Jeffrey Kopacz

WORK HISTORY

EDUCATION

ABOUT JEFFREY KOPACZ

BACKGROUND: I have years of legal expertise as a biopharma attorney, managing complex matters at pre-commercial early-stage and commercial late-stage top-tier biopharma companies. My specialty area is in intellectual property (IP), along with a significant current focus on general legal matters, including business development and licensing (BDL), contract drafting and negotiations, and more. My early career incudes law-firm experience with a top-100 law firm. My IP and legal experience has focused on biotechnology technologies including, nucleic acids (RNAi, mRNA, DNA vectors), gene editing, gene therapy, and lipid nanoparticles (LNPs).HOW DID I GET HERE: My career path integrates three long-time interests of mine: science, business, and the law. The bonus in all of this, is having the opportunity to help people and companies develop and protect new technologies that positively impact human health through life-saving medicine.A SHORT LIST OF MY CONTRIBUTIONS OVER THE YEARS INCLUDE: Led legal operations at a genomic medicines company from Series B through IPO.Key contributor to taking genomic medicines company IPOBuilt the IP infrastructure within a biopharma company that grew from 100 employees to 1100+. Created the IP estate for the world\'s first approved RNAi therapeutics-two and counting.Built the robust IP estate that provides multilayers of IP protection for technology platform and products Helped support BD and licensing efforts that generated over $1B in non-dilutive funding. Established process to stay abreast of inventions generated throughout the research and development stages of drug development.Excel in identifying and minimizing potential risks and proposing comprehensive solutions.DIVERSITY OF IP WORK INCLUDES: Strategy and portfolio building, preparation and prosecution, freedom-to operate (FTO) analysis, opinion work, European opposition work, Japan invalidity procedures, patent interferences, licensing, and litigation managementOTHER THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ME: Member of UMASS College of Natural Sciences Advisory Board Enjoy family time, travel, skiing, running, cycling, golf and wine.