John L. Buchanan, Ph.D.

“Science has been a constant driving force in my career; now I apply my knowledge in a different context,” he says. Reflecting on his legal career thus far, John appreciates his work for academic institutions that are relatively futuristic in terms of drug discovery and with product- and market-driven pharmaceutical companies that are focused on the “here and now.” John views this balance as “getting the best of both worlds” in that he creates business assets by obtaining issued patents and advises other clients regarding issued third-party patents that they are considering acquiring or licensing. “I continue to learn every day, thanks to my colleagues here at Burns & Levinson, and I expect this to continue indefinitely.”

John’s main objective is to provide guidance and a set of actions for clients to take to advance their long-term business expectations so that the intellectual property in question fits in with the rest of their portfolios. He has deep knowledge of the pharmaceutical industry, as evidenced by co-authoring 19 publications during his years before law school. Furthermore, he is a co-inventor of 14 issued U.S. patents.

Outside of work, John and his family share a passion in caring for foster children and animals. They work with Massachusetts Department of Children and Families as foster parents and with the Animal Rescue League of Boston as foster pet parents. John also has devoted time as a pro bono representative for inmates in disciplinary hearings in collaboration with the Boston College Law School Disciplinary Hearings Clinic.