Attorney Intel is pleased to announce The Top 50 Attorneys of San Diego for 2023. Located along the picturesque Pacific Ocean in Southern California, San Diego is the second most populous city in California, boasting a population of over 1.3 million residents. Its diverse population reflects its remarkable strengths including a robust economy, renowned educational institutions, and a thriving technology culture, making it the ideal place to do business. San Diego is home to cutting-edge businesses in life sciences and biotechnology, software, electronics, and other major innovative industries. It is no surprise that the majority of this year’s attorneys handle corporate litigations spanning healthcare, finance, real estate, and any other high-stakes litigation surrounding technology and innovation.
In this category, many are engaged in corporate law and governance, complex IP and regulatory matters, and international affairs. Among our top attorneys, Robert Thorn is a Partner of Kimball Tirey & St. John who has been with the company since 1987, and has also contributed extensively to the firm’s continuing education programs. Next, we have Ann Chaplin, General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Qualcomm who reports directly to the President and CEO. During her long tenure at General Motors, she managed thousands of litigation cases involving M&A, global supply chain and purchasing operations, as well as employment and labor matters. Last but not least, Mark Wadrzyk is an experienced trial attorney and corporate legal team leader with 25 years of experience. He is the Deputy General Counsel & Global Head of Litigation and Intellectual Property of Snap, including products like Snapchat, Lens Studio, and Spectacles.
We applaud these professionals for their hard work and dedication to the individuals and industries they serve. Please join us in celebrating the accomplishments of The Top 50 Attorneys of San Diego for 2023.
1. Steve Przesmicki
Partner, Cooley
Steve Przesmicki is a Partner of Cooley, a firm working with clients on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation, where innovation meets the law. Cooley has over 1,300 lawyers across 18 offices in the US, Asia, and Europe, with a total workforce of nearly 3,000. Przesmicki's expertise extends to various intricate transactions, such as debt redemptions, joint ventures, option-exchange tender offers, and strategic commercial dealings. Notably, he has managed offerings exceeding two billion dollars in securities and provided counsel on M&A transactions ranging in value from under 10 million dollars to several billion dollars.
Przesmicki specializes in corporate and securities law, serving as external corporate counsel to both public and private companies. His practice encompasses a wide spectrum of legal matters including SEC compliance, corporate governance, public financings, M&A, IPOs, venture capital, and private financings. Before joining Cooley in 2001, Przesmicki held positions as VP of Legal Affairs and Director of Legal Affairs at MP3.com. He also worked as an Associate at Cooley Godward Kronish and served as a Lieutenant in the US Navy during the early stages of his career. Przesmicki holds a JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
2. Ann Chaplin
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Qualcomm
Ann Chaplin is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Qualcomm, bringing a wealth of expertise spanning legal, technology, and business domains as well as litigation and transactional matters, IP law and management, and corporate law and governance. Most recently, Chaplin served as Corporate Secretary and Deputy General Counsel at General Motors (GM). She directly managed many areas across GM’s legal operations at various times, including the litigation of thousands of cases ranging from class actions to complex product litigation, antitrust, IP, securities, and multidistrict matters. She also resolved complex regulatory issues and investigations and served as CCO for North America while providing oversight for compliance functions worldwide. Additionally, Chaplin led the legal team responsible for M&A and strategic transactions and supported global supply chain and purchasing operations, as well as employment and labor matters.
Before GM, Chaplin was a partner at Fish & Richardson, where she managed the firm’s litigation practice group and focused on patent, trade secret, trademark, and copyright litigation. She was a member of the firm’s management committee and led its Minneapolis office. Chaplin earned her JD from Harvard Law School and her Bachelor’s Degree from the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis. Chaplin is admitted to practice in Minnesota and registered in-house counsel in California.
3. Jae Park
Partner, Dentons
Jae Park is a Partner at Dentons. Operating across over 80 countries, Dentons is committed to inclusion, diversity, equity, and sustainability. Park is a business trial lawyer representing cases involving real estate, construction, retailers, professional and financial service providers, and more. He handles theft of trade secrets, false advertising, unfair competition, and fraud, including violations of the False Claims Act. He also has experience with disputes from various commercial transactions and business operations including breach of contract, breach of license agreements, personal injury, wrongful death, insurance coverage and contribution, and agency/indemnity.
Park first got his start in 1997 as an Administrative Assistant at UCLA School of Law, then moved on to Gateway. Before joining Dentons, he was an Associate at Frederickson Mazeika & Grant. Park graduated from the University of San Diego School of Law with a JD. He completed his undergraduate degree in History at UCLA.
4. Van Tengberg
Partner, Foley & Lardner
Van Tengberg is Partner at Foley & Lardner. The company looks beyond the law to focus on the constantly evolving demands facing its clients and industries. With over 1,100 lawyers in 25 offices worldwide, the firm works hard to understand their client's issues and forge long-term relationships to help achieve successful outcomes and solve their legal issues through practical business advice and cutting-edge legal insight.
Tengberg's practice centers on real estate acquisition and development, with a primary focus on shopping centers, office complexes, industrial business parks, hotels, golf courses, and resort facilities. He is chair of the firm's West Coast Real Estate Practice and a partner in the firm's Real Estate Practice and Finance, Hospitality and Leisure, and Sports Industry Teams. Tengberg is a former member of the firm’s national management committee, the former managing partner of the San Diego office, and also the former co-chair of the Hospitality & Leisure Industry Team. Before joining Foley & Lardner in 2003, Tengberg was a partner at Ross, Dixon & Bell. Tengberg earned an LLM from the University of San Diego School of Law and an undergraduate degree in economics from the University of California, Davis.
5. Mark Wadrzyk
Deputy General Counsel & Global Head of Litigation and Intellectual Property, Snap
Mark Wadrzyk is the Deputy General Counsel & Global Head of Litigation and Intellectual Property of Snap, a technology company. Snap contributes to human progress by empowering people to express themselves, live in the moment, learn about the world, and have fun together. The Company's three core products are Snapchat, a visual messaging app that enhances your relationships with friends, family, and the world; Lens Studio, an augmented reality platform that powers AR across Snapchat and other services; and its AR glasses, Spectacles.
