Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis Announces Opening of San Diego Office; Firm Becomes Only IP Biotech Law Firm in Area

Business Wire, Jan 14, 2004

Business Editors/Legal Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 14, 2004

Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis, which ranks among Intellectual Property Today's top four patent firms in the nation, announced the opening of its San Diego office, which will be the only intellectual property legal practice specializing in biotechnology in the city. Burns Doane's new office is located at 402 West Broadway in Emerald Plaza, suite 400, in San Diego.

The firm has hired Laurie Axford, a seasoned biotechnology patent attorney and former scientist, who joins from the former Pennie & Edmonds.

"San Diego has a thriving biotech market, but a number of great biotech law firms have tried and failed here," said Danny Huntington, the firm's managing partner. "Laurie has more than 30 years of experience in the local marketplace and the savvy to help anchor our team as we pursue a strategy of measured growth."

Huntington added, "Our existing clients and friends in the industry are supporting our commitment to the new office and will drive our development. We've already received dozens upon dozens of qualified resumes, even before we had our name on the door."

Axford, who has her M.S. in molecular biology and worked as a biotech researcher for more than five years, is also on the adjunct faculty on the Thomas Jefferson School of Law, where she teaches legal writing. Axford's commitment to the community is supported by Burns Doane, where many of the firm's members teach and those hours qualify to meet attorney requirements.

"As an attorney who has advised biotech companies in the area for more than three decades, it will be tremendous to offer my clients the resources of a firm that is both committed to a local presence and literally across the street from the Patent Office in Virginia. It's the perfect bridge for San Diego companies looking to protect their most valuable resource--their intellectual property," said Axford.

Axford specializes in helping start-up biotech companies to establish their initial patent protection. As they expand, she helps them with strategic patent portfolio management and assists them in negotiating deals with venture capital and other pharmaceutical companies. She is a former director at the San Diego Nucleic Acid Conference and is the former president of the San Diego Intellectual Property Law Association.

San Diego becomes Burns Doane's fourth office. Current locations include Alexandria, Virginia; Redwood Shores, California; and Durham, North Carolina.

Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis, L.L.P., is one of the oldest and largest law firms in the U.S. specializing exclusively in intellectual property. Many of their 85 attorneys, patent agents, and technical specialists also hold masters or doctorate degrees and many have industry experience or are former examiners at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The firm was recently named one of IP Law & Business' "Global Guardians" for its representation of Chevron Texaco Corp. and Toyota Motor Corp. Visit the firm at www.burnsdoane.com.