Dr. Michael Morency joins Polsinelli as Shareholder in Boston Office

Dr. Michael Morency

Polsinelli, an Am Law 100 firm, announced patent attorney Dr. Michel Morency has joined as shareholder in its Boston office. Morency brings more than 20 years of experience to the firm’s growing Intellectual Property Department, which is comprised of more than 120 attorneys, patent agents and scientists coast to coast.

Morency provides counsel to many sectors of the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, life sciences and medical devices business community. His practice focuses on clients’ creation and development of patent portfolios, licensing of technology and enforcement of IP rights. He also provides clients with patent invalidity, freedom to operate and non-infringement options.

“Mike is a well-recognized, highly talented attorney who we are very pleased to have on our growing IP team,” said Intellectual Property Department Chair Patrick Wooley. “We have great momentum in our IP Department right now, and the addition of Mike and his depth of expertise across top-tier pharmaceutical companies, public and private companies, and start-up companies will enable us to better serve our clients in an area where demand has been particularly high.”

Morency helps clients raise money through venture capital and other financial transactions, in addition to monetizing their intellectual property by out-licensing, or selling future royalties and intellectual property rights. He frequently performs preliminary due diligence investigations for private and public financings and mergers and acquisitions for his clients in varying industries. Some of these technologies include neurobiology, stem cell, immunology, cancer therapeutics, and tissue and organ regeneration.

“Polsinelli’s national platform fosters development and innovation, and I am confident of the support we can bring to our clients’ complex IP matters,” Morency said. “The interconnected relationship of biotech and life sciences practice areas, coupled with intellectual property and patent prosecution enables us to make more fully informed legal decisions.”

Polsinelli has 20 offices nationwide and opened its Boston office in March 2016 with a heavy focus complementing the region’s thriving biotech, medical device, software, engineering and healthcare needs. The addition of Morency in Boston adds to the current growth seen within Polsinelli’s IP team, including other new hires over the past three months in New York City, Washington D.C., Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, Denver, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Silicon Valley. Recognizing the increased client focus on IP, last week, Polsinelli announced that it elevated Intellectual Property as a fourth Service

Department to serve alongside Polsinelli’s existing Business, Litigation, and Real Estate and Financial Services Departments.

Morency is a member of a number of associations, including the American Bar Association, Boston Bar Association, American Intellectual Property Law Association, Boston Patent Law Association and Canadian Mentoring Service. He is a mentor for MassChallenge, the world’s largest accelerator program and start-up competitor, North Shore InnoVentures, a technology business incubator, and MIT Enterprise Forum’s Smart Program, created for start-up entrepreneurs. He earned his J.D., cum laude, from the University of Ottawa Faculty of Law. He received a Ph.D. in Neuroscience from McMaster University, where he was awarded over 20 post-graduate academic prizes, awards and scholarships. Morency earned his bachelor’s degree in Life Sciences, with honors, from Queen’s University.

About Polsinelli

Polsinelli is an Am Law 100 firm with approximately 800 attorneys in 20 offices, serving corporations, institutions, and entrepreneurs nationally. Ranked No. 17 for Client Service Excellence among 650 U.S. law firms, Polsinelli has risen more than 50 spots over the past five years in the Am Law 100 annual law firm ranking. Polsinelli attorneys provide practical legal counsel infused with business insight, and focus on health care, financial services, real estate, intellectual property, mid-market corporate, labor and employment, and business litigation. Polsinelli attorneys have depth of experience in 100 service areas and 70 industries. The firm can be found online at www.polsinelli.com. Polsinelli PC. In California, Polsinelli LLP.