As the Global Head of Litigation, Wadrzyk and his team advise Snap on how to strategically navigate current and threatened litigation to achieve the most successful outcomes. They strive to identify and avoid the most pressing litigation risks. With 25 years of experience, Wadrzyk is an experienced trial attorney and corporate legal team leader. Before joining Snap, he was a VP and IP division counsel at Qualcomm and a Senior Associate at SNR Denton. Earlier in his career, he worked with Sughrue Mion as an Associate. Wadrzyk graduated from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology with a JD and from Northwestern University with an undergraduate degree in electrical, electronics, and communications engineering.
6. Gary Brucker
Partner, Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith
Gary Brucker is a Partner of Lewis Brisbois Bisgaard & Smith and Co-Chair of the Government Investigations & White Collar Criminal Defense Practice. Established in 1979, Lewis Brisbois a national, full-service law firm with more than 1,600 attorneys and 54 offices in 30 states and the District of Columbia. Their national practice is sophisticated, multi-faceted, and well-versed in current legal trends, while their state practices provide vast resources and knowledge of procedural and legal nuances.
Whether you are seeking corporate counsel or an experienced trial lawyer, Brucker will work vigorously, yet tactically, to efficiently protect your rights. He has experience handling a wide range of complex commercial, white-collar, and employment matters. His depth and breadth of practice allow him to serve as an outside general counsel to many of his clients. Brucker first got his start in 2005 as a Partner at McKenna Long & Aldridge. From there, he went on to McKenna Long & Aldridge. Brucker graduated from the University of Michigan Law School with a JD and from UC San Diego with an undergraduate degree in economics and United States history.
7. Peter Adams
Partner, Cooley
Peter Adams is a Partner at Cooley, a global law firm with 18 offices in the US, Europe, and Asia, and over 1,300 lawyers with a total workforce of nearly 3,000. The firm counsels clients on transformative deals, complex IP and regulatory matters, and high-stakes litigation, where innovation meets the law.
Adams focuses his practice on complex commercial litigation, corporate governance, and shareholder litigation, including the defense of securities class actions, derivative suits, M&A-related cases, and government investigations. He earned his JD from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law, his MA in economics from the University of California, Berkeley, and his undergraduate degree in economics and mathematical methods in the social sciences from Northwestern University.
8. Kimberly Blake
Partner, Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani
Kimberly Blake is a Partner at Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani. Founded in 1974, the company is recognized among the largest, fastest-growing law firms in the country. Gordon Rees Scully Mansukhani is an Am Law 100 firm, currently ranked among the 25 largest law firms in the US, the top 15 law firms for women attorneys, and the top 55 firms for diversity. Blake focuses her practice on defending developers, design professionals, architects, engineers, corporate entities, general contractors, and subcontractors regarding a diverse spectrum of matters involving both public and private works. Matters include alleged construction defects, breach of contract claims, alleged errors in design and workmanship, delay claims, construction site accidents, geotechnical claims, as well as general insurance litigation defense matters.
Blake also provides her clients with counseling regarding construction contracts and negotiation, and policies and procedures manuals. She has also handled several real estate matters including landlord-tenant disputes and professional liability claims. Previously, Blake was an Attorney at Lorber, Greenfield, and before that, an Associate at Burnham Brown. Blake earned a JD from the University of California, Davis School of Law, and an undergraduate degree in law and society from UC Santa Barbara.
Kimberly Blake's Insight
“For the last 25 years, I have enjoyed being a litigator, specializing in construction and design professional matters, products liability, toxic tort, and general personal injury cases. I am privileged and honored to work with my clients to assist them through the stress of litigation and navigating the legal landscape. Knowing my clients’ businesses in detail from prior litigations also makes it that much easier and cost-effective to handle the next case together. Beyond being a lawyer, I am also thankful to have developed long-lasting friendships outside of the office with many of my clients. Life is so much better when you enjoy your career and also care about the people you work with year after year.”
9. Lauren Collins
Partner, Vinson & Elkins
Lauren A. Collins (Chase) is a Partner at Vinson & Elkins where she specializes in tax matters related to project finance, with an emphasis on renewable energy and infrastructure assets. For more than 100 years, Vinson & Elkins has provided deep experience in handling transactions, investments, projects, and disputes worldwide. The firm is a trusted adviser to clients in the most important industrial and digital industries.
Collins represents clients in the financing, disposition, acquisition, and development of renewable energy projects including solar, wind, and energy storage. She is active in representing clients in the development and financing of other novel energy technologies such as carbon sequestration, hydrogen, fuel cells, and biomass. Before joining Vinson & Elkins, Collins was a Partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and before that an Associate at Sidley Austin. Earlier in her career she worked with PwC as a Senior Associate. Collins graduated from NYU School of Law with an LLM and from UC San Diego with an undergraduate degree in political science.
10. Alexandra Albro
Vice President and General Counsel, ESET
Alexandra Albro is the Vice President and General Counsel of ESET. The company's award-winning IT security software and services provide protection in over 200 countries and territories worldwide, with its software localized into more than 30 languages. Over a billion users worldwide rely upon ESET's solutions to stay secure from increasingly sophisticated digital threats. Albro established her career in 2013 as a general counsel at ESET North America. She graduated from the University of San Diego with an LLM.
11. Matthew Bernstein
Partner, Perkins Coie
Matthew Bernstein is a Partner of Perkins Coie where he first joined the company in 2010. Perkins Coie is a leading international law firm that is known for providing high-value, strategic solutions, and extraordinary client service on matters vital to its clients' success. With more than 1,200 attorneys in offices across the US and Asia, they provide a full array of corporate, commercial litigation, intellectual property, and regulatory legal advice to a broad range of clients including many of the world's most innovative companies and industry leaders as well as public and not-for-profit organizations.
Whether it is negotiating early zero-dollar settlements, winning dispositive motions, or prevailing at trial and at the federal circuit, Bernstein is a go-to patent litigator and trial attorney for his US and international clients. Previously, he was a Principal at Fish & Richardson and before that, an Associate at Gray Cary. Earlier in his career, he worked with Cook's Candy Kitchen as Manager. Bernstein earned a JD from the George Washington University Law School and an undergraduate degree from Tufts University.
