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Attorney
By
Attorney
Career Profiles of the Profession
Who?
What?
Primary Practice Area & Subspecialty Fields:
Biotechnology; litigation and administrative law.
When?
Years in Practice Area:
Since 1983
Years in the Legal Profession:
Since 1983
Where?
Employer:
Transkaryotic Therapies
http://www.transkaryotictherapies.com
Size/Sector:
300 employees/biotech
City/State:
Cambridge, MA 02139
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Law School:
Harvard
Other Post-Graduate Education:
Graduate courses in government Tufts and George Washington University
Undergraduate School/Degree:
Yale B.A.
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Why?
Pluses/Challenges of Practice Area:
Knowing if you do well, you can help bring breakthrough drugs to desperate patients. Challenges: High risk, stress and uncertainty; excessive litigiousness in industry.
Core Skills/Key Knowledge Needed in Your Practice Area:
Integration of science, law and business considerations; strong stomach.
Advice to Lawyers and Law Students Interested in Your Practice Area:
Generally, it is best to start with a law firm and then move to a medium sized or bigger company if you want to work in biotech. Most importantly, though, forget about long-term plans and just try to do something immediately worthwhile.
How?
Career Path to Current Position:
Mostly government service (many years at HHS, including 3 ½ as General Counsel) then General Counsel at Biogen.
Influences and Mentors:
Mentors: C. Boyden Gray, Kenneth Novack; Influences: James Q. Wilson, Ronald Reagan, Laura Mali-Astrue.
Suggested Reading About Your Practice Area:
Hutt & Merrill: Food and Drug Law.
Job Search Techniques Used in Finding Your Position(s):
Just sitting around at home and the phone rang.
Bar Affiliations and Activities:
Council Member: American Bar Association Section of Administrative Law; Vice Chairman: Federalist Society Section of Administrative Law.
Memorable Career Moment:
First day working in The White House, 1988.
Intriguing Interests:
Cuttyhunk Island; New Formalist poetry; the music of Richard Thompson.
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