Overview
Lahive & Cockfield is one of New England's largest intellectual property law firms and has been a leader in the Life Sciences field for more than 25 years. The Life Sciences group consists of 21 professionals, including 13 with Ph.D. degrees who specialize in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and chemistry. Our team is known for developing and implementing effective IP strategies and building strong patent portfolios that protect and facilitate commercialization of products for companies ranging from biotechnology start-ups to leading pharmaceutical companies. We have also been ranked a “Power Prosecutor” by PatentRatings, based on a comprehensive study of U.S. biotech patents.
Biotechnology Experience Chemistry Experience Immunology Experience Representative Clients
Representative Clients
- Atrium Medical Corporation
- Elusys Therapeutics, Inc.
- ESBATech AG
- Genmab A/S
- Massachusetts General Hospital
- Medarex, Inc.
- Merrimack Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
- University of Massachusetts Medical School
- Waters Corporation
Biotechnology Experience
Our attorneys, patent agents and technical specialists include staff immunologists and molecular biologists who are graduates or postdoctoral fellows from top universities, including Brown, Cornell, Harvard, Stanford, MIT, Tufts, and McGill.
We have extensive knowledge of life science and antibody discovery / development technologies including:
- Synthetic proteins
- Acelluar expression
- Phage display
- Profusion
- Alternative scaffolds
- Yeast display
- Antibody humanization
- Affinity maturation
- B cell repertories for the expression/capture of human antibodies
- Transgenic avian systems for the expression of human antibodies
- Transgenic murine systems for the expression of human antibodies
- Fully human expression libraries
Chemistry Experience
Our attorneys, patent agents and technical specialists include chemists who have doctoral and undergraduate degrees, as well as postdoctoral and industry experience in a variety of chemical arts, including synthetic organic, inorganic, and bioorganic chemistry, as well as chemical engineering and chemical processing.
We have worked with clients in many areas of chemistry patent prosecution and due diligence including:
- Novel small molecules
- Novel methods of treatment
- New routes of administration
- New administration profiles
- Co-administered therapies
- FDA label developments
- Prodrugs
- Dosages
- Metabolites
- Methods of increasing bioavailability
- Salts/polymorphic crystal forms
- Packaging
- Chemical processes
Immunology/Antibody Experience
Our team of attorneys and senior patent agents includes immunologists with Ph.D. degrees from Harvard University and graduate and post-doctoral experience from top research universities, institutions and companies. Because of the depth of our expertise in the immunology area and our reasonable billing rates, we are able to complete projects efficiently and cost effectively. We work with clients to develop budgets and project goals and are committed to providing superior client service. Through our team approach, we are able to draw upon the expertise and institutional knowledge of the group to enhance strategic thinking and provide creative solutions.
We have worked with clients in many technical areas of immunology patent prosecution and due diligence including:
- Antibodies to novel antigens
- Antibodies to known antigens
- Humanized, fully human and chimeric antibodies
- Antibody engineering
- Fc fusion proteins
- Screening of immunologically relevant targets
- Diagnostic assays
- Methods of treating immune disorders