12. Taylor Dimler
Senior Commercial Counsel, Twist Bioscience
Taylor Dimler began his career in 2017, specializing in corporate partnering, strategic alliances, technology protection, and licensing and commercialization of intellectual property and technology assets. He is now the Senior Commercial Counsel of Twist Bioscience, a synthetic biology company based in San Francisco, California. The company has developed a proprietary silicon-based manufacturing process for the production of synthetic DNA.
Before joining Twist Bioscience, Dimler practiced as a Commercial Licensing and Technology Transactions Associate at Gunderson Dettmer where his practice focused on a broad array of technologies, including pharmaceuticals, software, hardware, e-commerce, education technology, internet, and media. He was also a Patent Litigation Associate at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he primarily focused on ANDA (abbreviated new drug application) cases involving pharmaceuticals and medical devices. Dimler graduated from The George Washington University Law School with a JD and from Whittier College with an undergraduate degree in biology.
13. Christopher Eppich
Partner, Covington & Burling
Christopher Eppich is a Partner at Covington & Burling. He works on complex litigation in federal and state courts with a particular focus on mass tort and patent litigation in the technology and life sciences industries. With offices in Beijing, Boston, Brussels, Dubai, Frankfurt, Johannesburg, London, Los Angeles, New York, Palo Alto, San Francisco, Seoul, Shanghai, and Washington, Covington & Burling practices as one firm, holding closely to core values that start with a deep commitment to their clients and the quality of their work on their behalf.
Eppich is known for developing and executing case-winning strategies in high-stakes cases. As a member of multiple trial teams, he has vast experience conducting scores of deposition and trial examinations, preparing expert and fact witnesses for deposition and trial, arguing dispositive motions, and leading trial teams from openings to verdicts. His recent trial work includes a series of wins for a pharmaceutical distributor against mass tort claims alleging public nuisance in multi-month bench and jury trials in the opioids litigation. Eppich first got his start in 2003 as an attorney at Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker. From there, he went on to Heller Ehrman as an Attorney. Eppich graduated from Santa Clara University School of Law with a JD and from Brigham Young University with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.
14. Fred Melendres
General Counsel, Crossover Health
Fred Melendres is the General Counsel of Crossover Health where he first joined the company in 2021. Crossover Health is designing a better way to deliver and pay for health while engaging and guiding a community of members to live their best health. As a national, team-based medical group, they focus on well-being and prevention that extends beyond traditional sick care. Melendres provides strategic business and legal advice on all facets of Crossover Health’s business, including clinical operations, member engagement, privacy, quality programs, corporate and regulatory compliance, and M&As. He has been serving as outside counsel to the company since its establishment.
Melendres has extensive experience representing a diverse set of clients throughout the healthcare industry including hospitals, health systems, national laboratories, imaging centers, and physician practice groups. He started his legal career and spent nearly a decade at the international law firm of Latham & Watkins where he was a member of the Health Care & Life Sciences practice group before becoming a Managing Partner at Melendres & Melendres. As a graduate of Yale Law School, Melendres was an Olin Fellow at the Yale Center for Studies in Economics and Public Policy, a Mary A. McCarthy Fellow, and an Editor of the Yale Journal of Health Policy, Law, and Ethics.
15. Ankur Garg
Partner, Dinsmore & Shohl
Ankur Garg is a Partner at Dinsmore & Shohl. The law firm has a nationwide team of 750+ attorneys who are trusted advisers to some of the world's leading businesses, including Fortune 500 companies, institutions, associations, governments, and professional firms. Garg has extensive experience in a variety of industries on the best ways to protect their IP, including managing their patent portfolios. With a background in computer engineering, he is particularly interested in studying new technologies and working with innovators to capitalize on their work. He works with startups and other companies focused on wireless communications, software, virtualization, cloud computing, medical devices, 3D printing, wireless charging, power management integrated circuits, and more.
His experience includes preparing and prosecuting patent applications, freedom to operate analysis, grant reviews, infringement and validity opinions, and providing other crucial IP analyses. Before joining Dinsmore, Garg worked as an in-house IP attorney at a large telecommunications company, and he regularly leverages the knowledge gained from that experience to craft detailed, specific plans that enable clients to meet their short and long-term business goals. Garg graduated from Harvard Law School with a JD and from the University of Michigan with an undergraduate degree in computer engineering.
17. John Tolpa
Partner, Gunderson Dettmer
John Tolpa is the Partner of Gunderson Dettmer. He is a Corporate and Securities lawyer, specializing in emerging startups through all stages of growth. His practice focuses on advising companies on corporate formation and governance, VC financings, M&As, and public offerings. Tolpa represents a wide variety of technology companies in the consumer internet, software, hardware, telecommunications, biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, and entertainment industries. He also represents top-tier venture funds in their investments in emerging growth companies.
Tolpa first joined Gunderson Dettmer in 2007 as an Associate. The company is a preeminent international law firm with an exclusive focus on the innovation economy. They serve market-leading venture capital and growth equity investors and pioneering private companies through inception, growth, and maturity, as well as groundbreaking public companies that result from the global venture capital ecosystem. Previously, Tolpa was a principal and broker at JT Coastal Realty and before that, an Associate at Paul Hastings. Earlier in his career, he worked with Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison as an Associate. Tolpa earned a JD from Cornell Law School and an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering from Cornell University.
18. Theodore Pintar
Partner, Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd
Theodore Pintar is a Partner in Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, who has participated in the successful prosecution of numerous securities fraud class actions and derivative actions. Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd is one of the world's leading complex class action firms representing plaintiffs in securities fraud, antitrust, breach of fiduciary duty, consumer fraud, and privacy cases. The firm is ranked #1 on the 2021 ISS Securities Class Action Services Top 50 Report for recovering nearly two billion dollars for investors last year alone, more than triple the amount recovered by any other plaintiffs' firm. With 200 lawyers in 9 offices, Robbins Geller's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities, antitrust, consumer, and privacy class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever – 7.2 billion dollars – in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig.
Pintar was part of the litigation team in the AOL Time Warner state and federal court securities opt-out actions, which arose from the 2001 merger of America Online and Time Warner. These cases resulted in a global settlement of 618 million dollars. He was also on the trial team in Knapp v. Gomez, which resulted in a plaintiff’s verdict. Before joining Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd, Pintar was an Associate at McKenna Conner & Cuneo. Pintar graduated from the University of Utah SJ Quinney College of Law with a JD and received an undergraduate degree in political economy from the University of California, Berkeley.
