Cooley LLP announced today that Bill Christiansen, Ph.D., Emily Wagner and Carol Laherty, Ph.D., have joined the firm’s Seattle office as partners in the firmwide Intellectual Property practice group. All three were previously partners in Seed Intellectual Property Law Group PLLC in Seattle.
“We are proud to welcome such a dynamic team of intellectual property attorneys to the firm,” said Joe Conroy, Cooley’s chief executive officer. “Their arrival further broadens our capabilities in Seattle and strengthens our national IP practice.”
Dr. Christiansen, Ms. Wagner and Dr. Laherty have built Seattle’s most dominant life sciences patent prosecution practice, and represent many of the leading biotech companies on the West Coast and nationally. In addition, the group has strong relationships with leading venture capitalists, particularly in the life sciences community.
“We are honored to be joining Cooley and its preeminent life sciences team,” said Dr. Christiansen. “Emily, Carol and I have shared many client relationships with Cooley partners through our joint work in Seattle’s life sciences community, and I am confident we can complement the group’s impressive roster of talent to serve the complex needs of the firm’s clients.”
“The combination of Bill, Emily and Carol’s life sciences-focused IP strategy practice with our existing team creates an unmatched offering regionally and nationally,” said John Robertson, partner in charge of Cooley’s Seattle office. “We are thrilled to welcome them to the office and to the firm.”
Cooley and its nationally preeminent life sciences practice serves as counsel to nearly 35 percent of the companies on the NASDAQ Biotechnology Index. The new partners will join the firm’s 100-attorney intellectual property practice.
About the Partners
Bill Christiansen
Dr. Christiansen specializes in biotechnology patent matters, with particular focus on U.S. and international patent procurement, strategic patent portfolio management, investment due diligence, competitive patent position analysis and early stage company counseling. He received his J.D. from the University of Washington School of Law after obtaining a Ph.D. in Biochemistry/ Biophysics/ Molecular Biology from the University of Notre Dame. He earned his B.S. in Biochemistry and Biophysics from Oregon State University.
Emily Wagner
Ms. Wagner focuses her practice on chemical patent matters, including U.S. and international patent procurement and strategic intellectual property portfolio management. Previously, she represented emerging growth technology companies and venture capital firms in various transactions including mergers and acquisitions, venture capital financings, public offerings, technology licensing and corporate partnerships, as well as general corporate matters. Ms. Wagner received her J.D. from Harvard Law School and received a B.A. in Chemistry, summa cum laude, from Bowdoin College.
Carol Laherty
Dr. Laherty specializes in U.S. and international biotechnology intellectual property matters, including strategic patent portfolio management, patent procurement, and intellectual property due diligence. She received her J.D., with honors, from the University of Washington School of Law, and also earned both a Ph.D. in Cellular and Molecular Biology and a B.S. in Biology and Economics from the University of Michigan.
