Jones Walker LLP

The biotechnology industry is expected to become one of the more dominant industries of the 21st century. A number of regions in the country have spawned biotechnology corridors enticing companies from around the world. Dozens of new companies and expansion of existing companies are blossoming around these efforts.

Jones Walker has assembled an elite team of attorneys that focuses on the legal needs and challenges of the biotech and life sciences industry. As one of the leading law firms in the Gulf south, our firm is uniquely positioned with highly qualified and experienced attorneys to service the legal needs of the biotech and life sciences community. In addition to their law degrees, several members of the firm's Intellectual Property Practice possess degrees in biotech and engineering. As a key player in the business community for more than 70 years, we have been at the genesis of the biotech boom, assisting local biotech companies toward ultimate success.

Our firm is committed to the support and growth of the biotech and life sciences industries and guiding companies toward profitable commercialization of their products and devices. Whether your needs relate to intellectual property procurement and enforcement, patent portfolio management, licensing, regulatory compliance, import-export issues, trade regulation, products liability, patent and commercial litigation, public or private equity and debt financing, venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, tax and incentive programs or other transactional matters, we have a combined team of attorneys across each of these disciplines. The attorneys in our Biotechnology & Life Sciences practice group have legal skills and coupled with an understanding of the this industry, provide comprehensive legal services, thoughtful business counseling and creative strategic thinking. We understand how the multidisciplinary aspects of the law and science fit together and deliver our services efficiently.

Our attorneys have assisted in the development of the BioInnovation Center in New Orleans, the InterTech Science Park in Shreveport, LA, the Pennington Biomedical Research Center in Baton Rouge, LA, and a variety of incubator programs such as The Idea Village in New Orleans and the Louisiana Emerging Technology Center.

Of particular benefit to biotech and life sciences companies is the firm's extensive experience working with tax incentive programs such as:

• Angel Investor Tax Credit
• Renewal Community Tax Credit
• Research & Development Tax Credit
• Tax Increment Financing
• Technology Commercialization Credits
• Venture Fund Development Programs

Whether planning your start-up or your IPO, our Biotech & Life Sciences Team can assist you at each step along the continuum of development.

Diversity Mission Statement

Jones Walker LLP strives to encourage, foster and increase diversity across the firm. To this end, the Diversity Committee has adopted the goal of fostering a work environment that welcomes different perspectives, backgrounds and life experiences and ensures that an individual’s professional growth, experience or advancement is not limited because of gender, race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, age, disability or other similar factor.

Purposes of the Diversity Committee

• To increase awareness of the importance of diversity within the firm and of the means by which diversity enriches the firm;
• To encourage all lawyers and staff members to develop mutual respect and appreciation for different perspectives and backgrounds; and
• To develop and implement strategies to assist the firm in recruiting, retaining and advancing staff and lawyers from diverse backgrounds.
• Jones Walker values all employees who contribute positively to the firm’s practice, the firm’s environment, and the greater community we serve.

In 2009, Jones Walker was named to MultiCultural Law Magazine’s list of "Top 100 Law Firms for Women," part of a series of listings of the top 100 law firms for diversity. The listings are compiled based on diversity statistics derived from annual surveys that the publication sends to law firms with more than 100 attorneys.