Nan Wu

Wu is a patent prosecution attorney in the life sciences sector, but that work doesn't happen in a vacuum. She often does more than straightforward patent work for some of her longtime clients, including Union City-based medical device company Abaxis. As that relationship has deepened, the company has added to her duties.

"Because I have litigation and transactional experience, I oftentimes almost act as an in-house general counsel to help them pull things together," Wu said. "I put myself in the middle of their business situation and therefore become more of an advising general rather than just doing IP work."

Wu joined Cooley in 2006 and brought many major longtime clients with her. Previously, she was a partner with Morgan, Lewis & Bockius LLP in San Francisco. She said she has worked with Abaxis for more than 10 years, and over time she and her team at Cooley have received more and more of the company's legal work. In many cases, Wu acts as a go-between for Cooley attorneys and Abaxis on non-IP issues surrounding employment law and litigation, ensuring that the company's needs are fully met.

"Initially, I was just doing patent work. I was really trying to put the patent stuff in the business context, so I learned a lot about their business, and I really became a trusted adviser," Wu said. "They gradually came to me for everything. I was putting together teams of lawyers ... It doesn't matter what team of lawyers I put on their case, I always stay on to try and make sure they understand what Abaxis is about."

Wu works for other companies, too. A 17-year veteran of intellectual property law, she works with companies in life sciences and technology that involve small molecules, biologics, vaccines, diagnostics and medical devices, among others. Other notable clients include Cypress BioSciences, Senomyx and Cylene Pharmaceuticals.

"I do what I've been doing for the past 17 years - helping clients," Wu said. "I really learn a company's business."

- DAVID MCAFEE

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