K&L Gates Bolsters Intellectual Property Practice with San Francisco Partner Addition

San Francisco - The San Francisco office of global law firm K&L Gates LLP welcomes H. Thomas Anderton as a partner in the IP procurement and portfolio management practice with a focus in the life sciences space. He joins the firm from Squire Patton Boggs.

Anderton advises domestic and international companies and start-ups on intellectual property matters in the areas of life sciences, biopharmaceuticals, and medical devices. He counsels clients on a range of transactional and patent matters, including procurement of patents; the creation and monetization of patent portfolios; drafting and negotiating complex licensing agreements; research and development agreements; manufacturing and distribution agreements; financing agreements; partnering and collaboration agreements; mergers and acquisitions; and integrations, among others. He has extensive experience in freedom to operate matters, infringement avoidance, and strategic product development and patenting. He has designed some of the world’s most highly-rated patent portfolios. 

Previously, Anderton held the role of general counsel at Zonare Medical Systems, which was acquired by Mindray Medical International Limited. He also served as vice president of intellectual property and legal affairs at Presidio Pharmaceuticals Inc. and associate general counsel and chief patent counsel at Monogram Biosciences Inc. He holds a juris doctorate from the Vermont Law School and a graduate degree in molecular genetics and cancer biology from Stanford University.

“Tom’s addition not only allows us to add another outstanding attorney to our IP roster, but furthers two strategic goals: adding to our burgeoning life science offering; and growing our California IP practice,” said Bob Barrett, co-leader of K&L Gates’ global intellectual property practice area. 

Anderton’s arrival follows the additions of five other California-based lawyers in the past year, including real estate partner William Tate and commercial litigation partners J. David Bournazian and Jonathan Hersey in Orange County and corporate partner Ali Nardali and asset management of counsel David Owen in San Francisco. K&L Gates has welcomed more than 20 new partners and of counsel in 2020, including in the firm’s corporate; health care; tax; commercial litigation; environment, land and natural resources; asset management and investment funds; IP procurement and portfolio management; IP litigation; real estate; government contracts; and investigations, enforcement and white collar practices. 

Matt Mangan, managing partner of K&L Gates’ San Francisco office commented: “We are very excited to welcome Tom to the San Francisco office and the firm. Northern California is a center of innovation for the life sciences industry and we look forward to adding Tom’s capabilities as we further expand our efforts to serve clients in this important industry and as part of our leading global IP practice group.” 

K&L Gates’ IP procurement and portfolio management practice serves clients around the world, protecting critical fundamental client assets, iconic brands, and proprietary information, as well as emerging technologies such as novel drug therapies and cloud services. The firm’s life sciences team is an international network of more than 115 lawyers experienced in solving the complex legal and regulatory issues facing pharmaceutical, biotechnology, health care, and medical device companies around the world.