Mintz, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. is bolstering its growing Intellectual Property team in Washington, D.C. with the addition of Mark Pino, a leading attorney in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and chemical areas, who joins as a Member.

Mr. Pino brings extensive legal and industry expertise, including a long history of strategic patent portfolio management and counseling, and also work as a medicinal chemist at Agouron Pharmaceuticals, where he contributed to the discovery of Viracept, an anti-HIV inhibitor. His technical background includes pharmaceuticals, small molecule and protein formulations (including delayed-release, polymer matrixes), peptides, crystalline forms, syringes, transdermal delivery, implantable devices, manufacturing processes, cell and biochemical assays, inorganics, and polymers.

“Mark’s strong and multidisciplinary skill set complements the expertise clients have come to expect from our growing, Washington, D.C.-based IP team, which now includes nearly a dozen attorneys,” said Michael T. Renaud, Division Head for the Intellectual Property Section and a member of the firm’s Policy Committee. “Much of our growth can be attributed to the leading practitioners we have attracted who, like Mark, have the deep knowledge and experience to best protect and leverage companies’ IP assets.”

“Mark is a great addition to the growing IP team we have here in Washington and to the firm in general,” added Susan W. Berson, Managing Member of the firm’s Washington, D.C. office and also a member of Mintz Policy Committee. “Clients have come to depend on his scientific acumen along with his ability to help them achieve their business objectives through protecting and maximizing the value of their IP portfolios.”

Mr. Pino works with biopharma companies in all phases of their business, starting from a first patent application, building to the management of international patent portfolios, and extending to the optimization of a product’s life cycle. He prepares patent applications and responses to office actions, represents clients in reexamination and reissue proceedings, and drafts briefs and presents arguments to appeal boards. He also prosecutes patent term extension requests, seeks supplementary protection certificates, and advises on Orange Book listings submitted to the FDA.

His clients have included many of the most recognized pharmaceutical companies, for which he has managed patent portfolios representing drug candidates in various phases of development or clinical trials.

Mr. Pino regularly participates in contentious proceedings before the United States Patent and Trademark Office, patent oppositions before the European Patent Office, and patent annullity/infringement actions in foreign forums. He works closely with recognized experts to prepare declarations or offer testimony in various legal forums. Earlier in his career, he was involved in patent litigation, including ANDA litigations and Section 337 proceedings before the International Trade Commission.

In 2011, he was selected by the patent search and analytics website Patent Buddy as one of the Top Patent Prosecutors nationally in the pharmaceutical/biotechnology area.

Mr. Pino joins Mintz from Womble Carlyle. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Augsburg College, a Master of Science from California State University and a Juris Doctor from Georgetown University Law Center.