Law Firms - Boston Area

For start-ups, corporate law fees are commonly deferred, often in exchange for 1-2% equity, whereas patent fees are not deferrable.  Exceptions are noted below.  Attorneys who contributed information to the Biotech Club are listed for each firm.

Corporate Law Firms w/ IP Practices

Brown, Rudnick, Freed, & Gesmer
Mark A. Hofer is key individual in firm with experience in biotechnology on the corporate side.  Firm does not specialize in biotech IP.

Edwards and Angell
David G. Conlin - Intellectual property
Albert L. Sokol - Corporate law.
Mr. Sokol is also involved with an associated venture fund that the firm is establishing.  Firm has several other patent and corporate attorneys practicing in biotech area.

Hale and Dorr
Steven D. Singer - Chair of Biotechnology and Medical Group
Alfred Server, MD - Vice Chair of Life Sciences and Tech Licensing Groups
Mr. Singer and Dr. Server have excellent reputations in the industry and are responsible for much of Hale and Dorr's expertise in biotechnology.  The firm is very strong in corporate and regulatory issues and has a growing biotech intellectual property practice. 

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky & Popeo
Jeffrey M. Wiesen - Chairman of Biotechnology Practice Mintz Levin has one of the largest biotechnology practices i the country, with more than 60 attorneys, scientists and other professionals handling corporate and financial transactions and intellectual property matters for biotech clients. Mr. Wiesen is highly regarded in the industry and leads the transactional group assisitin established, as well as start-up, entities.The firms patent attorneys have considerable experience in many of the cutting edge areas of biotechnology and bioinformatics. ML Strategies LLC is a strategic consulting affiliate of the firm with an established Biotech Public Relations group.

Nixon Peabody
Michael Barron - Corporate Law
Ron I. Eisenstein - Intellectual Property
Large and active firm.  Experienced in prosecution of patents and intellectual property management in diverse areas of biotechnologies and devices. Typically asks for $2K-5K retainer. 

Palmer and Dodge 
Michael Lytton, former Chairman of the Technology Group, was one of the most active and respected attorneys in the Northeast biotechnology community, frequently moderating panel discussions at conferences and writing a regular column on various topics relevant to the life sciences and start-ups.  He has now moved on to Oxford Bioscience Partners as a General Partner.   P&D is one of the largest law firms and has an excellent biotech practice.  May require retainer of $5K-10K.

Ropes and Gray
Bill A. Knowlton - Corporate Law
Steve A. Wilcox - Intellectual Property and Corporate Law
One of the oldest firms in Boston, it has 30 full time attorneys in the healthcare/life sciences division.  Has expertise in regulatory issues and FDA approval strategy.

Testa, Hurwitz & Thibeault
Larry S. Wittenberg - Corporate Law
Firm has made name for itself in high-tech and has become more established in biotech space.  Has roughly 26 intellectual property attorneys with biology/chemistry backgrounds.

Corporate Law

Prince, Lobel, Glovsky & Tye
Martin E. Fishkin - Corporate 
Smaller firm with about 45 attorneys in various practice groups.

Rubin and Rudman
Peter B. Finn - Corporate Law
Peter Finn is the key life science attorney at this firm, often willing to work with scientists with little business experience.

Patent Law Firms

Clark and Elbing
Paul T. Clark - Patent Law
Mr. Clark stellar reputation in Boston biotechnology community. The firm has many attorney's with advanced degrees and expertise in almost every area of biotechnology.  A very respected firm. In the event website is down, contact Mr. Clark by email (clark@clarkelbing.com)

Fish and Richardson
Louis Myers - Patent Law
One of the larger and more established patent law firms and one of the first to develop expertise in biotechnology.  It is also one of the best.

Foley, Hoag & Eliott
Beth E. Arnold - Patent Attorney
Matt P. Vincent, PhD - Intellectual Property
Jonathan H. Hulbert - Business, Biotech
Highly respected intellectual property firm which also does corporate law.  Has 1:1 ratio of partners to associates, ensuring that clients get attention from most experienced attorneys.  Excellent biotech practice.  Patent fees may be deferrable.

Hamilton, Brook, Smith, and Reynolds
David E. Brook - Patent Law
Mr. Brook is a highly regarded and active attorney specializing in the life sciences. Firm is relatively small but is considered one of the best in the Northeast.  Firm will ask for $1K-2K retainer and may defer the rest if company already has VC/angel backing. May take equity.

Wolf, Greenfield and Sacks
E. Robin Plumer, PhD - Patent Attorney
Randy J. Pritzker - Patent Attorney
With 60 attorneys and technology specialists, WGS is one of the most prominent patent law firm in Boston.  Dr. Plumer is a well-known an active attorney in the biotech space and Mr. Pritzker has expertise in dealing with start-ups.