News and Events

Join us for a practical, founder‑friendly deep dive into today’s investment landscape. Our speakers will cover the full spectrum of early‑stage financing tools (SAFEs, convertible notes, priced rounds), unpack term sheets, discuss ownership preservation, and explore current trends shaping the market. This interactive session will be built around your questions and real‑world scenarios.

​About the Speakers:

​Stephen Thau is a Partner in Orrick’s Technology Companies Group and a Co-Chair of the Life Sciences & HealthTech Group. He advises life sciences, medical device, health IT, and technology companies on financing, licensing and strategic collaborations, mergers and acquisitions, and other key growth milestones, and also represents venture capital firms in financing transactions. Stephen has been recognized as a Leading Life Sciences Lawyer by LMG Life Sciences and shortlisted as Venture Capital Attorney of the Year. 

​Gregg Griner is a Partner in Orrick’s Technology Companies Group and Co-Leader of the firm’s Chicago office. He advises companies at every stage of growth—from startups to public companies—on corporate and securities matters, including public and private financings, mergers and acquisitions, venture capital fund formation, governance, and strategic transactions. Gregg has been recognized by Best Lawyers for Technology Law and by Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a Go-To Lawyer for Healthcare/Life Sciences.

A strong patent portfolio is a strategic asset, not just a collection of filings.

This seminar explores how to align portfolio-building decisions with commercial goals, manage IP assets over time, and think proactively about coverage, scope, and risk.

The session will also touch on when and why in-licensing third-party IP can strengthen a broader portfolio and support long-term value creation.

​About the Speaker:
Dr. Keith Chadwick is currently an independent patent agent registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office and scientific consultant. He has extensive experience working in the field of intellectual property, with a focus on serving clients in the life sciences. Much of his career has been spent in top international law firms, including Wilson Sonsini, Goodwin Procter and Gemini Law, where his practice included patent drafting, global patent prosecution, and IP due diligence for complex transactions. He also leverages his scientific expertise to advise on technical aspects of IP litigation. Prior to pursuing a career in IP, Dr. Chadwick was professor of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy at Purdue University, where his research focused on drug delivery and pharmaceutical manufacturing, while also providing expert consulting services to industrial clients. 

Navigating early-stage fundraising can feel complex, and understanding the tools investors use is a critical first step.

Join us for an upcoming webinar on the basics of SAFEs and convertible notes, where we’ll break down two of the most common instruments used in early-stage financing. Designed specifically for entrepreneurs out of academic institutions, this session will demystify key concepts, highlight practical considerations, and help you approach fundraising with greater confidence.

We’re excited to feature Adam Sterling of Stanford University, who will guide us through the fundamentals, alongside commentary from Manny Stockman of OUP, offering insights from the venture capital perspective.

Whether you're preparing to raise your first round or simply want to better understand the language of these investment instruments, this session will provide a clear, accessible foundation.

What you’ll learn:
- What are SAFEs and convertible notes, and the differences between them
- When and why each instrument is used
- Key terms founders should understand before signing
- Practical insights from both legal and investor perspectives
 
This webinar is geared to faculty founders, postdocs, grad students and other academic research-driven entrepreneurs looking to translate innovation into impact.

Come join us to build the financial fluency needed to scale scientific innovation.

Panelists:

Adam Sterling, Associate Dean of Executive Education and Strategic Partnership·Stanford University

Manny Stockman, Managing Partner, Technology·Osage University Partners (OUP)

IP due diligence is a critical step in fundraising, partnering, and acquisition discussions.

This session will demystify what IP due diligence actually entails, including patentability and freedom-to-operate analyses, and what investors and partners look for when evaluating IP risk.

Attendees will also learn how to prepare an effective IP data room and anticipate common diligence questions before they arise.

This seminar will be held in person at the Querrey InQbation Lab which is located in downtown Evanston at 1801 Maple Avenue, Suite 1400, Evanston, IL, 60201.

​About the Speaker:
Dr. Keith Chadwick is currently an independent patent agent registered to practice before the US Patent and Trademark Office and scientific consultant. He has extensive experience working in the field of intellectual property, with a focus on serving clients in the life sciences. Much of his career has been spent in top international law firms, including Wilson Sonsini, Goodwin Procter and Gemini Law, where his practice included patent drafting, global patent prosecution, and IP due diligence for complex transactions. He also leverages his scientific expertise to advise on technical aspects of IP litigation. Prior to pursuing a career in IP, Dr. Chadwick was professor of Industrial and Physical Pharmacy at Purdue University, where his research focused on drug delivery and pharmaceutical manufacturing, while also providing expert consulting services to industrial clients. 

