About Stephen

Stephen counsels biotechnology companies in their most critical strategic transactions, with a focus on complex intellectual property collaborations, licenses, acquisitions and cross-border partnerships.

In structuring and negotiating these matters for his clients, Stephen leverages his graduate scientific training as a molecular biologist and his experience leading monoclonal antibody research and development programs to translate scientific complexity into practical, business-focused deal terms.

Stephen has significant experience in university-industry transactions developed during his service as industry contracts manager at the University of California, San Francisco, for the Diabetes Center and the Immune Tolerance Network. In that role, he managed industry relationships between academic researchers in those departments and companies in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and digital health, gaining insight into how academic discovery moves into commercial application.

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Passions

Supporting underrepresented individuals in gaining access to higher education

Admissions and credentials

California

Rankings and accolades

Legal Media Group (LMG) Life Sciences Awards: Impact Deal of the Year – United States, for representation of Akeso in its collaboration and license with Summit Therapeutics valued at $5 billion (2023)

Chambers USA: California Life Sciences: Corporate/Commercial (2022 – 2025)

Managing IP’s IP Stars: California Transactions Star (2025)

Latino Leaders Magazine: Top Latino Lawyer (2022) and Top Latino Lawyers to Keep on Watch list (2020)

LMG Life Sciences: Rising Star in Financial & Corporate (2020)

Silicon Valley Business Journal: 40 Under 40 list (2016)

National Black Lawyers: Top 100 Lawyers (2015)

Memberships and affiliations

For People of Color (demystifying the law school application process for first-generation and underrepresented applicants), board member

Biopharma Leaders of Color (supporting the career advancement of underrepresented individuals in the biopharma industry), board member

University of California, Davis, Martin Luther King Jr. School of Law, adjunct professor

Stephen has demonstrated exceptional abilities on each key dimension of the matter. A true professional and a pleasure to work with.

Chambers USA, 2025

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