Sheppard announced today that Alina Adams has joined the firm as a partner in the Intellectual Property practice group and as a member of the Life Sciences and Technology Transactions industry teams, resident in the Del Mar office. Adams strengthens the firm's technology transactions team, advising companies in the life sciences sector on commercial and intellectual property matters that bring novel technologies to market. She joins from Perkins Coie.
Adams leads technology transactions within the life sciences, biotechnology, materials science and complex service delivery industries. Her work spans patent and trade secret licensing, research and development collaborations, clinical trial agreements, sponsored research agreements, material transfer agreements and supply, distribution and manufacturing arrangements across the full product lifecycle, from early-stage research and development through commercialization.
She also advises on IP licensing in adjacent technology sectors, including digital healthcare, AI-optimized semiconductor technology, food and beverage and agriculture. In addition, Adams counsels clients on the IP aspects of mergers & acquisitions and strategic investments, drawing on her experience with advanced therapeutics, diagnostics and immune-enhancing technologies.
"Life sciences is a strategic priority for Sheppard, and Alina’s arrival adds depth and scale to that focus and to our technology transactions platform more broadly,” said Luca Salvi, chair of Sheppard. “Our clients need counsel who can navigate IP, FDA and regulatory issues, transactions and litigation, and Alina brings meaningful depth to a team built to do exactly that. Her deep sector expertise within life sciences and other high-tech areas is a perfect complement for Sheppard’s best-in-class global life sciences platform."
"Alina's command of complex IP and technology agreements expands our ability to support clients in transformative strategic transactions throughout their lifecycle," added Jeffrey Fessler, co-leader of Sheppard's Life Sciences industry team. "She knows how to move sophisticated transactions forward while keeping clients focused on their commercial goals."
"I'm thrilled to join Sheppard at a moment when the firm is deepening its work at the intersection of life sciences, IP and technology transactions," said Adams. "Helping clients move breakthrough science from the lab to the market takes close collaboration across disciplines, and that's exactly what Sheppard is known for. I look forward to joining my new colleagues and grow with this team."
Adams earned her B.S. from the University of Washington and her J.D. from the University of San Diego School of Law.
About Sheppard’s Life Sciences Industry Team
Sheppard’s Life Sciences industry team represents a diverse client base in the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, digital health and medtech sectors, ranging from large publicly traded organizations to early and mid-stage start-up companies. Attorneys in the U.S., and internationally through our offices in London, Brussels, Seoul and Shanghai, assist companies with strategic issues in every phase of their growth cycle. Our team is comprised of a number of attorneys, patent agents and scientific advisors who possess hands-on research experience and advanced degrees, including in the areas of biochemistry, cell biology, chemistry, molecular biology, pharmacology and biomedical engineering, to fully support the legal needs of our clients.
About Sheppard’s Intellectual Property Practice Group
Sheppard is a recognized leader in protecting and maximizing the value of intellectual property rights. Our team combines deep technical knowledge with strategic insight to help clients safeguard innovation and capitalize on commercial opportunities. We offer comprehensive expertise across all areas of IP law, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, trade secrets, false advertising, unfair competition, counterfeiting and grey market issues. Our litigators have significant experience in key patent litigation forums such as California, Delaware and the Eastern and Western Districts of Texas, as well as before the Patent Trial and Appeal Board in inter partes review proceedings. Our prosecution and counseling team builds global IP portfolios, prepares opinions and performs product clearance. We also perform IP due diligence for investors and acquirers, ensuring informed decisions in complex transactions. We serve a diverse client base from Fortune 50 and multinational corporations to innovative start-ups across technology, consumer products, life sciences and other innovation-driven industries. With more than 150 IP attorneys worldwide, nearly half holding advanced technical degrees, Sheppard offers the depth and breadth to protect and grow our clients’ most valuable assets.