Dickstein Shapiro LLP has added Mark T. Kresnak, Ph.D. to its Intellectual Property Practice as Counsel in its Palo Alto, California office, effective May 13, 2013. Dr. Kresnak joins the firm from Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc. where he was Senior Director, Intellectual Property. In this role, he managed IP procurement, enforcement, and defense for major aspects of the Elan R&D and commercial portfolio, and was also integrally involved with the company’s Transactional Law function, where he negotiated, drafted, and advised on corporate contracts. His practice focuses on IP portfolio development and counseling, patent prosecution, IP diligence, and IP-related transactions.

“With nearly two decades of in-house experience in the biotech, life sciences, and pharmaceutical industries, Mark is a strong addition to our growing Silicon Valley life sciences practice,” said Robert Dickerson, co-leader of Dickstein Shapiro’s Intellectual Property Practice. “Mark and Atulya Agarwal, who joined us as Partner in April, have worked together for 13 years and bring the unique expertise of helping companies maximize the value of their IP portfolios through patent prosecution, IP transactions and IP portfolio management, both as in-house and as outside counsel. With Mark’s arrival, we have a powerhouse life sciences IP team in Palo Alto.”

“I am excited by this unique opportunity that will allow me to work with a team of very experienced, savvy and successful colleagues, and to leverage my experience to add to the firm’s patent prosecution and IP-related transactions capabilities,” said Dr. Kresnak. “Dickstein Shapiro has a highly regarded Intellectual Property Practice and I look forward to bringing my experience to our clients.”

With nearly 20 years in the biotech, life sciences, and pharmaceuticals industries, Dr. Kresnak has extensive experience in securing broad protection for all aspects of corporate IP, conducting intricate IP portfolio diligence, negotiating and drafting complex IP-related agreements, supporting IP litigation, and strategically managing complicated product regulatory and lifecycle issues. Before his work at Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., he spent more than 12 years with Genentech, Inc., where he last served as Associate General Counsel, Director of Patent Law. Dr. Kresnak also worked in private practice for several years for Flehr, Hohbach, Test, Albritton & Herbert LLP. Dr. Kresnak earned his J.D. from the University of California, Boalt School of Law; his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics from the University of Illinois School of Medicine; his M.S. in Human Genetics from the University of Michigan School of Medicine; and his B.A. in Physiology and Anatomy from the University of California, Berkeley.

www.dicksteinshapiro.com