overview
With a law degree and a doctorate in molecular microbiology, Dr. Dan Clarke has a rare combination of skills that are highly prized by life sciences entities seeking to protect their inventions. A partner in Burns & Levinson’s Intellectual Property practice, Dan focuses on patent application preparation and worldwide prosecution.
He has experience in a wide spectrum of life sciences technologies, including immunology (antibodies and chimeric antigen receptor T cells), microbiology (probiotics and recombinant bacteria), genetics (gene editing and RNAi), oncology (immune checkpoint inhibitors and antigen-targeted nanoparticles), molecular diagnostics (biomarkers for disease detection and evaluation), molecular biology (next-generation sequencing and single-cell analysis systems), medical devices (biologically enhanced scaffolds and microfluidics), tissue and cell engineering/regeneration (stem cell technologies), and small molecule therapeutics (new chemical entities for treatment of various diseases), among many others.
education
J.D., with distinction, Suffolk University Law School
Ph.D., Molecular Microbiology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
B.A., University of Texas
admissions
Massachusetts
U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
honors & awards
Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce: Boston’s Future Leaders (2016)
Recognized in Massachusetts Super Lawyers as a Rising Star (2016-2021)
community involvement
Habitat for Humanity Build, Volunteer
Charlestown Youth Soccer Association, Coach
experience
- Performed a freedom-to-operate analysis for an immunotherapeutic product of a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company.
- Actively involved in the prosecution of complex patent portfolios related to the synthesis of new biomaterials for tissue engineering and drug delivery.
- Completed an intellectual property due diligence for the ~ $40 million sale of a crucial client product to a major nutritional company.
memberships
Boston Bar Association
Boston Patent Law Association
Sigma XI, the Scientific Research Society
articles
Dr. Clarke has authored and presented scientific publications in the fields of immunology, microbiology, parasitology, and ophthalmology.
interviews
“Joys and Challenges of IP Practice at the Intersection of Science and Business,” Corporate Counsel Business Journal, July 2018