Hogan Lovells LLP is pleased to announce that Robert Underwood and Kristin Connarn will join the firm’s Boston office as partners in its Intellectual Property, Media, and Technology (IPMT) practice. They are joining from McDermott Will & Emery.
“We are delighted that Bob and Kristin are joining our team,” said Celine Crowson, Hogan Lovells’ IPMT Practice Group Leader for the Americas. “We are strategically expanding our life sciences IPMT capabilities in the Americas to meet an increase in demand from our life sciences clients for core patent and IP capabilities.”
“We are excited to be joining Hogan Lovells. We have many of the same clients and will be able to expand our offerings to them, especially on the regulatory and corporate side,” said Kristin Connarn.
“Hogan Lovells has a fantastic reputation for its work in the life sciences industry, and its global platform will provide us with opportunities to grow our practice,” said Bob Underwood.
Bob Underwood’s practice focuses on strategic counseling, patent portfolio development, due diligence, licensing and collaboration, intellectual property transactions, legal opinions and administrative proceedings. Bob represents life science clients that range from entrepreneurs and start-ups to multinationals in the chemical, pharma, biotech, medical device and diagnostics industries. Bob also represents clients in the food and beverage, agricultural technology, renewables and clean energy industries, as well as academic centers, independent research institutions, and private and institutional investors. His extensive experience includes creating IP strategies for clients developing cutting edge vaccines, immuno-oncology, cell therapy and regenerative medicines, advising companies on business development opportunities including strategic alliances and acquisitions, and serving as IP counsel on multinational M&A transactions. Bob earned his BS in biology from the University of New Hampshire in 1989, and a PhD in immunology from Tufts University in 1998. He subsequently earned his JD from Suffolk University Law School in 2005.He also has prior experience as visiting scientist at the Basel Institute for Immunology in Switzerland and as a research associate at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston.
Kristin Connarn’s practice focuses on patent counselling, portfolio development, strategic planning, and patent prosecution for life sciences companies ranging in size from early stage/start-up companies to multi-national pharmaceutical companies. She has significant experience with due diligence, licensing, drafting patentability, invalidity and non-infringement legal opinions, prior art analysis, developing IP policies for healthcare and innovation centers, and coordinating in-house patent committee meetings. Connarn earned her BS with high distinction in Biotechnology from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in 1999 and her JD from Suffolk University Law School in 2005. She also has prior experience as a molecular and cell biology research associate at AstraZeneca pharmaceuticals in Waltham, MA.
“Bob and Kristin are well respected intellectual property attorneys who will broaden our IP and corporate capabilities in Boston,” said William Lovett, office managing partner of Hogan Lovells Boston office. “Bob and Kristin have the experience to support our clients in all of their IP needs including intellectual property counselling, diligence, and life science corporate transactions.”
Hogan Lovells has been expanding its capabilities and services to clients in Boston since its combination with Collora, a Boston-based litigation/investigations firm with a strong focus in life sciences and healthcare, in 2017. The addition of Connarn and Underwood follows that of David Walsh, who joined the firm in January.
“Bob and Kristin’s experience will give us the capability to provide sophisticated IP counselling, diligence and other deal support services on the ground and expand our capabilities in the life sciences industry, especially in the area of corporate transactions,” said Asher Rubin, Global Head of Hogan Lovells Life Sciences and Health Care Industry Group.
Hogan Lovells is recognized as a global leader in life sciences and healthcare, with specialists in areas such as regulatory, intellectual property, transactions, and disputes. The firm has more than 500 lawyers practicing in the life sciences and healthcare industry.
