IP Talk Episode 57: Unexpected Paths to IP Law with Kevin MacDonald

In some of our previous episodes, we’ve explored the interesting paths that Wolf Greenfield attorneys have taken as they eventually made their way to IP law. One thing that separates Wolf Greenfield from other firms is the depth of real-world experience many of its attorneys possess. In fact, over half of the professionals at Wolf Greenfield worked in science and technology industries prior to entering law.

Kevin MacDonald, a Shareholder in Wolf Greenfield’s Biotechnology Practice, is an ideal example. After earning a degree in biology at Boston College, Kevin went to England to get his Master’s in Molecular Biology and then back to North America for his PhD at McGill University’s Institute of Parasitology in Montreal. Before his graduate studies and eventually going to law school, Kevin worked as a Life Science and Healthcare Industry Analyst at the British Consulate-General in Boston.

In this episode of IP Talk with Wolf Greenfield, Kevin discusses his path from the world of science to IP law and his current work assisting clients with IP strategy, portfolio management, and patent prosecution and counseling.

Here are a few highlights from the conversation:

• 01:18 - Kevin’s background in biology

• 02:33 - How Kevin became interested in parasitology

• 03:10 - Serving as an analyst at the British Consulate-General

• 04:21 - Making the switch to law

• 05:38 - The challenges of transitioning from science to a legal career

• 06:21 - Kevin’s current practice at Wolf Greenfield

• 07:20 - Some of the most exciting things happening in biopharma today

• 08:18 - Kevin’s efforts as a board member of the British American Business Council of New England