Keeping pace with the ever-changing life sciences industry, Morrison Foerster stays on top of the trends and political, legal, and economic drivers to support striking the balance between innovative discovery and purposeful business planning to assure our clients continued success. MoFo Life Sciences shares timely legal and business insights and in-depth analyses on trends and the complex technologies at the heart of the global pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health, and AgTech fields.<a href="https://www.mofo.com/practices/industries/life-sciences/" target="_blank">Learn more about our Life Sciences practice</a>.<a href="https://www.mofo.com/practices/industries/life-sciences/?tab=people" target="_blank">Contact our Life Sciences lawyers</a>.

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Wolfgang advises clients on contentious and non-contentious matters involving their most valuable intellectual property assets in the digital, telecom, high-tech, life sciences, and pharmaceutical industries.His subjects of focus include research and development collaborations, complex licensing agreements, technology transactions, know-how protection strategies, and employee invention law. He also has substantial experience in litigating patents, trademarks and other intellectual property assets, often in a multijurisdictional context. In addition, Wolfgang and his team frequently clear trademarks and ad campaigns and prosecute trademark applications.Wolfgang is co-editor of our <a target="_blank" href="https://lifesciences.mofo.com">Mofo Life Sciences Blog</a>.Wolfgang is a partner of Morrison & Foerster (International) LLP based in our German office in Berlin.<h4>Representative Experience</h4><h5>Representative Transactional Matters</h5><ul><li>Negotiate multimillion-euro strategic partnership between two AgTech leaders concerning the development and commercialization of pest-resistant transgenic traits.</li><li>Provide commercial and IP advice to startups and established companies in the area of digital health, IoT (5G), and other industry 4.0 or data-driven business models.</li><li>Structure and negotiate technology aspects of a high-stakes, multi-partner agreement to establish a GDPR-proof, single sign-on solution for the European market.</li><li>Structure IP rights in connection with joint ventures and other M&A transactions, including the carve-out of a patent-heavy semiconductor business comprising nine jurisdictions into a German-U.S. joint venture.</li><li>Draft diverse global patent and know-how license agreements in the areas of AgTech and life sciences—including gene licensing and licensing of genome editing technologies (e.g., CRISPR)—medical devices, defense, and telecommunications, and draft correlating supply and distribution agreements.</li><li>Advise on government-funded, multi-partner R&D projects and/or R&D projects with academic institutions, as well as on employee invention law.</li></ul><h5>Representative Contentious IP Matters</h5><ul><li>Represent leading internet retailer in patent infringement and concurrent invalidity proceedings in the context of a multijurisdictional dispute concerning touch screen technology.</li><li>Advise German provider of DSL technologies in highly contentious FRAND negotiations with U.S. patent troll, including advising on determination of FRAND rates under evolving German case law.</li><li>Represent diverse pharmaceutical and life sciences companies in national and cross-border patent infringement proceedings and other technology-related disputes, including preliminary injunctions as well as pre‑trial discovery and inspection proceedings, concerning, inter alia, drug coating technologies, toner cartridges, medicinal gases, transgenic plants, and vaccines.</li><li>Conduct trademark, copyright, and false advertising litigation, including, most notably, a high-profile trademark litigation for a German bank, and a nine-country cross-border trademark litigation involving a famous pharmaceutical brand.</li><li>Advise on border seizure measures and trade fair disputes in the areas of household appliances, cosmetics, and sanitary installations, as well as anti-counterfeiting strategies.</li></ul>

