Overview
With 40 years of experience in the life sciences, Dr. Richard Emmons combines his scientific and legal experience to play a strategic role for his clients in guiding patent strategy, managing patent portfolios, and de-risking investments. Trained in bioinformatics, cell biology, classical and molecular genetics, epigenetics, genetic engineering, immunology, molecular biology, and physiology at Washington University School of Medicine, where he earned a Ph.D. in Developmental Biology, and the Harvard Medical School, where he completed a post-doctoral fellowship, he works with companies across all areas of life sciences, including Artificial Intelligence and medical device. He has conducted extensive IP due diligence for companies, family offices, and investors at all stages. Dr. Emmons is known for creative, holistic, and strategic thinking that integrates his multi-disciplinary experience to produce business-savvy solutions.
Dr. Emmons has significant experience in life sciences, chemistry, medical device, IoT, automotive, and clean technology, allowing him to provide creative solutions and practical business advice in a variety of industries. His practice focuses on global patent strategy, IP portfolio creation and management, patent application preparation and prosecution, freedom-to-operate analysis, opinion work, inter partes and post-grant review (IPR/PGR), and complex landscape searches.
Dr. Emmons leads and conducts due diligence for private and public companies, family offices, and investors. He has also worked on mergers & acquisitions and due diligence for private equity firms and hedge funds. He also works with family offices interested in investing in early-stage high-tech and biotech companies.
His practice includes assessing freedom-to-operate positions and rendering patentability and invalidity opinions. He advises clients on entering competitive markets and third-party challenges. Dr. Emmons has worked on patent litigations, inter partes reviews, and post-grant reviews.
Dr. Emmons has worked on diverse technical areas, including ag-tech, antibodies, automotive, biofuels, biologics, cell therapy, diagnostics, digital twins, enzymes, gene editing, gene therapy, GIS, gut microbiome, immuno-oncology, IoT, medical device, microbial engineering, neurodegenerative disease, nucleic acid therapy, nutraceuticals, protein engineering, regenerative medicine, stem cells, and vaccines.
He has authored numerous scientific articles in top peer-reviewed journals, such as Development, Developmental Biology, Genetics, and Molecular Cellular Biology.
Experience
No aspect of this advertisement has been approved by the highest court of any state. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
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
In The Media
Media Mentions
- Day Pitney Grows IP Practice With Life Sciences Patent Trio, Bloomberg Law Automation , March 5, 2024
- 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