19. Carl Goldfarb
Corporate Counsel, Virgin Galactic
Carl Goldfarb began his professional career 13 years ago. Today, he is the Corporate Counsel of Virgin Galactic. Virgin Galactic is an aerospace and space travel company, pioneering human spaceflight for private individuals and researchers with their advanced air and space vehicles. They are developing a spaceflight system designed to connect the world to the wonder and awe created by space travel and to offer customers a transformative experience.
Goldfarb first got his start in 2010 as a legal intern at Goldfarb, Abrandt, Salzman and Kutzin. From there, he went on to Boston Municipal Court, East Boston Division, before eventually rising to Product and Commercial Counsel at Scopely, his most recent position before joining Virgin Galactic. Goldfarb graduated from Rutgers Law School with a JD and from Brandeis University with an undergraduate degree in history, anthropology, and legal studies.
20. Jeff Patterson
Managing Partner and General Counsel, Allen Matkins
Jeff Patterson is the Managing Partner of Allen Matkins, an AmLaw 200 law firm with over 240 attorneys. As Managing Partner, he oversees the strategic growth and direction of the firm and management of all aspects of the firm's operations. The law firm was founded with deep roots in real estate and has leveraged that foundation to grow and build prominent litigation, corporate, tax, labor and employment, land use, and environmental practices allowing them to partner with clients across myriad industries and markets. For more than 45 years, Allen Matkins has worked with clients drawn to them by their reputation for market-leading solutions, pragmatism, exemplary quality, approachability, and their unparalleled network of contacts and connections in business and government.
In addition to his other management responsibilities, Patterson serves as the firm’s General Counsel, chairs the firm’s Compensation and Partner Selection Committees, and is a member of the Diversity & Inclusion Committee. He also serves as President of The Allen Matkins Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt private charity that he established to make grants for diversity-oriented law school scholarships as well as other organizations and programs that promote the Foundation’s mission. He also serves as the Director and the Underwriting Committee Chair for Attorneys Insurance Mutual Risk Retention Group. Before becoming a Managing Partner, Patterson practiced as a litigator in the areas of business, real estate, commercial landlord/tenant, construction, water rights, bankruptcy, receivership, and creditor rights. Patterson earned a JD from USC Law School and an undergraduate degree in economics from Duke University.
21. Marco Garbero
Corporate Counsel, Establishment Labs
Marco Garbero is the Corporate Counsel of Establishment Labs, a global medical technology company focused on improving patient safety and aesthetic outcomes. The company focuses on the breast aesthetics and reconstruction market by designing, developing, manufacturing, and marketing an innovative portfolio of silicone gel-filled breast implants, branded as Motiva Implants®, the centerpiece of the MotivaImagine® platform. Motiva Implants® are produced at two FDA-compliant state-of-the-art facilities in Costa Rica and are currently approved for commercial distribution in over 70 countries through exclusive distributors or a direct salesforce.
Garbero began his career in 2013 where he worked with Eckert Seamans as a Litigation Paralegal before working as an Associate Analyst and Clinical Contracts at Edwards Lifesciences. Before joining Establishment Labs, Garbero was an Associate Counsel at Roth Staffing. He graduated from Suffolk University Law School with a JD and from Boston University with an undergraduate degree in political science.
22. David Molinari
Partner, Freeman Mathis & Gary
David Molinari is a Partner who has been practicing at Freeman Mathis & Gary (FMG) since 2017. He is a capable trial attorney with over 35 years of trial experience handling and facilitating corporate transactions, business formations, and financing for various types of entities depending on the client’s needs. He had numerous cases taken to verdict throughout California’s state and federal courts. Furthermore, Molinari protects his clients’ entities by developing and enforcing trade-specific, non-compete clauses and successfully implementing cease and desist demands.
FMG is a nationally recognized litigation firm. With experienced attorneys delivering tailored litigation solutions, U.S. News has identified their firm as one of the ‘Best Law Firms in America’. Molinari graduated from California Western School of Law with a JD and from Arizona State University College of Public Programs with an undergraduate degree.
23. Robert Bucci
Senior Corporate Counsel, Assistant Secretary, Dividend Finance
Robert Bucci is the Senior Corporate Counsel and Assistant Secretary of Dividend Finance. He first joined the company in 2018 as Corporate Counsel. Dividend, a division of Fifth Third Bank, is a leading fintech point-of-sale lender for home improvement and solar financing solutions to property owners. The company specializes in all aspects of home improvement, from solar, air conditioners, and roofing to windows and doors.
Previously, Bucci was a Regulatory Affairs Counsel at ecoATM. Earlier in his career, he worked with Fiduciary360 as a Compliance Assistant. Bucci earned a JD from Thomas Jefferson School of Law and an undergraduate degree in history from Penn State University.
24. Gabe Wright
Partner, Hahn Loeser & Parks
Gabe Wright is a Partner of Hahn Loeser & Parks, a full-service law firm with offices in Cleveland and Columbus, OH, Naples and Fort Myers, FL, San Diego, CA, and Chicago, IL. Founded in 1920, they have over 140 attorneys who provide sophisticated and creative counsel to a wide spectrum of clients, both regionally and around the globe. Wright focuses his litigation and trial practice on complex business, commercial and insurance issues, real estate matters, professional liability issues, and class action litigation involving consumer and commercial high-stakes matters.
Wright began his career in 2000. His extensive experience involves the representation of clients in both state and federal courts throughout California and across the US. Before joining Hahn Loeser & Parks, he was an Attorney and Shareholder at Klinedinst. Wright graduated from Washington and Lee University School of Law with a JD and from Lehigh University with an undergraduate degree in history and political science.
25. Jonathan Dixon
General Counsel, BioNano Genomics
Jonathan Dixon is the General Counsel of BioNano Genomics. At Bionano, they are committed to unlocking the understanding of genome biology to advance the promise of genomics in areas including cancer and human disease, agricultural bioengineering, and genome discovery. Dixon is an experienced legal advisor with over two decades of experience counseling and leading life science and medical device companies in intellectual property, technology transactions, and M&A.
