Kutak Rock is pleased to announce that Dr. Joe Zahner, a life sciences and biotechnology patent attorney, has rejoined its Intellectual Property practice group and will be resident in the firm’s Kansas City office.

Previously, Dr. Zahner worked in-house for Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, and directed Saint Louis University’s licensing office. Before working as an intellectual property professional, Dr. Zahner was an assistant professor at Saint Louis University, teaching molecular and developmental biology, and conducting research on cell polarity and stem cell biology. His technical expertise relates to plant and animal genetics, genomics, embryology, developmental biology, cell biology, biochemistry, nanotechnology and biotechnology.

Dr. Zahner’s law practice focuses on technology transfer and commercialization, global patent procurement, intellectual property licensing, portfolio development and due diligence, third-party actions, and freedom-to-operate, infringement/non-infringement, design-around and validity/invalidity opinion work.

Dr. Zahner earned his Ph.D. from The John Hopkins University and his J.D. from Seton Hall University School of Law. He is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and admitted to practice in Missouri and New Jersey.