Proskauer has expanded its biotechnology patent litigation capabilities with the addition of Mary S. Consalvi as a Partner in the firm’s Patent Law Group. Based in New York, Ms. Consalvi is the former president and general counsel of NetBio Systems, Inc., a leading provider of rapid DNA analysis solutions located in Waltham, MA.
“We are very fortunate to have a lawyer of Mary’s caliber joining our team,” said Brendan O’Rourke and Robert Cleary, Proskauer Partners and co-Chairs of the firm’s Litigation Department. “Not only is she a top-notch litigator, but she also has a keen understanding of patent and other business issues facing biotech companies based on her strong corporate and industry background.”
Ms. Consalvi brings more than 20 years of experience to Proskauer. Prior to her tenure at NetBio, Ms. Consalvi served as Vice President and Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at biotechnology company Transkaryotic Therapies. Before that she was a partner in private practice at Howrey Simon Arnold & White and Lyon & Lyon.
“Having known Mary since we were partners together at Lyon & Lyon, I can’t think of anyone better suited to help grow and expand our biotech capabilities,” said James Shalek, Proskauer Partner and co-head of its Patent Law Group. “Her extensive experience with NetBio shows she can build a business, as was also the case at Lyon & Lyon, where as that firm’s first female partner, she was instrumental in the development and expansion of its San Diego biotechnology practice.”
In addition to her experience at NetBio, where she was responsible for all aspects of the company’s financing, business development and corporate and legal affairs, Ms. Consalvi is a leading intellectual property litigator, focusing on patent, trademark, copyright and trade secret law. She has counseled clients on “freedom to operate” analyses, opinion work and issues of patent validity, infringement and new-product introductions and represented companies with government grants and contracts. She is also experienced in matters related to partnerships/technology transfers between businesses and research institutions, including the drafting and negotiating of agreements covering such transfers.
“Mary’s patent experience is very complementary to our current portfolio of work, and we see significant opportunities to broaden our biotech offering to clients,” said Steven Bauer, Proskauer Partner and co-head of its Patent Law Group. “She is a proven litigator who can provide strategic patent prosecution and associated licensing and transactional work for start-up and emerging biotech companies, as well as for later stage companies needing to build a patent portfolio.”
