Technology Transactions – Life Sciences Transactions + Licensing Associate Attorney

Morrison & Foerster, LLP • San Diego, CA

3d • Onsite

About The Position

MoFo is seeking an Associate Attorney to join its preeminent Technology Transactions Group, specifically within the market-leading Life Sciences Transactions + Licensing team. This role involves advising clients at every stage of the product and company lifecycle, from discovery and development through commercialization and exit. The team represents a broad spectrum of industry participants, including biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies, medical device and diagnostic innovators, agricultural and plant biotechnology companies, food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies, research institutions, investors, and digital health companies. The work encompasses a wide range of agreements and transactions, including license agreements, collaboration, research, and development agreements, university and research institution licensing, patent licensing and commercialization, plant trait and agricultural technology licensing, distribution, supply, commercialization, and manufacturing transactions, clinical trial arrangements, intellectual property management and audits, and risk mitigation strategies. The role also involves supporting corporate transactions through IP and commercial contract due diligence, and preparing/reviewing key transaction documents. Attorneys will interface with clients, in-house counsel, and counterparties in a fast-paced, deal-driven environment and collaborate across practice areas on multidisciplinary matters. Joining this team means working at the forefront of the industry on deals that drive innovation in biotech, pharma, medtech, digital health, agriculture, and food, gaining hands-on experience with high-impact transactions from a broad range of clients. The practice offers exposure to complex, cross-border work and close collaboration with top-tier lawyers across IP, corporate, regulatory, and litigation disciplines. The team is collegial, mentorship-driven, and committed to attorney growth and success.

Requirements

• J.D. from an accredited law school.
• Licensed to practice in California.
• 3-6 years of relevant experience at a top law firm or in-house legal department.
• Strong preference for candidates who have worked extensively in the life sciences.
• Experience with the legal, regulatory, and business issues unique to the life sciences sector.
• Superior drafting, analytical, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple matters and clients simultaneously with a high level of responsiveness and attention to detail.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with transactions in agriculture (including plant biotechnology) and food (including CPG) is a plus.
• An undergraduate or advanced degree in the biological sciences, chemistry, pharmacy, business, or similar areas is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Advise clients on license agreements.
• Draft and negotiate collaboration, research, and development agreements.
• Handle university and research institution licensing transactions.
• Manage patent licensing and commercialization agreements and strategies.
• Work on plant trait, germplasm, and agricultural technology licensing and development agreements.
• Facilitate distribution, supply, commercialization, and manufacturing transactions.
• Manage clinical trial arrangements including contract research, development, and manufacturing transactions.
• Conduct intellectual property management and audits.
• Develop risk mitigation strategies in connection with licensing intellectual property.
• Support corporate transactions (e.g., venture financings, M&A, joint ventures) by conducting IP and commercial contract due diligence, and preparing and reviewing key transaction documents.
• Interface with clients, in-house counsel, and counterparties in a fast-paced, deal-driven environment.
• Collaborate across practice areas (e.g. corporate, IP, regulatory, litigation) on multidisciplinary matters.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, vision, life, and disability coverage.
• Industry-leading parental leave and family benefits including adoption and fertility treatment options, backup child and elder care.
• Tax free health accounts: HSA and FSA.
• 401(k) or Roth 401(k) plans.
• Global wellness program, including free access to health care advocates, Employee Assistance Program, Talkspace, and Calm apps.
• Flex Time Away and reduced schedule arrangements.
• Paid annual fees for primary state bar registration, and up to two professional associations.
• Dedicated in-house pro bono counsel to assist with identifying pro bono organizations and matters to work with.
• Matching gift programs for law school and charitable organization donations.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree