
University of Utah Ph.D. Biology 1981
William Mitchell College of Law J.D. 1999

Stuart Macphail
University of Witwatersrand B.Sc. Biochemistry 1971 with honors
University of Cambridge Ph.D. Immunology 1976
Fordham University School of Law J.D. 2003

Denis G. Maloney
Manhattan College B.E. Electrical Engineering 1974 cum laude, Eta Kappa Nu
New York Law School J.D. 1979

John P. Schnurer
Harvey Mudd College B.S. Electrical Engineering with Minor in Economics 1993
University of California, Berkeley, School of Law J.D. 1996
Articles Editor, Berkeley Technology Law Journal (1995-1996)

Bioinformatics Technology Specialists

John T. Kendall
Bates College B.S. Chemistry 1986
Dartmouth College Ph.D. Organic Chemistry 1991

M. Angela Parsons
University of Nebraska B.S. Biological Sciences, emphasis in Molecular Genetics 1989 cum laude
Washington State University Ph.D. Genetics and Cell Biology 1994