From the firm’s Boston base, pharma research specialist Kristen Buteau and Brian Reese co-lead Choate, Hall & Stewart‘s patent prosecution group which is noted as making ’everything so easy for the client’. The team has a focus on life sciences-related work in particular; expert in the sector Brenda Herschbach Jarrell is a standout member of the cohort, who is highlighted as being ‘particularly creative with her IP solutions for many prosecution, diligence and other matters’. The ’truly exceptional’ Charles Lyon is equipped to assist investors and life sciences companies in their IP matters, while Stephanie Schonewald has particular expertise handling potentially contentious cases for biotech and pharma companies. Attorney John Rearick departed to Dechert LLP in July 2023.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Brenda Herschbach Jarrell is particularly creative with her IP solutions for many prosecution, diligence and other matters.’

  • ‘The stand-out partner is Brenda Herschbach Jarrell. She is extremely open, which we appreciate.'

  • 'The Choate team makes everything so easy for their clients. Work product is always timely, and I trust its accuracy. They are great at making the answer very clear in their work product, and I don't have to spend hours poring over the work product in order to understand the key messages.'

  • 'Charles Lyon is truly exceptional and I trust him implicitly.'

Key clients

  • BioNTech
  • Carisma Therapeutics
  • Radius Health
  • Nextpoint Therapeutics

Lawyers

Leading lawyers
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.
Choate, Hall & Stewart
Dr. Brenda Herschbach Jarrell, chair of Choate’s Life Sciences Group, is described by clients as an IP lawyer with keen business savvy. Her extensive technical credentials make her well-versed in a wide variety of technologies in the biotech, pharmaceutical, and specialty chemical industries. She represents companies and institutions at all stages of the life sciences business lifecycle, as well as those who invest in them, guiding IP protection and competitive positioning strategies, negotiating strategic transactions, and providing creative solutions to IP and technology-related challenges. Throughout her career, Brenda has advised multiple clients from Series A through their eventual IPOs. As one of the foremost respected IP strategists in the country, Brenda is routinely awarded the recognition of “Attorney of the Year” by several respected rankings providers across a variety of categories. Some of her clients include Adimab, Aleta Biotherapeutics, Angion Biomedica Corp., Apellis Pharmaceuticals, Atlas Venture, Base Genomic, Biogen, BioNTech, Casma Therapeutics, Celsius Therapeutics, Eirion Therapeutics, FogPharma, FORMA Therapeutics, Gilead, Ginkgo BioWorks,  Kernal Biologics, LogicBio Therapeutics, Mereo BioPharma, Olema Pharmaceuticals, Progenics Pharmaceuticals, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, ReNetX Bio, Scipher Medicine Corporation, STIMIT Corporation, Syros Pharmaceuticals, Third Rock Ventures, WAVE Life Sciences, and Venrock.   Brenda is a member of Choate’s Executive Committee.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Kristen Buteau, Brian Reese

Other key lawyers

Brenda Herschbach Jarrell, Charles Lyon, Stephanie Schonewald