Before joining Bionano, Dixon held a variety of legal positions including Associate General Counsel, Intellectual Property at Becton, Dickinson & Company (BD) and CareFusion, and Assistant General Counsel and Director of Legal at BD and GeneOhm Sciences. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in microbiology and economics from Brigham Young University and a JD from Lewis & Clark Law School.
26. Natalie Prescott
General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer, Fulgent Genetics
Natalie Prescott is the General Counsel and Chief Privacy Officer of Fulgent Genetics. Founded in 2011, Fulgent has evolved into a premier, full-service genomic testing company built around a foundational technology platform. Through its diverse testing menu, Fulgent is focused on transforming patient care in oncology, anatomic pathology, infectious and rare diseases, and reproductive health. Prescott oversees Fulgent’s legal operations including legal, privacy, and healthcare regulatory matters.
Before joining Fulgent in 2022, she spent over 15 years at premier AmLaw100 firms, Mintz Levin and Latham & Watkins, and clerked for a federal judge in the Southern District of California. Her expertise includes business litigation, privacy and cybersecurity, healthcare class actions, securities litigation, and regulatory matters. In 2022, she earned a highly prestigious designation of Privacy Law Specialist with the American Bar Association and the International Association of Privacy Professionals. Prescott holds a BA from the University of Southern Mississippi, an MA from Tulane University, and a JD from Duke University School of Law.
27. Robert Thorn
Partner, Kimball Tirey & St. John
Robert Thorn has been a Partner of Kimball Tirey & St. John since 1995. He first joined the company as the Managing Attorney in 1987. Thorn specializes in real estate law and commercial unlawful detainer litigation while remaining proactive with client preventative law practice, and contributes extensively to the firm’s continuing education programs. Thorn practices further in bankruptcy and creditors’ rights and commercial owners association representation.
As a statewide firm with offices located strategically throughout California, Kimball conveniently delivers professional legal solutions in a wide range of business and real estate matters. Before joining the company, Thorn was a Proprietor at the Law Office of Robert C. Thorn. He graduated from California Western School of Law with a JD and from San Diego State University with an undergraduate degree in arts and political science.
28. Tyler Dodge
Corporate Counsel, Turtle Beach
Tyler Dodge began his professional career 13 years ago. Today, he is the Corporate Counsel of Turtle Beach, one of the world's leading gaming accessory providers. The company's namesake, Turtle Beach brand, is known for designing best-selling gaming headsets, top-rated game controllers, and groundbreaking gaming simulation accessories. Innovation, first-to-market features, a broad range of products for all types of gamers, and top-rated customer support have made Turtle Beach a fan-favorite brand and the market leader in console gaming audio for over a decade.
Dodge first got his start in 2010 as a Credit Risk Analyst at Goldman Sachs. From there, he went on to the Department of Justice, Office of the US Attorney before eventually rising to Associate Attorney at Paul Hastings, his most recent position before joining Turtle Beach. Dodge graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law with a JD and from the University of Colorado Boulder with an undergraduate degree in economics.
29. Christina Tapia
Partner, Manning & Kass Ellrod Ramirez Trester
Christina Tapia is a Partner at Manning & Kass Ellrod Ramirez Trester. Founded in 1994 with just 16 attorneys and two practice areas, the firm is a top-tier full-service national law firm today with over 160 attorneys, 7 locations, and 37 practice areas. The firm has been consistent with its core values, geared towards respect and integrity with a strong focus on the future. Tapia is a member of the Employment Law team. She has experience in all aspects of litigation including preparing and arguing motions, witness interviews, depositions, discovery, mediation, settlement, defending clients at trial, and drafting post-trial motions.
Tapia has worked on numerous matters dealing with discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and wage and hour claims. She has also represented clients in charges filed with various state and federal agencies including the California Department of Fair Employment & Housing and the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Previously, Tapia's work in the community included serving as a faculty member of the University of San Diego's Paralegal Program where she taught a course on Labor and Employment Law. Tapia earned a JD from the University of Southern California and an undergraduate degree in political science from UC San Diego.
30. Andy Ng
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Brain Corp
Andy Ng is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Brain Corp. He began his career in 2012. Before joining Brain, Ng was a Founder and President at Invent Advisers before working as an Associate at Knobbe Martens Olson.
Brain is the global leader in robotic AI software that powers the largest fleet of autonomous mobile robots operating in commercial public spaces. Global OEM partners use our cloud-connected platform, BrainOS®, to create scalable, self-driving robots that are used by end-customers to clean floors, move inventory, and sense environmental data - turning manual operations into automated workflows. Fortune 500 brands across multiple verticals benefit from the growing portfolio of BrainOS®-powered robots and our industry-leading privacy, safety, and efficiency tools that make managing and scaling automation easier.
31. William Low
Partner, Higgs Fletcher & Mack
William Low is the Partner of Higgs Fletcher & Mack. Founded in 1939, Higgs Fletcher & Mack is San Diego's oldest full-service law firm. They look for solutions, focusing on the economics of their clients' issues. The firm's lawyers, over 70 in number, are individually and collectively committed to the personal and professional values that make them exceptional in the legal services industry.
Low practices in the areas of complex tort and business litigation, with a current emphasis on privacy, information security, product liability, and healthcare. He has distinguished himself in both state and federal courts and has tried to verdict a wide variety of cases including catastrophic injury, health care professional liability (on behalf of both hospitals and physicians), medical and nursing board hearings, insurance bad faith, product liability, probate and trust, employment discrimination, and sexual harassment. Low first got his start in 1988 as a partner at McInnis, Fitzgerald, Rees, Sharkey & McIntyre. He graduated from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles with a JD and from UCLA with an undergraduate degree in political science.
32. Noreen Blanchett
Deputy General Counsel, Fate Therapeutics
Noreen Blanchett is the Deputy General Counsel of Fate Therapeutics. She first joined the company in 2022. Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders. Using its proprietary iPSC product platform, the company has established a leadership position in creating multiplexed-engineered iPSC lines and in the manufacturing and clinical development of off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cell products.
Previously, Blanchett was an Associate General Counsel at SeaSpine and before that, a Manager of Attorney Training and Development at Sidley Austin. Earlier in her career, she worked with Latham & Watkins as an Associate. Blanchett earned a JD from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law, and an undergraduate degree in mathematics from the University of California, Berkeley.
