Orrick Adds Patent Prosecution Leader to Fast Growing Life Sciences Team


March.15.2021

Orrick announced today that Gargi Talukder, a recognized leader in protecting the innovations of life sciences companies, has joined the firm as a partner in San Francisco. Gargi, who will head our life sciences patent strategy and prosecution practice, is the 8th partner addition to Orrick’s life sciences platform since 2019.

Gargi advises companies ranging from startups to the Fortune 50 in global patent portfolio management, IP diligence and patent prosecution. Drawing on her PhD in Neuroscience, she collaborates with scientific leads and senior management for major biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies to develop patent procurement and product clearance strategies.  She has particular experience in the cutting-edge fields of biologics, including genome sequencing, antibody therapies and cell therapies.

In addition, Gargi advises in other IP areas, including transactional matters involving complex collaboration deals, licenses and M&A diligence. She also assists litigation teams with analysis of the science and patents at issue in complex, high-stakes trials.

She joins us from Morgan Lewis, where she led the firm’s San Francisco IP practice.

“Adding top-notch patent prosecution expertise is the next step in the ongoing development of our life sciences offering,” said Matthew Gemello, head of Orrick’s global Corporate practice. “We could not be more fortunate to do so with a leader and skilled practitioner of Gargi’s caliber and technical pedigree.  Our clients’ innovation continues to outpace regulation and Gargi’s market-leading expertise will be a game-changer for these innovative businesses.”

“Orrick’s strategic imperative of developing a holistic life sciences service offering, coupled with its culture of innovation, collaboration and inclusiveness, was too exciting of an opportunity for me to pass up,” Gargi said. “I look forward to building further with this team.”

Gargi is the 8th partner addition to Orrick’s life sciences platform since 2019, including the recent hire of capital markets partner David Schulman from Dechert in our Washington, D.C. office; life sciences advisors Greg Griner and Albert Vanderlaan from Gunderson Dettmer, and Shana Solomon, former General Counsel of Velocity Sciences, in Boston; Stephen Thau, a former chair of Morrison & Foerster’s Life Sciences Group, in New York; and Ed Lukins and Ed Dyson from Cooley in London.