Dr. Wolfgang Schönig berät Mandanten zum Schutz des geistigen Eigentums sowohl in streitigen als auch nichtstreitigen Angelegenheiten, mit einem besonderen Fokus auf die IP-rechtliche Beratung von Unternehmen aus den Bereichen Digital- und Telekommunikationswirtschaft, High-Tech, Life Sciences und Pharmaindustrie.Zu seinen Beratungsschwerpunkten gehören Forschungs- und Entwicklungskooperationen, komplexe Lizenzvertragsgestaltungen, Technologie-Transaktionen, Know-how-Schutz-Strategien und das Arbeitnehmererfinderrecht. Er verfügt zudem über umfangreiche Prozesserfahrung zur Durchsetzung von Patenten, Marken- und anderen IP-Rechten, häufig auch in einem grenzüberschreitenden Kontext. Darüber hinaus bewertet Dr. Wolfgang Schönig zusammen mit seinem Team regelmäßig die Rechtskonformität von Werbekampagnen, prüft die Verfügbarkeit von Marken und entwickelt entsprechende Anmeldestrategien.Dr. Wolfgang Schönig ist Co-Editor des <a href="https://lifesciences.mofo.com" target="_blank">Life Sciences Blogs</a> von Morrison & Foerster.Er hat seinen Doktortitel an der Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf und seinen LL.M. an der Fordham School of Law in New York erworben, jeweils mit Schwerpunkt im gewerblichen Rechtsschutz. Seinen MBA-Abschluss erhielt er von der European University in Barcelona.Dr. Wolfgang Schönig ist Partner des deutschen Büros von Morrison & Foerster (International) LLP in Berlin.<h4>Referenzen</h4><h5>Referenzen Vertragsgestaltung</h5><ul><li>Verhandlung einer hochvolumigen strategischen Partnerschaft zwischen zwei Technologieführern im Bereich Crop Science betreffend der Entwicklung und Kommerzialisierung von bestimmten Resistenzen. </li><li>Beratung von etablierten Unternehmen und Start-ups zu kommerziellen und IP-rechtlichen Fragestellungen im Bereich Digital Health, IoT (5G) und anderen Industrie 4.0 Sektoren.</li><li>Strukturierung und Verhandlung zu Technologieaspekten für eine high-stake Multipartner-Kooperation zur Einführung einer DSGVO-konformen Single Sign-on-Lösung für den europäischen Markt.</li><li>Strukturierung von IP-Rechten im Zusammenhang mit Joint Ventures und anderen M&A-Transaktionen, darunter die Koordination eines neun Länder umfassenden IP Carve-Outs im Rahmen eines Halbleiter-JVs.</li><li>Strukturierung und Verhandlung diverser Patent- und Know-How-Lizenzen in den Bereichen Ag Tech und Life Sciences – einschließlich Fragen zu genome editing wie CRISPR-Medizingeräte, Rüstung und Telekommunikation sowie Gestaltung von Softwarelizenzverträgen und Erstellung korrespondierender Liefer- und Vertriebsvereinbarungen. </li><li>Beratung zu staatlich geförderten Multi-Partner F&E-Projekten und/oder F&E-Projekten mit akademischen Einrichtungen sowie zum Arbeitnehmererfindungsrecht.</li></ul><h5>Referenzen IP-Streitigkeiten</h5><ul><li>Verteidigung einer führenden Internetplattform gegen Ansprüche eines Patenttrolls wegen vermeintlicher Verletzung von Patent bezüglich Touchscreen-Technologie sowie korrespondierende US Streitigkeiten.</li><li>Beratung eines deutschen DSL-Providers bei hochkontroversen FRAND-Verhandlungen mit einem US-amerikanischen Patenttroll, einschließlich der Bestimmung von FRAND-Sätzen unter der sich entwickelnden deutschen Rechtsprechung.</li><li>Vertretung von Pharma- und Life Science-Unternehmen in nationalen und grenzüberschreitenden Patentverletzungsverfahren und anderen technologiebezogenen Streitigkeiten, einschließlich einstweiliger Verfügungsverfahren und vorprozessualer Beweissicherungs- und Besichtigungsverfahren, unter anderem in Bezug auf Arzneimittelbeschichtungstechnologien, Tonerkartuschen, medizinische Gase, transgene Pflanzen und Impfstoffe.</li><li>Prozessführung im Markenrecht, Urheberrecht und Wettbewerbsrecht, darunter insbesondere eine hochvolumige Markenstreitigkeit für eine deutsche Bank sowie ein hochkarätiger neun Länder umfassender grenzüberschreitender Markenstreit eine bekannte pharmazeutische Marke betreffend.</li><li>Beratung zu Grenzbeschlagnahmemaßnahmen und Messestreitigkeiten in den Bereichen Haushaltsgeräte, Kosmetik und Sanitär sowie Entwicklung von Strategien zu Anti-Counterfeiting.</li></ul>

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Partner

Wolfgang Schönig is a partner of Morrison & Foerster (International) LLP based in our German office in Berlin. His practice specialty is advising on IP aspects relative to transactions in, among others, the life sciences, AgTech and pharmaceuticals industry, as well as legal representation in IP disputes. Wolfgang is specialized in research and development collaborations, complex licensing agreements, technology acquisitions, know-how protection strategies, and employee invention law.