33. Cindy Tahl
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Fate Therapeutics
Cindy Tahl is General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Fate Therapeutics and is serving as a key advisor in day-to-day operations, providing legal advice and counsel for all functions of the business and overseeing company compliance. Tahl also directs the development and expansion of the company’s IP portfolio. Fate Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company dedicated to bringing a first-in-class pipeline of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived cellular immunotherapies to patients with cancer and autoimmune disorders. Using its proprietary iPSC product platform, the company has established a leadership position in creating multiplexed-engineered iPSC lines and in the manufacturing and clinical development of off-the-shelf, iPSC-derived cell products.
Before joining Fate Therapeutics, Tahl was a Technology Transactions Attorney at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati and practiced IP law in the New York office of Kenyon & Kenyon. Tahl has worked extensively with biotechnology companies at all stages of growth, representing clients in numerous corporate transactions and executing patent strategy to advance corporate goals. She received a JD from Boston College Law School and a BS in biology from the University of California, San Diego. She is admitted to the state bars of California and New York and is registered to practice as a Patent Attorney before the US Patent and Trademark Office.
34. Kristina Fretwell
Partner, Selman Leichenger Edson Hsu Newman Moore LLP
Kristina Fretwell is a Partner at Selman Leichenger Edson Hsu Newman Moore LLP, a law firm that serves the insurance industry nationwide, from its offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and the Pacific Northwest. The firm has its roots in Selman Breitman, which was founded in 1980. On January 1, 2023, the leaders of its insurance coverage practice groups started the firm anew, to focus exclusively on the practice of insurance coverage and litigation. Fretwell represents insurers in coverage disputes and litigation, including cases arising out of Internet commerce, product liability, professional liability, and inter-insurer disputes. Her clients include regional, national, and international insurance companies. Fretwell also has experience representing regional and national homebuilders, commercial and residential contractors, specialty contractors, and design professionals in construction defect disputes.
Prior to entering the practice of law, she spent nearly a decade lobbying at the federal, state, and local levels of government, representing public and private entities in areas such as housing, education, taxation, and transportation. This experience, paired with her extensive experience in insurance, gives her a keen understanding of alternative dispute resolution and enables her to evaluate complex coverage issues and disputes. A summa cum laude graduate of California Western School of Law (JD), Fretwell is originally from Phoenix and earned her BA from the University of Arizona. She now resides in California with her husband Bob and their two English Bulldogs. When not helping clients with their legal needs, she spends her time dancing, baking, and enjoying the beautiful Southern California weather.
35. Nathan Bear
Partner, DiCello Levitt
Nathan Bear is the Partner of DiCello Levitt. At DiCello Levitt, they’re dedicated to achieving justice for their clients through class action, business-to-business, public client, whistleblower, personal injury, civil rights, and mass tort litigation. Their lawyers are highly respected for their ability to litigate and win cases—whether by trial, settlement, or otherwise—for people who have suffered harm, global corporations that have sustained significant economic losses, and public clients seeking to protect their citizens' rights and interests. Bear opened the firm’s San Diego office, bringing an impressive level of knowledge and helping to build our robust Securities Litigation practice.
Bear has played an integral role in securities fraud class action litigations resulting in over $1 billion in recoveries for investors globally. He passionately represents clients who have been impacted by the financial misdeeds of others, from successful stockholder actions against large pharmaceutical companies to landmark settlements against the chief credit rating agencies following the 2008 financial crisis.
Bear first joined the company in 2023. Previously, he was a Partner at Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd and before that, a Management Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers, SeeCommerce, and Valdero. Bear earned a JD from the University of San Diego School of Law and an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of California, Berkeley.
36. Ellisa Cholapranee
General Counsel, ClearPoint Neuro
Ellisa Cholapranee is the General Counsel of ClearPoint Neuro. Their mission is to improve and restore the quality of life to patients and their families by enabling therapies for the most complex neurological disorders with pinpoint accuracy. Applications of their current product portfolio include deep-brain stimulation, laser ablation, biopsy, neuro-aspiration, and the delivery of drugs, biologics, and gene therapy to the brain. Cholapranee joined ClearPoint Neuro in 2021. In this role, she oversees all legal issues related to the development and implementation of the company’s business strategy, compliance, corporate governance, and general commercial matters.
Cholapranee has almost a decade of experience advising companies in the life science and medical device sectors. Before joining ClearPoint Neuro, she was Senior Legal Counsel for the Image Guided Therapy Devices Division at Philips. Prior to that, Cholapranee served as Senior Corporate Counsel at MilliporeSigma, a global life science company focused on providing solutions to pharmaceutical companies in every step of the biotech production chain, from research to drug manufacturing. She also has several years of experience in the corporate and financial services departments of leading law firms in Boston and Chicago, where she counseled clients in the areas of corporate law, public offerings, M&As, and venture capital. Cholapranee holds a BS in Mathematics from Carnegie Mellon University and a JD from the Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law.
37. Jeff Woodley
General Counsel, RayzeBio
Jeff Woodley is the General Counsel at RayzeBio, a targeted radiopharmaceutical company developing an innovative pipeline against validated solid tumor targets. He first joined RayzeBio earlier in 2023 and helped guide the company through a successful IPO in September 2023. Woodley oversees the legal, corporate governance, intellectual property, and compliance functions of the company.
Prior to joining RayzeBio, Woodley was the General Counsel and VP of Corporate Operations at Medalogix, a healthcare technology company. Previously, he was an Associate at Latham & Watkins, advising biopharmaceutical companies in all stages of development, from formation to early-stage financing, IPO, M&A transactions, and public company representation. Woodley received his JD from UCLA School of Law and a BA in economics from UCLA.
38. Brandt Schmidt
Partner, Outside GC
Brandt Schmidt is the Partner of Outside GC. He first joined the company in 2021. OGC is a unique law firm that offers the relationship and experience of a traditional law firm with the cost savings and speed of an alternative legal services provider. By combining top-notch legal talent and significant business acumen, they deliver the value and efficiency of an in-house lawyer without adding to their client's headcount or sacrificing quality. With over 100 attorneys, OGC serves companies of all sizes either as a fractional General Counsel or as a seamless extension of an existing legal department.
