Biography and Background

Ed Ergenzinger combines graduate-level scientific training with outstanding expertise in the practice of intellectual property law.  He has substantial experience working with academic, start-up, national, and international clients to identify and protect intellectual property as technology moves from research and development to commercialization. 

Dr. Ergenzinger has experience practicing and teaching in areas of the law relating to patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and copyrights.  However, a particular focus of his practice has been in the field of patent law.  He has provided services that include the preparation and prosecution of patent applications (domestic and foreign), strategic planning and portfolio management, due diligence, and the preparation of patent-related opinions (freedom to operate, invalidity, and non-infringement.)  He has also provided services that include the preparation, review, and negotiation of license agreements, intellectual property transfer agreements, and material transfer agreements.

Dr. Ergenzinger’s scientific training includes research and graduate coursework in the areas of physiology, pharmacology, drug delivery systems, cellular and molecular biology, biochemistry, and genetics.  He has substantial experience providing client services across a broad range of technologies, particularly cell lines and cell culture media, human vaccines and related development and manufacturing processes, recombinant DNA and proteins, gene delivery and expression systems, genetically modified cells and organisms (animals and plants), small molecule therapeutics, pharmaceutical formulations, and marker-based diagnostics.

As an adjunct professor at Wake Forest University School of Law, Dr. Ergenzinger taught a course on patents, trademarks, copyrights, and trade secrets.  He has also taught a number of continuing legal education courses on patent law and has served as a lecturer on various scientific and legal topics at medical, law, and graduate schools across the country.  He is lead author or co-author on over 40 scientific and legal publications in venues such as Nature Neuroscience, Nature Reviews Neuroscience, Nature Biotechnology, Legal Times, The Scientist, BNA’s Patent, Trademark & Copyright Journal, and Stanford Technology Law Review.

Dr. Ergenzinger has been active in life sciences industry groups such as the Biotechnology Industry Organization (BIO) and Southeast BIO (SEBIO).  For BIO he has served on their Intellectual Property Counsels’ Committee, and from 2003-2007 he chaired panels on patent legislation at the BIO International Conventions that included Congressional leaders, officials from the USPTO, and executives from Fortune 500 companies.  In 2003, one of his panels was selected for a special program on Capitol Hill for members of Congress and Congressional staff.  For SEBIO, he has served on their board of directors and is a past chair of their marketing committee.

Dr. Ergenzinger earned his J.D. from Wake Forest University School of Law, where he was co-founder and editor-in-chief of the Wake Forest Intellectual Property Law Journal.  He was also the recipient of an American Bar Association Award for Excellence in the Study of Intellectual Property Law and multiple CALI Excellence Awards for studies in Patent Law, Health Law, and Education Law.  He earned his Ph.D. in Neuroscience at Wake Forest University (School of Medicine campus), where he was a National Institute of Mental Health Predoctoral Fellow.  He earned his B.A. in Biology and Psychology, cum laude with honors, from Wake Forest University, where he was a Presidential Scholar for Distinguished Achievement in Music.

Representative Experience

Served as virtual in-house counsel for the biotechnology division of one of the world’s largest pharmaceutical companies, working as on-site patent counsel for their North Carolina-based research and manufacturing facilities.  Client services included working as a liaison between in-house counsel at corporate headquarters and with local managers and scientists to identify and protect intellectual property, provide educational seminars, assist with strategic planning, and manage patent portfolios.

Managed the patent portfolio (domestic and foreign) for a second generation vaccine that has been described in the industry as the most complex biological product ever produced (analysts predict that this vaccine will generate $6 billion to $7 billion a year in sales.) 

Aided a small pharmaceutical company in securing venture financing rounds totaling over $50 million by developing its patent portfolio and assisting with patent due diligence.

Provided freedom to operate, invalidity, and non-infringement opinions for clients that have included a large agricultural biotechnology company and one of the world’s largest clinical laboratories.

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