Wolfgang Schönig focuses his practice on IP aspects relative to transactions in the digital, telecoms, high tech, life sciences, and pharmaceuticals industry, as well as legal representation in IP disputes.

Wolfgang Schönig advises clients on IP aspects relating to transactions in, among others, the life sciences, AgTech and pharmaceuticals industry, as well as legal representation in IP disputes. His additional focus areas include research and development collaborations, complex licensing agreements, technology acquisitions, know-how protection strategies, and employee invention law.

Wolfgang Schönig

Anita Choi’s practice focuses on patent prosecution, portfolio management, IP due diligence, and IP litigation support. Her clients range from early-stage start-up enterprises to established domestic and international companies. She is well-versed in building and managing worldwide patent portfolios across many sectors and technologies, including small-molecule pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, industrial chemicals and advanced materials, food and agtech.In 2013, Euromoney named Anita an intellectual property rising star at its American Women in Business Law Awards. Anita received her J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania Law School where she graduated magna cum laude and was named to the Order of the Coif. During law school, Anita also completed her M.B.A. at the Wharton School of Business.Anita is co-editor of our <a href="https://lifesciences.mofo.com/">MoFo Life Sciences Blog</a>.Chemistry and Life SciencesAnita gained a solid technical background across disciplines during her time studying at the California Institute of Technology (CalTech), where she received her Bachelor of Science with honors. She spent several years working at Pfizer, developing small molecule compounds for use in oncology therapies. She has performed research at CalTech involving unnatural amino acids, and at MIT involving fluorescent zinc sensors, both for use in developing neuroscience applications.Anita counsels pharmaceutical companies including Bayer, Sanofi/Genzyme, and Jazz Pharmaceuticals on small-molecule patent portfolios. She is also a strategic adviser to many start-up companies in the life sciences and chemicals space, including university spin-offs from UC Berkeley, UC Davis, and MIT.Anita’s patent-portfolio experience in the life sciences industry includes small-molecule pharmaceuticals, cannabinoids, nutraceuticals, polymeric and liposomal formulations, medical devices, diagnostics, and digital health; in the chemicals domain, she concentrates on renewable chemicals, polymers, metal organic frameworks, and energy-storage technologies.Food and AgTechAnita co-leads the firm’s Food and AgTech patent practice. She serves as counsel to large multinational companies in the food and agtech industries as well as to several start-up companies. Her clients in this space include Mars Incorporated, Terviva, Benson Hill, and SoFresh. She has advised businesses in developing IP strategies for soil and crop technologies, sustainable farming, alternative protein sources and extraction technologies, new categories of food and beverage products, and food packaging.Anita’s clients praise her ability to quickly gain a deep understanding of their technology and business, which allows her to think critically, creatively and practically in patent portfolio management. The breadth of technologies that Anita works with also enables her to provide IP advice at the intersection of multiple technical disciplines. For example, Anita’s practice is also well positioned at the convergence of data analytics in the life sciences and agriculture industries.IP Due DiligenceAnita is skillful with investor-side and company-side patent due diligence. She supports many of the firm’s corporate deals, advising on ownership and patent portfolio risks and conducting patentability and freedom-to-operate assessments.IP Litigation SupportAnita also works closely with the IP Litigation Group to formulate strategies for infringement contentions, validity/invalidity contentions, and claim construction positions. She actively supports the patent litigators in pre-litigation diligence matters to evaluate the strength of patents and patent portfolios.Pro BonoAnita has an active pro bono practice and has been awarded the State Bar of California's Wiley W. Manuel Award for Pro Bono Legal Services for many consecutive years. She regularly represents families seeking legal guardianship. She also assists numerous non-profit organizations in developing and securing patent protection for their core technologies.