Schmidt brings over 15 years of legal experience to OGC, including experience with a broad range of commercial transactions, corporate governance, securities, software, and retail matters. He specializes in many types of agreements including software licensing, professional services, cloud services, product purchase, vendor supply, strategic collaboration, outsourced services, consulting, work orders/statements of work, confidentiality/nondisclosure, and regulatory compliance issues. Previously, Schmidt was a Legal Counsel at Callaway Golf and before that, an Associate General Counsel at Petco. Earlier in his career, he worked with Latham & Watkins as a Corporate Associate. Schmidt earned a JD from the University of Michigan Law School and an undergraduate degree in molecular biology and economics from UC San Diego.
39. Sarah Spaulding
Senior Counsel, Wood Smith Henning & Berman
Sarah Spaulding is Senior Counsel at Wood Smith Henning & Berman, where she handles all aspects of complex civil litigation from pre-litigation evaluation through trial. The law firm offers world-class representation for clients ranging from individuals to Fortune 500 corporations, with an emphasis on small to middle-market firms. They offer services across a comprehensive range of practice areas.
Spaulding is experienced in a wide variety of practice areas, including business disputes, catastrophic injury litigation, employment matters, and transportation. She is admitted to practice in California, including the US District Court, Southern District of California. Spaulding is a graduate of the University of San Diego School of Law, where she had the honor of working for the Honorable William V. Gallo of the US District Court for the Southern District of California. She received her undergraduate degree from the University of San Diego.
40. Rachele Byrd
Managing Partner, Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz
Rachele Byrd is a Managing Partner of Wolf Haldenstein Adler Freeman & Herz. Founded in 1888, Wolf Haldenstein has provided exceptional legal service to individuals, businesses, institutional investors, and family offices for 135 years. Byrd’s practice focuses on complex class actions. She has over 22 years of experience litigating in federal and state courts across the country in matters of antitrust, privacy, unfair and deceptive practices, securities fraud, civil rights, and unlawful taxation.
Byrd earned her JD from UC Law San Francisco (formerly UC Hastings) in 1997 and her BA in Sociology from Point Loma Nazarene University in 1994 (summa cum laude). Byrd joined Wolf Haldenstein in 2001 as an Associate and became a partner in 2008. Prior to joining Wolf Haldenstein, Byrd served as Deputy Alternate Public Defender for the County of San Diego representing children and parents in juvenile dependency proceedings.
41. Mike Merriman
Partner, Hilgers Graben
Mike Merriman is the Partner of Hilgers Graben, an elite nationwide litigation and discovery counsel firm specializing in complex commercial and IP litigation, discovery counsel services, and trademark services. Hilgers Graben uses common-sense business principles to provide high-value legal services while keeping rates sane for clients. Merriman is an experienced trial lawyer, having tried jury trials and arbitrated disputes all over the country. His complex litigation experience includes representing technology companies, real estate partnerships, governmental entities, energy companies, and government contractors.
Merriman brings extensive experience in the courtroom and a common-sense approach to each matter. His clients know that he is not afraid to go to trial, but that he will make judgment calls and recommendations based on the client’s best interest. He enjoys working on matters across various industries and is adept at getting up to speed quickly on complex topics. He also has experience managing large litigation teams to ensure that the matter is resolved effectively and efficiently.
Prior to joining Hilgers Graben in 2021, Merriman worked at Scott Douglass & McConnico and Bartlit Beck. He clerked for the Hon. Susan Illston, US District for the Northern District of California. Merriman earned a JD from Stanford Law School and an undergraduate degree in history and journalism from Boston University.
42. Josh Walden
Senior Counsel, Lozano Smith
Josh Walden is Senior Counsel at Lozano Smith, California’s premier education and public agency law firm. He primarily represents school districts in a variety of special education, student, labor and employment, and governance matters. Walden has dedicated his entire legal career partnering with school districts and local educational agencies in their commitments to achieving equity in education. In addition, Walden also serves on the Advisory Committee for the Office of Administrative Hearings, Special Education Division.
Previously, Walden was an Associate at Fagen Friedman & Fulfrost and a law clerk with the San Diego Unified School District’s Office of General Counsel. Walden received his JD from the University of San Diego School of Law and his BA in Psychology from the University of California, Davis.
43. Jason Thornton
Partner, Finch Thornton & Baird
Jason Thornton began his professional career 26 years ago. Today, he is the Partner of Finch Thornton & Baird, a law firm that provides a bona fide legal advantage to many of the leading companies on the Engineering News-Record (ENR) Top 400 Contractors and ENR Top 400 Specialty Contractors lists, and nine of the ENR California Top 100 Contractors. Thornton credits over 20 years of near-exclusive construction industry focus on private and federal, state, and local projects among the keys to his successful litigation practice.
Always contemplating creative solutions that will deliver the greatest value to the firm’s clients, Thornton is an expert in all aspects of mediation, arbitration, trials, civil writs, and appeals. He first got his start in 1997 as a Partner at Finch Thornton & Baird. He graduated from the University of San Diego with a JD and from UC San Diego with an undergraduate degree in economics.
44. Camille Decamp
Partner, Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti
Camille Decamp is the Partner of Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti (BHGR). She first joined the firm in 2020. BHGR, founded in 2001, is a full-service law firm with over 30 attorneys representing clients throughout North America and beyond. They pride themselves on their depth of experience and breadth of expertise in the law related to business, construction, criminal defense, the environment and water, litigation, public entities, real estate, trusts, and estates. DeCamp is an experienced litigator in the areas of employment, construction, and general complex business litigation. She has appeared in state and federal courts throughout California. She also has experience in negotiating and drafting legislation, including testifying at California Assembly committee hearings.
Prior to joining BHGR, DeCamp spent the majority of her legal career at a large, nationwide law firm. Before becoming an attorney, DeCamp worked in academia where she taught many undergraduate courses in psychology. She earned her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of San Diego and her master’s degree in clinical psychology from Western Kentucky University. During her undergraduate and graduate work in psychology, DeCamp presented her research at conferences throughout the US and in Europe.
