Legal technology
10 patent strategy for startups experts
These ten professionals have led intellectual property or patent work inside technology and life sciences companies, including early-stage companies. A reader can learn from them how companies build patent portfolios, set intellectual property strategy and work with research and business teams to protect new technology.
Professionals to explore
01—10Cristin Berkey
LinkedInExperience: VP, Intellectual Property Counsel · Flagship Pioneering
VP, Intellectual Property Counsel at Flagship Pioneering since May 2026. Other roles include VP, Intellectual Property (Fractional) at Merida Biosciences (2025–2026), VP, Intellectual Property and Legal Affairs at Abata Therapeutics (2024–2025) and Senior Director of Intellectual Property and Contracts at Abata Therapeutics (2021–2024). The profile describes working with early-stage biotechnology companies to develop foundational intellectual property strategy.
F. Aaron Dubberley
LinkedInExperience: Head of Intellectual Property · Trevarx Biomedical Inc.
Head of Intellectual Property at Trevarx Biomedical Inc. since April 2021 and Head of Intellectual Properties at Evrys Bio since 2013. Other roles include Director of Intellectual Property at Aestus Therapeutics (2007–2013). The profile describes a US patent attorney who now assists up to three start-up or early companies at a time, in house, with the business and legal advice needed to capture and wield essential IP.
Feng Zhou
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Head of IP · insitro
Vice President, Head of IP at insitro since August 2024, and former Senior Corporate Counsel, IP at Bristol Myers Squibb (2022–2024). At insitro the profile describes working with R&D, data science and business leadership to shape invention strategy and build global patent portfolios across small molecules, nucleic acids, biologics and AI/ML-driven discovery platforms.
Jeffrey Kopacz
LinkedInExperience: SVP Legal & Intellectual Property · City Therapeutics
SVP Legal & Intellectual Property at City Therapeutics since September 2024. Other roles include Senior Vice President-Head of Intellectual Property & Contracts at SalioGen Therapeutics (2021–2024), Vice President, Intellectual Property (IP) at Omega Therapeutics (2019–2021) and Senior Director, Senior Patent Counsel at Alnylam Pharmaceuticals (2009–2019). The profile describes managing intellectual property matters at pre-commercial early-stage and commercial late-stage biopharma companies.
Kristin Lamb
LinkedInExperience: Head of Intellectual Property · Eight Sleep
Head of Intellectual Property at Eight Sleep since March 2026. At ŌURA the roles were SVP, Deputy General Counsel (2025–2026) and Associate General Counsel, Vice President of Intellectual Property and Regulatory Compliance (2023–2025). The profile describes a former R&D biochemist and patented inventor who helps technology companies protect and scale innovation and has built and led intellectual property programs.
Lulu Wang
LinkedInExperience: Head of Intellectual Property · Orna Therapeutics
Head of Intellectual Property at Orna Therapeutics since February 2023, and former Attorney at Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, LLP (2013–2023). The profile describes a global intellectual property strategist for biotech and pharma companies who builds patent portfolios, conducts diligences for multibillion-dollar deals and defends and challenges patents in litigation.
Martyn Andrews
LinkedInExperience: VP Intellectual Property · Oxford Nanopore Technologies
VP Intellectual Property at Oxford Nanopore Technologies since September 2011. Other roles include Head of Patents (UK) at Rouse (2009–2011), Senior Patent Counsel at Alere Inc. (2002–2009) and Patent Examiner at the European Patent Office (1990–2000). The profile describes a European Patent Attorney who has spent most of a career working in industry for startup companies, with much of the in-house work involving patent litigation.
Robin Reasoner
LinkedInExperience: Head of IP & Privacy · Impulse Space
Head of IP & Privacy at Impulse Space since June 2026, leading intellectual property and privacy strategy for a rapidly growing aerospace company and working closely with engineering. Other roles include Senior Director, Legal (Global Head of Product, Privacy, and IP) at Udacity (2022–2026) and Deputy General Counsel, IP & Privacy at Quantcast (2020–2021).
Wendy Petka, Ph.D., J.D.
LinkedInExperience: Head of IP and Legal · Outpace Bio
Head of IP and Legal at Outpace Bio since February 2025. Other roles include Vice President, Intellectual Property at 4D Molecular Therapeutics (2024–2025) and Vice President, Intellectual Property at Sangamo Therapeutics, Inc. (2019–2021). The profile describes a record of building and defending high-stakes global patent portfolios in biotech and life science companies.
Zack Terranova
LinkedInExperience: Head of Intellectual Property · Singular Genomics
Head of Intellectual Property at Singular Genomics since January 2023, with a Director Of Intellectual Property role there from 2019 to 2023; the profile also lists a Director of Intellectual Property role at Stealth Startup since August 2026. Other roles include Patent Manager at La Jolla Pharmaceutical Company (2018–2019) and Patent Agent at Mintz (2015–2018). The profile describes securing robust patent coverage for multifaceted product portfolios.
Choose the right perspective
Match the person's technical field to your own, since patent strategy for a therapeutics platform differs a lot from patent strategy for consumer hardware or software. Also consider whether you need someone who has built a portfolio from the first filings at a young company or someone who has managed a larger portfolio, licensing and litigation at a later stage.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01How should a startup with a limited budget decide which inventions to patent and where to file?
- 02When does it make sense for a young company to hire in-house intellectual property counsel instead of relying only on outside firms?
- 03What do investors and acquirers look for when they review a startup's patent portfolio?
Reaching patent strategy for startups experts
How can I contact one of these patent strategy for startups experts?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 10 companies, including Flagship Pioneering, Trevarx Biomedical Inc. and insitro, based on profile data retrieved on October 3, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach patent strategy for startups experts?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. It includes Instant Expert's 20% fee, so an offer that pays the person $100 costs you $125. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot and may describe past or present roles. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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