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McDermott’s Boston Office Welcomes Intellectual Property Partner
Monday, August 11, 2008
Boston, MA -- The Boston office of McDermott Will & Emery is pleased to welcome Robert H. Underwood, Ph.D., as the newest partner to its office. Dr. Underwood will be a member of the Firm’s Intellectual Property, Media & Technology Department and the Firm’s Life Sciences & Medical Devices Practice Group.
Dr. Underwood has extensive experience creating and evaluating intellectual property protection in the areas of life sciences and chemistry including antibody-based and other protein therapeutics, nucleic acid and genetic technology, small molecule therapeutics, medicinal chemistry, drug discovery and development, organic chemistry, polymers, catalysts, and drug formulation and delivery. His practice focuses on patent portfolio development and management, patent prosecution, opinions, licensing, due diligence and related counseling. He also assists clients with product planning matters as they relate to intellectual property, patent life-cycle management and the acquisition and divestment of intellectual property assets.
"We are delighted Bob has joined us. He is a highly skilled lawyer and the wide range of experience he brings with him is a significant addition to our Firm-wide patent prosecution and life sciences practices, as well as a strong supplement to our overall Boston intellectual property practice," commented Sarah Columbia, vice-chair of the worldwide Intellectual Property, Media & Technology Department and co-chair of McDermott’s Boston Intellectual Property, Media & Technology Department.
Prior to joining McDermott, Dr. Underwood was in private practice. He has been a visiting scientist at the Basel Institute for Immunology in Switzerland and a research associate at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston. Dr. Underwood earned his J.D. from Suffolk University Law School, his Ph.D. in immunology from Tufts University and his B.S. in biology from the University of New Hampshire. He is a member of the American Bar Association, the American Intellectual Property Law Association and the Massachusetts Bar Association. He is a registered patent attorney admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.
Our Intellectual Property, Media & Technology Department includes more than 215 lawyers and patent agents working in all of our offices throughout the world. We are renowned for our trial and appellate experience, and are ranked as one of the most active IP litigation firms for both plaintiffs and defendants. Our practice in procurement and licensing in the patent, trademark and copyright areas is recognized for its depth and breadth. Rounding out our intellectual property, media and technology services, the team provides client counseling and advice regarding trade secret, unfair competition, advertising, entertainment and computer law. Additionally, we work closely with our transactional and tax lawyers on the intersection of IP and corporate issues.
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