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Anita Choi’s practice focuses on patent prosecution, portfolio management, IP due diligence, and IP litigation support. Her clients range from early-stage start-up enterprises to established domestic and international companies. She is well-versed in building and managing worldwide patent portfolios across many sectors and technologies, including small-molecule pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostics, industrial chemicals and advanced materials, food and agtech.

Anita Choi

Stacy Cline Amin leads the FDA Regulatory & Compliance practice within the firm’s Global Life Sciences + Healthcare Group and provides strategic regulatory and business advice to companies in the life sciences, healthcare, and technology industries. Stacy previously served as Chief Counsel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Deputy General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and held senior positions within the White House Counsel’s Office and health committees in both the House and Senate. With her depth of experience across government agencies, she provides clients with an insider’s perspective on regulatory and compliance issues, enforcement actions, and litigation challenges.As chief counsel of the FDA, Stacy led an office of approximately 170 counselors and litigators and navigated difficult regulatory issues and litigation challenges across the agency’s entire portfolio. During her last year of service, Stacy played a critical role in nearly every aspect of FDA’s COVID-19 pandemic response effort, including record numbers of emergency use authorizations, guidances, and compliance actions. Most notably, she served as a key leader of the team responsible for issuing the first two COVID-19 vaccine authorizations.During her tenure, she served as a trusted strategist and advisor to several FDA Commissioners, including former Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, the FDA Center Directors and Deputy Commissioners, and the HHS Secretary. She worked closely with the leadership of the agency to resolve challenging legal and regulatory issues, including in the areas of human gene therapy and regenerative medicine, in vitro diagnostics, medical device safety and innovation, digital health, animal and plant biotech, food safety, compounding, opioids, and e-cigarettes. She advised on legal issues related to all aspects of the medical product life cycle and worked with Center leadership to resolve novel or challenging issues that arose during product review. She also oversaw the agency’s significant civil and criminal enforcement actions, in coordination with the Department of Justice, and advised on all of the agency’s novel or significant compliance activities.For more than a decade, Stacy’s work has often focused on the intersection of health, life sciences, and technology. At FDA, she advised on the creation and launch of the Digital Health Center of Excellence and oversaw the development of regulations and policy in all areas of digital health, including software as a medical device, artificial intelligence and machine learning, medical device interoperability, and cybersecurity. While serving in Congress, Stacy led multiple bipartisan investigations of digital health, health IT, and cybersecurity issues that resulted in an influential oversight report, a series of six bipartisan hearings, and significant provisions of the 21st Century Cures Act of 2016 and the Cybersecurity Act of 2015.Previously, Stacy served in the White House Counsel’s Office as Senior Associate Counsel to the President, where she advised on matters involving the FDA and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, the Federal Trade Commission, and the Federal Communications Commission.Prior to joining the White House, Stacy served as the Chief Counsel of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee and as a Counsel for the House Energy & Commerce Committee. She frequently advised on FDA, insurance market, and health IT matters and led significant oversight investigations. These efforts supported a number of legislative accomplishments, including passage of the Drug Quality and Security Act of 2013.Earlier in her career, Ms. Amin served as an associate at two leading Washington, D.C. law firms, where she advised multinational financial services industry clients and startup organizations.She graduated cum laude from Harvard Law School and summa cum laude from the George Washington University in philosophy and clerked for the Hon. John R. Gibson on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.

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Stacy Cline Amin leads the FDA Regulatory & Compliance practice within the firm’s Global Life Sciences + Healthcare Group and provides strategic regulatory and business advice to companies in the life sciences, healthcare, and technology industries. Stacy previously served as Chief Counsel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Deputy General Counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and held senior positions within the White House Counsel’s Office and health committees in both the House and Senate. With her depth of experience across government agencies, she provides clients with an insider’s perspective on regulatory and compliance issues, enforcement actions, and litigation challenges.

Stacy Cline Amin

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