Jeffrey N. Townes Joins Cozen O’Connor IP Department

Washington, D.C., March, 2018 – Cozen O’Connor is pleased to announce Jeffrey N. Townes, one of the nation’s leading intellectual property (IP) attorneys, has joined its fast-growing IP department. Townes, who comes to the firm from LeClairRyan, joins Cozen O’Connor as a member and will reside in its Washington D.C. office.

A seasoned attorney with decades of IP experience, Townes focuses his practice on the life sciences industry—counseling clients in the chemical, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and material sciences sectors. His clients include those with technology involving polymer chemistry, such as resins, plastics, fibers, elastomers and coatings and adhesives; organic chemistry, including synthesis and uses of pharmaceutical compounds and small molecules; and organometallic chemistry, including metathesis catalysts. Townes regularly advises clients in matters involving diagnostics testing, including the use of biomarkers for cardiovascular, diabetes and related diseases; as well as nucleic acids (such as chemical modifications of oligonucleotides) and nanotechnology.

His practice also involves overseeing post-grant proceedings, including ex parte reexamination, reissue, and Inter Partes Review (IPR) proceedings. As a member of LeClairRyan, Townes played a key role in the petition, preparation and trial of ten of the first IPRs filed on chemical patents.

“Jeff’s technical background and work experience are a perfect fit for our nationally recognized life science practice,” says Kerry B. McTigue, co-chair of Cozen O’Connor’s Intellectual Property department. “Jeff also has been on the forefront of the increased emphasis clients must place on IPR proceedings. He not only will continue to provide outstanding service to his clients in these matters, but we expect he will have an immediate impact on Cozen O’Connor’s existing clients.”

In addition, he regularly authors invalidity, non-infringement and freedom to operate opinions; conducts due diligence analyses; drafts and negotiates assignments and licenses; drafts and prosecutes patent applications; and handles interferences, European oppositions, and inventorship disputes.

Named to Virginia Business magazine’s 2012 “Legal Elite,” Intellectual Property, Townes has been actively involved in the American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA) for several years.  He previously chaired the Chemical Patent Practice Committee of the AIPLA, and is currently the vice-chair of the PTAB Trial Committee. He speaks regularly at AIPLA-hosted events, as well as those hosted by the Brazilian Association of Intellectual Property (ABPI) and the American Chemical Society.

Townes earned his J.D. at George Mason University School of Law and his B.S. in Chemistry at Bucknell University.

About Cozen O’Connor

Established in 1970, Cozen O’Connor has more than 700 attorneys who help clients manage risk and make better business decisions. The firm counsels clients on their most sophisticated legal matters in all areas of the law, including litigation, corporate, and regulatory law. Representing a broad array of leading global corporations and middle market companies, Cozen O’Connor services its clients’ needs through 28 offices across two continents.