James R. Lisbakken
Jim Lisbakken focuses on business transactions, licensing, and joint ventures and corporations specifically in the life sciences and technology industries.
Jim Lisbakken has experience serving as outside general counsel to boards of directors of public and private companies, and has advised clients on numerous strategic alliances and technology agreements with Eli Lilly, GlaxoSmithKline, Serono, Johnson & Johnson, Abbott Laboratories and other international life sciences companies. Jim also has experience with financing transactions, acquisitions and spin-outs.
Education & Credentials
Education
- University of Oregon School of Law, J.D., 1975
- Oregon State University, B.S., 1967
Bar and Court Admissions
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Washington
Related Employment
- Genetic Systems Corporation, Seattle, WA, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Director, 1983-1985
- Westinghouse Nuclear Power Divisions, 1967-1970
Professional Recognition
Named Best Lawyers’ Seattle, "Lawyer of the Year" for Technology Law, 2015, 2017
Named Best Lawyers’ Seattle, "Lawyer of the Year" for Biotechnology Law, 2012, 2016
Listed in Super Lawyers Magazine, "Washington's Super Lawyers," 2005-2018
Listed in Best Lawyers in America: Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice; Corporate Law; Mergers and Acquisitions Law; Technology Law, 2007-2025
Impact
Professional Leadership
- American Bar Association, Business and Intellectual Property Sections
- Washington State Bar Association, Business and Intellectual Property Sections
- Licensing Executives Society, Former Member
- Northwest Biotechnology Series, Organizing Committee
- Washington Biotechnology and Biomedical Association, founding Board of Directors, Former Member
News
Professional Experience
Life Sciences
Corporate Collaborations and License Agreements
- Represented ZymoGenetics in its corporate collaboration and license with Bristol Myers with Bristol-Myers Squibb for the development and commercialization of interferon lambda under which it could receive milestone payments in excess of one billion dollars.
- Represented clients in numerous corporate collaborations and license agreements with such companies as Glaxo, Eli Lilly, Bristol-Myers Squibb, MedImmune, Teva, Serono, Novo Nordisk, Abbott, Bayer, Kissei and Kirin
Research Institutions License Agreements
Represented clients in license agreements or sponsored research agreements with research institutions such as University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, MIT, University of Texas Southwestern, and Mayo Clinic.
Joint Venture Agreements
Represented ICOS Corporation in its major joint venture and related agreements with Eli Lilly for the development and commercialization of the ICOS compound known as Cialis.
Outside General Counsel and Board Advisor
Acted as outside general counsel and board advisor to seven public life sciences companies.
Common Stock Offering
Represented ICOS Corporation, ZymoGenetics, Eden and other companies in their initial public offering and subsequent offerings of common stock.
Venture Equity, Debt, Sales of Royalty Streams
Represented ZymoGenetics and other clients in receiving financing in the form of venture equity, debt, sales of royalty streams and R&D partnerships.
Acquisitions
Represented Darwin Molecular, Ostex, Procyte, Alcide and others in connection with their acquisitions by larger companies.