Zhaoyang “Paul” Li

A Director in Fennemore’s Intellectual Property practice group, Dr. Paul Li counsels companies on how to protect and defend their intellectual property rights in U.S. and foreign institutions. In his comprehensive practice, he advises on patent prosecution, patent infringement assessment patent right licensing agreements, patentability, and intellectual property counseling and due diligence.

He handles patent prosecution matters and support litigation for a diverse range of technology companies in the battery storage, biotechnology, medical devices, biopharmaceuticals, pharmaceuticals, stem cell technologies (including cell therapy such as tissue engineering), and telecommunications and electronics industries. He counsels clients on small molecule pharmaceutical patent matters, including new chemical entity and formulation patents, and related paragraph IV certification issues in association with new drug application or abbreviated new drug application matters. Dr. Li works with companies at all stages, from early innovation through commercialization, helping them build and manage strong patent portfolios aligned with their business objectives.

Early in his career, Dr. Li presented on IP protection related to prior art challenges faced by the industry of traditional Chinese Medicine (“TCM”) at the 2005 Hong Kong Jockey Club Traditional Chinese Medicine Institute Symposium. Dr. Li proposed a TCM IP protection protocol, known as “finger printing,” which is based on a marker compound(s) or the level(s) of the marker compound(s) and is now widely used.

Dr. Li has extensive experience in life sciences as related intellectual property matters. He assisted UCLA in securing a large portfolio of patents on a protein discovered by a group of UCLA professors. This portfolio successfully grew from the UCLA research laboratories to become the foundation of a publicly-traded company.

He is also recognized for his work in global IP strategy. He has advised multinational organizations, including Sinopec TECH, on worldwide freedom to operate matters and was recognized by Legal 500 for his work in intellectual property, patent licensing, and transactions.

Dr. Li earned his law degree from Vanderbilt Law School. Additionally, he earned his Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of South Carolina and a B.Sc. in Chemistry from Nankai University in Tianjin, China. He speaks fluent Mandarin.

• J.D., Vanderbilt University Law School
• Ph.D, Chemistry, University of South Carolina
• B.Sc, Chemistry, Nankai University

OTHER EXPERIENCE

• International Law

• American Bar Association
• American Intellectual Property Law Association (AIPLA)

• California
• U.S. Patent and Trademark Office

• Mandarin