Ned Israelsen and Gerard von Hoffmann, partners of Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP, have been recognized by the Daily Journal among the 25 leading biotech attorneys in California for 2011.
Ned Israelsen, managing partner of the firm’s San Diego office, focuses his practice on advising startup companies and established businesses in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical areas. Israelsen was included in the list based on his work with startup company Alios BioPharma. Israelsen was lead IP counsel in Alios’ recent negotiations with Vertex Phamaceuticals, licensing two Hepatitis C drugs to Vertex in a deal worth up to $1.5 billion. Israelsen was also recognized for his involvement with Tech Coast Angels, the largest angel investing network in California.
Gerard von Hoffmann, partner in the firm’s Orange County and Silicon Valley offices, focuses on client-counseling and intellectual property strategy development in the medical device industry. Von Hoffmann was recognized for developing patent strategy for Embrella Cardiovascular Inc. and leading the intellectual property aspect of the company’s sale to Edwards Lifesciences Corp. in a deal that closed this year for about $43 million. Embrella developed an embolic deflector for use in endovascular aortic valve replacement. Von Hoffmann also led the intellectual property portions of a deal in which Endologix Inc. acquired Nellix Endovascular, relating to endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. Von Hoffmann was also recognized for his launch of www.knobbemedical.com which provides resources to entrepreneurs of early-stage medical device companies.
The full list can be found in the Biotech supplement of the August 10th edition of the Daily Journal or atwww.dailyjournal.com
Consistently ranked among the top intellectual property firms worldwide, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear LLP has over 275 lawyers and scientists nationwide and dedicates its practice to all aspects of intellectual property law including litigation. Knobbe Martens serves a diverse group of clients from multinational corporations to emerging businesses of all stages. The firm is headquartered in Orange County, California, with offices in San Diego, Los Angeles, Riverside, San Francisco, Silicon Valley, Seattle and Washington, D.C. The firm enjoys an international reputation for excellence. More information about the firm can be found at www.knobbe.com