45. Jessica Oien
General Counsel and Corporate Secretary, Boundless Bio
Jessica Oien is the General Counsel and Corporate Secretary of Boundless Bio, a California-based biotechnology company that researches and develops novel therapies for the treatment of patients with cancer. Oien brings more than 20 years of legal experience in the biotech industry serving in roles of increasing responsibility across all aspects of biotech business.
Prior to Boundless Bio, Oien served as General Counsel and Secretary with Cidara Therapeutics, where she provided executive oversight and counsel for the business including financing and investor-related matters, business and corporate development, IP portfolio management, and research and clinical development programs. Before Cidara, Oien served as VP of Compliance at Otonomy where she developed and oversaw the commercial compliance program and was the legal lead for the commercial business. She served in similar roles as VP of compliance for Pernix Therapeutics, VP of Legal Affairs & Compliance for Somaxon Pharmaceuticals, and Senior Director of Legal Affairs for Verus Pharmaceuticals.
Oien has also provided legal consulting services for a robust clientele of early-stage biotech companies, including support for numerous collaborations, and other R&D programs. She also served as Senior Director of Legal Affairs at Elan Corporation. Oien began her legal career as Corporate Counsel at national law firms including tenures at Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison and Milbank, Tweed, Hadley & McCloy. Oien received her JD from Loyola Law School and a BA in Economics and Political Science from North Dakota State University.
46. Asher Bundlie
U.S. Corporate Counsel, Talipot Holdings
Asher Bundlie began his professional career 17 years ago. Today, he is the US Corporate Counsel of Talipot Holdings, part of Talipot Investment Group, a global investor in alternative assets across Venture Capital, Real Estate, and Private Equity.
Bundlie first got his start in 2006 as an Antitrust Legal Assistant at Arnold & Porter. From there, he went on to DC Language Access Coalition before eventually rising to Counsel at DLA Piper, his most recent position prior to joining Talipot Holdings. Bundlie graduated from the New York University School of Law with a JD and from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an undergraduate degree in French and political science.
47. Amanda Harris
Partner, Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith
Amanda Harris is the Partner of Solomon Ward Seidenwurm & Smith. She first joined the company in 2014. Solomon Ward's legal team is dedicated to achieving excellence in the eyes of their clients, and they have consistently succeeded in this endeavor since 1977. They enjoy a stellar reputation in the San Diego courts and community, with broader recognition achieved nationally on select casework, and through our affiliation with a prestigious nationwide network of law firms. Harris is certified by the State Bar of California as a Specialist in Family Law. Her practice focuses exclusively on family law matters, with an emphasis on complex, high-net-worth marital dissolutions.
Prior to joining the firm, Harris was a shareholder at Seltzer Caplan McMahon Vitek, where she served as the Chairperson of the Family Law Practice Group. She began her career as an Attorney in 1995 at Sucherman & Collins, representing high-net-worth clients, then continued to build on her experience at the Law Offices of Lawrence H. Stotter where she worked on several high-profile cases. While attending Hastings, she worked as a Law Clerk for Bernard N. Wolf and as an extern for the Superior Court of California Family Law Department in San Francisco. Harris earned a JD from the University of California, College of the Law, San Francisco, and an undergraduate degree in law and society from the University of California, Davis.
48. Brian Griffith
Corporate Counsel, Quidel
Brian Griffith is the Corporate Counsel of Quidel, a California-based leading manufacturer of diagnostic healthcare solutions serving to enhance the health and well-being of people around the globe through the development of diagnostic solutions. They aim to accurately and quickly diagnose infectious diseases, as well as cardiovascular and metabolic conditions, allowing healthcare workers to quickly test and treat at the point of care, which leads to improved patient outcomes, providing numerous economic benefits to the healthcare system. Griffith began his career in 1989.
Before joining Quidel, Griffith was a Division Counsel in Genetic, Medical and Applied Sciences Division at Thermo Fisher Scientific and before that, a Division Contracts Counsel at Life Technologies Corporation. Earlier in his career, he worked with Chevron Corporation as a process engineer. Griffith graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Law with a JD, and from the University of California, Berkeley with an undergraduate degree in chemical engineering.
49. Robert Dixon
Partner, Sanders Roberts
Robert Dixon is the Partner of Sanders Roberts, a law firm specializing in business litigation, employment litigation, and general liability matters. Their diverse legal and professional backgrounds enable them to represent a broad range of clients that include Fortune 100 companies, multinational and domestic corporations, government authorities, partnerships, limited liability companies, families, and individuals. Dixon is an experienced trial attorney who specializes in defending high-profile corporate clients in product liability, personal injury, and consumer litigation in state and federal courts throughout California. He represents clients from a variety of industries, including automotive, pharmaceutical, construction, and retail.
In addition, the cases Dixon litigates run the spectrum from single-plaintiff/defendant cases to multiple-party complex matters. He is experienced in managing matters from inception through trial as well as navigating matters through the arbitration process. He is a former in-house counsel where he was tasked with, among other things, managing hundreds of toxic tort cases concurrently. His corporate counsel experience provides him with unique insights that are critical for ensuring that litigation and corporate objectives are always aligned. Throughout the years, he has achieved successful results for his clients both in the courtroom and through the negotiation of favorable resolutions. Dixon graduated from USC Gould School of Law with a JD and from Loyola Marymount University with an undergraduate degree in communication studies.
50. Matt Robbins
General Counsel, Bright Peak Therapeutics
Matt Robbins is the General Counsel of Bright Peak Therapeutics. He first joined the company in 2021. Bright Peak is developing a portfolio of first-in-class and best-in-class cytokines with optimized biological properties for the treatment of cancer and autoimmune diseases. Through a variety of proprietary technology platforms, Bright Peak is uniquely able to conjugate its cytokines as payloads to antibodies, creating bespoke, novel, and proprietary "Bright Peak Immunocytokines", and to other cytokines as "duokines".
From 2012 to July 2021, Robbins was an Associate at Cooley where he served as outside counsel to companies in the biotech and technology industries, advising on corporate and securities matters. Prior, Robbins was a Senior Associate in the Enterprise Risk Services group of Deloitte & Touche, advising clients on internal audit and Sarbanes-Oxley issues. Robbins received a JD from Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law and a BA in Economics from the University of California, Los Angeles. He is a member of the State Bar of California.
