Fish & Richardson Launches Team Focused on Protecting Life Sciences Innovations

Fish & Richardson has appointed leading trial attorney Martina Hufnal and veteran patent prosecutor Todd Garcia, Ph.D. to chair the firm’s Life Sciences Industry Team. The team represents every sector of the life sciences market, including pharmaceutical, medical device, medtech and biotech companies, as well as academic and research institutions.

The Life Sciences Industry Team provides strategic and forward-thinking counsel to clients to minimize risk, protect clients’ innovative assets, and strengthen clients’ competitive edge in the market. The team’s cross-practice approach leverages interdisciplinary collaboration across litigation, patent prosecution and counseling, post-grant, trademark, regulatory, and licensing to provide clients with seamless support and a 360-degree view of potential opportunities and threat assessment and mitigation.

"Fish has a nationally recognized bench of trial attorneys and IP practitioners whose experience representing life sciences companies is second to none,” said Fish President and CEO John Adkisson. "Fish knows the life sciences because we’re scientists too. Over 140 of our attorneys, technology specialists, and patent agents are part of this team with extensive experience and technical backgrounds in related disciplines. The Life Sciences Industry Team provides a cross-practice, cross-geography organizational structure to further invest firm resources and enhance collaboration to support clients in this rapidly evolving industry.”

Principals Martina Hufnal and Todd Garcia co-lead the team and are charged with spearheading strategy and boosting synergy across functions. Hufnal has extensive experience in Hatch-Waxman litigation, biosimilar cases, and medical device disputes and is regarded for her work on complex pharmaceutical and health care industry cases. Hufnal is known for her long-term strategic perspective and her deep understanding of clients’ priorities and business objectives. She has represented industry-leading clients in contentious, high-stakes matters and has contributed to defining the evolving landscape of IP law in the life sciences space. Regarded as an outstanding litigator, Hufnal’s many accolades include “Delaware Litigator of the Year,” Managing IP (2022); “IP Star,” Managing IP (2018-2023); and “Life Sciences Star,” LMG Life Sciences (4x).

“I’m grateful to be entrusted as co-leader of this robust and energetic team,” said Hufnal. “The life science space is dynamic and provides an exciting opportunity to better cross-serve clients and drive success for innovative companies and institutions. I’m looking forward to collaborating across this team to accelerate progress and results.”

Garcia is a sought after expert in patent prosecution and counseling, opinion work, due diligence studies, and development and management of patent portfolios. With a Ph.D. in microbiology, Garcia has deep technical knowledge in biotechnology, small molecule, and medical and diagnostic devices. Garcia has represented the full spectrum of life sciences clients from startups to large pharmaceutical companies and major research institutions. Recognized as a masterful patent prosecutor, Garcia was named an “IP Star,” Managing IP (2013-2023); “Life Sciences Star,” LMG Life Sciences (2017-2023); and “Latino Leaders Worth Watching,” Profiles in Diversity Journal (2021).

“I’m excited to co-lead our Life Sciences Industry Team. We will support and deploy the strongest and most experienced professionals with the right technical expertise to handle our clients' patent protection and enforcement needs,” said Garcia.

With 12 offices across the U.S., and locations in Munich, Germany, and Shenzhen, China, Fish is uniquely positioned to manage global IP portfolios and represent clients in multi-party, multi-jurisdictional, and high-stakes global litigation. Fish attorneys are experienced in each sector of the life sciences market, including small molecule, large molecule, medical device, medtech, and biotech.