NE Seminar: “UF Innovate Tech Licensing – Connecting Innovators, Investors and Industry”

Details

Abstract

This presentation is an overview of the intellectual property process at UF, the types of intellectual property, how to protect them, and the critical elements for starting university technology startup companies.

Bios

Lenny Terry, Ph.D.

Assistant Director, Licensing Officer
UF Innovate

Dr. Lenny Terry earned his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Richmond in 1981 and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Emory University in 1986.  Dr. Terry has over 20 years of industrial chemical experience.  He has held multiple research positions with Milliken Specialty Chemical and Ciba Vision Corporation.  He worked as a Business Development Manager for Clariant Specialty Chemicals for ten years.  He is an inventor on 25 US patents related to the contact lens and personal care markets.

Dr. Terry joined the University of Florida’s Office of Technology Licensing in 2007 where he holds the position of Assistant Director.  His portfolio covers technologies that originate from chemistry, materials science, chemical, mechanical and electrical engineering and design construction and planning.  He has successfully negotiated over 350 licenses and has helped to start more than 40 companies.

 

Larry Villanueva, Ph.D.

Partner
Thomas-Horstemeyer Intellectual Property Attorneys

Dr. Larry Villanueva earned his BS in Chemistry from Wake Forest University in 1986 and his Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from the University of Florida in 1993.  After a postdoctoral fellowship at Emory University, Larry joined the law firm of Needle & Rosenberg, PC in Atlanta.  During his tenure at Needle & Rosenberg, Larry received his law degree at Georgia State University in 2001.  After Needle & Rosenberg, Larry was a partner at Gardner, Groff, Greenwald & Villanueva, PC for 14 years before joining Thomas Horstemeyer, LLP in 2019.
 
Larry is a partner and member of the chemical and biotechnological patent prosecution groups at Thomas Horstemeyer. Larry has over 27 years of experience preparing and prosecuting patent applications primarily in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnological fields.  Larry works with his clients to maximize the value of their intellectual property. Larry’s clients include large corporations, research universities and institutions, as well as medium-sized companies. With technical degrees in synthetic organic and organometallic chemistry, Larry is able to serve his clients in a wide range of technologies including pharmaceuticals, polymers and material chemistry, catalysts, and drug delivery devices. Larry works hand-in-hand with clients to align their intellectual property with their business goals in order to maximize the value of their intellectual property. In addition to patent prosecution, Larry counsels clients regarding IP due diligence as well as provide opinions relating to freedom to operate and validity/invalidity.