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Barbara Kosacz is a partner in the Business department of Cooley's Palo Alto office, and the national head of the Firm's Life Sciences practice. Ms. Kosacz has 20 years of experience in counseling clients in the Life Sciences arena. Her clients range from early-stage start ups to larger public companies. Ms. Kosacz advises clients on a variety of legal and business issues. Her particular expertise is in complex strategic partnering transactions and mergers and acquisitions. She also represents companies and investors in private financings, strategic investments, spin-outs, and public offerings. Some of Ms. Kosacz' recent transactions include XOMA's novel collaboration with Servier for the development and commercialization of XOMA's anti-inflammatory IL-1β antibody drug candidate, Reata Pharmaceuticals groundbreaking ex-US collaboration with Abbott for development and commercialization of bardoxolone, Reata's oral, first-in-class antioxidant inflammation modulator, with upfront and near-term payments to Reata of $450 million and a minority equity investment by Abbott, and the sale of Gemin X Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately-held biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class cancer therapeutics, to Cephalon, Inc. for for $225 million upfront cash payment, and potential earn out payments of up to $300 million, as well as the sale of Ilypsa, Inc. to Amgen and subsequent spin out of Relypsa from Amgen.
Ms. Kosacz is known for working closely with her clients as an integral part of the management team in setting strategic direction, and structuring and negotiating mission-critical transactions. Her combination of business and legal experience covers the full spectrum of transactions and issues facing Life Sciences and other technology companies.
In 2001, Ms. Kosacz left the practice of law and served as the vice president, business development and general counsel of iScribe, Inc., a venture-backed healthcare IT start up, where she gained critical operating experience. Her company experience allows her to be especially attuned to the issues emerging company clients face.
Ms. Kosacz is a member of the BIO Emerging Companies' Section Governing Board, and has been a speaker at multiple life sciences-related conferences (Allicense; C21 Ventures; BioPartnering Europe; BioPartnering North America; BIO, BIO Europe; BIO CEO & Investor Conference; BioEquity Europe; BIO Annual Meetings; etc.), as well as guest lecturer at University of California, Berkeley (Boalt Hall), and Stanford University on biotechnology law, biotech business models, corporate partnering negotiations and deal structures, and bioethics. Ms. Kosacz is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2008-2011, listed as a leading attorney in the sixth annual Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business, listed in Northern California's Super Lawyers from 2004 to 2011, and was selected in as one of Lawdragon's New Stars, New Worlds, and in the Lawdragon 500 Leading Lawyers in America.
Ms. Kosacz received a JD from University of California, Berkeley, Boalt Hall School of Law. She received her BA from Stanford University.
Education- University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall)
JD, 1988 - Stanford University
BA Classics, 1980
Admissions
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