Overview
Dr. Richard Emmons is Co-Chair of Day Pitney’s Patent Prosecution and Counseling practice group, where he provides strategic patent guidance, global portfolio development, and investment-focused IP advisory to life sciences, med-tech, and deep-tech innovators. He works closely with executive teams, scientific founders, and investors to protect breakthrough technologies and unlock value across the product lifecycle—from early R&D through commercialization and exit.
With a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology from Washington University School of Medicine and postdoctoral training at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Emmons brings deep expertise across bioinformatics, genetics, immunology, molecular and cell biology, and translational medicine. His practice also spans frontier technologies, including AI-enabled platforms, medical devices, IoT systems, automotive innovation, and clean tech.
Dr. Emmons partners with private and public companies, family offices, and institutional investors to lead IP due diligence, evaluate scientific and regulatory risk, and de-risk investment decisions across biotechnology and high-technology sectors. His experience includes advising on mergers and acquisitions, supporting venture financing transactions, and conducting landscape analyses to identify competitive advantage and white-space opportunities.
He regularly counsels clients on freedom-to-operate positions, patentability, and patent enforcement strategy, and supports contentious matters including inter partes review (IPR) and post-grant review (PGR) before the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
Representative technology areas include ag-tech, antibodies, biologics, gene therapy, gene editing, enzymes, protein engineering, digital twins, diagnostics, cell therapy, regenerative medicine, neural and metabolic disorders, microbiome therapeutics, nucleic acid therapeutics, immuno-oncology, biofuels, nutraceuticals, medical devices, automotive systems, GIS technologies, and vaccines.
Dr. Emmons is known for delivering creative, business-aligned solutions that integrate deep scientific understanding with pragmatic IP strategy—helping clients secure and scale transformative innovation in competitive global markets.
Experience
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Performed investor due diligence on dozens of early-stage biotech companies for partnering deals with a large family office
Performed a landscape analysis for a Fortune 500 company in the vaccine/LNP space
Performed an IP diligence for a gene therapy company that helped the client obtain approximately $75 million in early series financing
Actively counseled clients on strategic management of complex patent portfolios related to medical device instruments
Completed an IP due diligence for a major acquisition by a Fortune 500 client in the immunotherapeutic space
Education and Credentials
Education
- Harvard Medical School, post-doc., Epigenetics
- Washington University, Ph.D., Developmental Biology
- Suffolk University Law School, J.D.
- College of the Atlantic B.A.
Admissions
- Commonwealth of Massachusetts
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
Affiliations
- American Bar Association
Recognition and Community
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. See Awards Methodology.
Recognitions
Chosen for inclusion in the Top Recommended, Life Sciences, by The SPEAR’S 500, 2021
Selected to the list of Super Lawyers® Rising Star, 2014-2021
Community Involvement
Extraordinary Women Advancing Healthcare in MA, Steering Committee Member, (2019-2022)
Little Cumberland Island Wildlife Refuge, Board Member, (2013-2022)
Long Range Planning Committee, Member (1996-2006)
News & Insights
Thought Leadership
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Patently Enabled November 2025 – A Procedural Trap for Patents: The Constructive Election Rule, November 7, 2025 -
Investing in Innovation: A Family Office Primer on IP Due Diligence | Generations August 2025, August 20, 2025
News
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Day Pitney Grows National IP Practice With Boston Life Sciences Patent Team, February 24, 2025
In The Media
Media Mentions
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Day Pitney Grows IP Practice With Life Sciences Patent Trio, Bloomberg Law Automation , March 5, 2025 -
Day Pitney Expands Boston Office with Key Hires in Life Sciences Patent Law Practice, Legal News Feed, March 3, 2025 -
Hub Hires: Freshfields, Day Pitney, Paul Hastings, Cozen, Law360, March 3, 2025 -
Withers Life Sciences IP Team Joins Day Pitney In Boston, Law360, February 24, 2025
Speaking Engagements
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Improving Health Outcomes While Bolstering Investment Returns: Approaches to Investing in the Healthcare Sector Ranging from Wellness to MedTech to Biotech, April 29, 2025