Contracting Basics
Protect your company by understanding the contracts that protect you.

Contracts form the backbone of every startup’s relationships—with co-founders, employees, contractors, and investors. Yet too often, founders rely on others to handle the details—only to discover too late what they’ve signed away. This session will help you build the confidence and knowledge to review, negotiate, and manage your own agreements effectively.

You’ll learn:
- Why You Can’t Rely on Others for Your Contracts: Understand common pitfalls and why founders must take ownership of key legal documents.
- Basic Structure and Key Terms: Get familiar with the anatomy of a contract and the language that defines your obligations and protections.
- Securing Intellectual Property Rights: Learn how to ensure your company owns its IP—through the right licenses and assignments from employees, consultants, advisors, board members, and contractors.
- Negotiation Tips: Develop practical skills for approaching contract discussions with clarity and confidence.

Perfect for founders, researchers, and startup team members, this session will demystify the legal essentials that safeguard your company’s interests and future value.

Lunch will be provided.

Please register by June 11 to help us plan appropriately for catering.

About the Speakers

Jay Reilly
Partner, Foley Hoag LLP

Jay Reilly is a seasoned transactional and corporate advisor with deep experience serving clients across the life sciences and high-tech industries. He represents biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, and digital health companies—as well as universities and nonprofits—in complex strategic transactions, licensing and collaboration agreements, venture financing and mergers and acquisitions. His work spans both domestic and international markets.

Jay regularly advises C-suite executives, boards of directors, and general counsels on governance, fiduciary duties, risk mitigation, and enterprise-wide legal strategy. He frequently serves as a trusted senior advisor to leadership teams and as outside general counsel to companies with lean in-house legal departments.

Ben Vaughan, PhD
Associate & Registered Patent Attorney, Foley Hoag LLP

Dr. Benjamin Vaughan is a registered Patent Attorney with a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry. His patent practice focuses on chemical and pharmaceutical inventions, and he has specialized knowledge related to industrial process chemistry and alternative energy technologies.

Patent Strategy Pitfalls
Safeguard your innovation by avoiding the missteps that can cost you.

Patents are a cornerstone of protecting breakthrough technologies and building long‑term value. Yet too often, founders and researchers overlook critical details—missing filing deadlines, disclosing too much too soon, or failing to align IP protection with business goals. This session will help you anticipate and avoid common pitfalls, ensuring your patent strategy strengthens rather than undermines your venture.

You’ll learn:
· Timing Is Everything: Why premature disclosures or delayed filings can jeopardize patent rights.
· Global Considerations: How international differences in patent law affect your protection strategy.
· Ownership & Assignments: Ensuring your institution, company, or investors have clear rights to the IP.
· Strategic Alignment: How to match patent filings with commercialization plans and fundraising milestones.
· Common Mistakes to Avoid: Practical examples of errors that weaken patents or reduce their enforceability.

Perfect for founders, researchers, and startup team members, this session will demystify the patent process and equip you with the foresight to protect your innovations and maximize their impact.

Lunch will be provided.

Please register by September 10 to help us plan appropriately for catering.

About the Speakers

Jay Reilly
Partner, Foley Hoag LLP

Jay Reilly is a seasoned transactional and corporate advisor with deep experience serving clients across the life sciences and high-tech industries. He represents biotechnology, pharmaceutical, medical device, diagnostic, and digital health companies—as well as universities and nonprofits—in complex strategic transactions, licensing and collaboration agreements, venture financing and mergers and acquisitions. His work spans both domestic and international markets.

Jay regularly advises C-suite executives, boards of directors, and general counsels on governance, fiduciary duties, risk mitigation, and enterprise-wide legal strategy. He frequently serves as a trusted senior advisor to leadership teams and as outside general counsel to companies with lean in-house legal departments.

Ben Vaughan, PhD
Associate & Registered Patent Attorney, Foley Hoag LLP

Dr. Benjamin Vaughan is a registered Patent Attorney with a Ph.D. in inorganic chemistry. His patent practice focuses on chemical and pharmaceutical inventions, and he has specialized knowledge related to industrial process chemistry and alternative energy technologies.