The San Jose BioCenter and Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP Pen Industry Sponsorship Agreement for Intellectual Property

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) March 30, 2010 -- San Jose, CA, March 30, 2010 – The San Jose BioCenter and the intellectual property law firm Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP today announced the signing of their one-year industry partnership. Under the terms of the agreement, Townsend will provide San Jose BioCenter client companies with legal counsel on IP issues, and will collaborate with San Jose BioCenter staff to deliver regular educational workshops targeted for life science companies and start-ups.

“Townsend’s life sciences lawyers specialize in helping start-up companies such as those at the San Jose BioCenter develop their patent portfolios quickly and strategically, to achieve the strongest possible market positions for their technologies,” says Townsend Partner Richard Hsu. “As small start-ups evolve into larger, successful ventures, we provide a variety of patent-related legal services and help secure enforceable patent rights both in the United States and throughout the world. We are pleased to be working with the San Jose BioCenter and to be developing a strong foundation for the healthy growth of its client companies.”

Townsend’s life sciences practice is comprised of scientists, engineers and lawyers with expertise spanning a broad range of disciplines. Many of the lawyers in the group have Ph.D.’s, advanced technical degrees and academic or industrial research experience in addition to their legal education. They are equally at home in their legal practice as in the laboratory, making them ideally suited to counsel budding executives at the helm of a new life sciences start-up. Townsend also advises clients on all aspects of the commercialization and licensing of technology, ensuring the maximum value for innovative technologies.

According to BioCenter Executive Director Melinda Richter, “Townsend brings a great deal of seasoned legal counsel to the BioCenter, especially in the areas of intellectual property protection and patents. The process of securing IP as patented assets requires skilled communications between scientists, engineers and patent attorneys. With Townsend’s multi-disciplined team, all barriers to strategic planning and communication are removed. We at San Jose BioCenter – and especially our start-up executives -- are thrilled to have this opportunity to work with Townsend on IP strategy.”

About Townsend

Townsend teams with businesses, inventors, entrepreneurs, scientists and investors to protect their innovative products and ideas. The firm offers a full range of intellectual property services, including patent, copyright and trademark litigation, prosecution and licensing, with additional expertise in antitrust and commercial litigation. With headquarters in San Francisco and additional offices in Palo Alto, Walnut Creek, San Diego, Seattle, Denver, Washington, D.C., and Tokyo, Townsend has more than 200 lawyers and legal professionals, many with advanced technical degrees and extensive scientific and business experience.

About the San Jose BioCenter

Accelerating the commercialization of science, the San Jose BioCenter provides a new generation of specialized facilities; capital equipment; laboratory services; and commercialization support for emerging science and technology companies. The BioCenter is a new, time and cost efficient model to commercialize innovation for emerging science and technology companies. Since inception, the life science and clean technology companies of the BioCenter have raised more than $1B in capital and have created more than 800 direct jobs. For more information, visit www.sjbiocenter.com
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Media Contacts
Brian C. Colucci
Director of Marketing
Townsend and Townsend and Crew LLP
BCColucci@townsend.com

Chelsea Hewitt
Director of Marketing
San Jose BioCenter
Chelsea@sjbiocenter.com