For over 20 years, Dr. Rao has assisted clients developing, monetizing and enforcing their global intellectual property (IP) portfolios and growing business on the strength of their IP. He is experienced in drafting and prosecuting patent applications throughout the world, and performing patentability and freedom-to-operate searches and analysis. He regularly conducts IP due diligence and renders opinions as part of venture transactions, mergers and acquisitions, licensing transactions, and collaborations; and has extensive experience in drafting and negotiating licensing agreements, co-development and commercialization agreements, material transfer agreements, clinical trial agreements, among others.

 

Dr. Rao also regularly represents issuers or sponsors in initial public offerings on NASDAQ, the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong and Shanghai Stock Exchange.

 

Aligning clients’ IP strategies with business objectives, he provides pragmatic solutions to sophisticated legal issues and has successfully assisted clients minimizing risks and maximizing interest. He has served clients in industries spanning life sciences (pharmaceutical, biotechnology, nutraceutical, and medical devices), electronics, consumer goods, industrial chemicals, specialty materials, and financial services. His representative clients include private and public companies of various sizes, entrepreneurs, angel investors, venture capital and private equity firms, investment banks, universities, and research institutes in North America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, and South Africa.