HGF are pleased to announce further growth of the team in the Basel office with the arrival of Leena Contarino who joined the firm’s Basel office as a Partner on Thursday 1^st November 2018.
 
Leena has considerable experience in inventions related to proteins, nucleic acids, diagnostics utilising biomolecules, as well as cells, including microbes.  Her expertise covers preparing and prosecuting patent applications, strategic patent portfolio review and management, intellectual property due diligence, and opinions regarding freedom-to-operate, non-infringement, and inventorship. Leena advises clients in protecting inventions mainly in the areas of DNA, RNA, peptides, and proteins, such as antibodies and enzymes.
 
Prior to joining HGF Leena served as a VP of Intellectual Property at a global pharmaceutical company headquartered in Basel where she managed multiple patent portfolios related to drugs to be repurposed or refocused and conducted due diligence on assets under consideration to be bought or licensed. Before repatriating to Europe, she practiced patent law for almost two decades at a major law firm in the United States, where she advised clients at university technology transfer offices, start-ups and large multinational companies.
 
Before beginning her legal career, Leena conducted post-doctoral research at Harvard Medical School. Leena holds a master’s degree in biotechnology, a Ph.D. in biochemistry, and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  She also holds a U.S. law degree with license to practice before the courts of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
 
Mike Nelson, Partner at HGF commented “Leena’s appointment is an exciting development in HGF’s expansion across mainland Europe. We are delighted to welcome Leena to HGF and the experience and expertise she brings to our life science and pharmaceutical team in the Basel office.”