Shawn P. Foley

Shawn focuses his practice primarily on advising clients in the pharmaceutical and life sciences industries, with emphasis on due diligence and freedom to operate. Shawn has been heavily involved with many cutting-edge technologies, such as therapeutic nucleic acids (mRNAs, RNA replicons, circular RNAs, and siRNA), lipid-based delivery systems (LNPs and liposomes), adoptive cell therapies such as CAR-Ts; therapeutic peptides and monoclonal antibodies.  Shawn also counsels his clients on developing and implementing global strategies for preparing and prosecuting patent applications in these same fields, as well as small molecule inhibitors, bifunctional degraders (PROTACs), and antibody-drug conjugates; cardiovascular drugs; personal care compositions; and fuel-based compositions, as well as diagnostic assays (e.g., detection of COVID-19, cell-free nucleic acid, and T cell activation).

Shawn represents entrepreneurs, startups, not-for-profit research institutions and universities, and large pharma alike, both from the branded and generic sides. He has extensive experience guiding clients through patent appeals, post-grant matters such as reissue, and European oppositions.

Work in cutting edge technologies has been a constant in Shawn’s career. Beginning with his experience as an examiner with the US Patent and Trademark Office, Shawn reviewed patent applications during the emergence of the biotechnology field and learned the “ins and outs” of the patent system. Shawn later moved in-house with an international pharma company as co-IP counsel at one of the company’s research institutes. In this role, he advised scientists and leadership, both on-site and abroad, regarding first generation genetically engineered plants and seeds. He also worked with IP colleagues in other locations throughout the company regarding its pharmaceutical research and development. Shawn then moved to a New Jersey-based IP firm, where he represented the firm’s very first clients in life sciences and biological drugs and was instrumental in developing its practice in this area.

Prior to joining ArentFox Schiff, Shawn was a partner and co-chair of the Life Sciences group at a mid-sized law firm in Boston, MA.