Apart from their assigned mod courses, 1L students may only enroll in courses offered as 1L electives. A complete list of these courses can be found on the 1L Elective Listings page. 1L students must use the 1L class number listed on the course description when enrolling.
295.4E sec. 001 - IP Strategy and Due Diligence (Spring 2026)
Instructor: Ali Alemozafar (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
Instructor: Adam Cole (view instructor's teaching evaluations - degree students only)
Instructor: Ali Alemozafar
View all teaching evaluations for this course - degree students only
Units: 2
Grading Designation: Graded
Mode of Instruction: In-Person
Meeting:
M 6:25 PM - 8:15 PM
Location: Law 145
From January 12, 2026
To April 24, 2026
Course End: April 24, 2026
Class Number: 33573
Enrollment info:
Enrolled: 31
Waitlisted: 0
Enroll Limit: 31
As of: 02/18 04:15 PM
This seminar will expose students to various aspects of IP strategy considerations, including due diligence that arise when startup companies seek financing, are involved in merger or acquisition discussions with a third party, or are going public. Students will learn to ready and counsel a startup company for due diligence, draft and evaluate IP from a business perspective, evaluate third-party IP for freedom to operate, and learn about licensing strategies for third-party IP. Students will also engage in a cursory review of other key areas of diligence. This course will emphasize practical, real-world skill-building. It will be taught by Adam Cole and Ali Alemozafar, of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, with guest practitioners providing key perspectives.
Because of the technical nature of this course, it is highly recommended that students have completed a course on Intellectual Property Law or Patent Law, and/or have a STEM degree and/or relevant work experience. An advanced degree in science or engineering is not required.
Dr. Adam Cole is a Senior Associate in the San Francisco office of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati. Adam’s practice focuses on strategic intellectual property counseling in a variety of technical areas, including genomics, nucleic acid sequencing, molecular diagnostics, materials science, engineering, and other life science and biotechnological arts. He prosecutes patents both in the United States and internationally and conducts patent diligence, including the evaluation of patent portfolios and engaging in freedom-to-operate analyses.
Adam started with Wilson Sonsini in 2012 with no IP experience, rose to senior patent agent, and transitioned to associate in 2019 after participating in the firm’s law-school work-study program for patent agents. Prior to joining the firm, Adam was a postdoctoral fellow at Stanford University, where he studied novel nanomaterials as contrast agents in the early detection of cancer through the use of multi-modality molecular imaging. Adam’s doctoral work at the University of Michigan College of Pharmacy focused on improving the delivery of magnetically targeted, therapeutic iron oxide nanoparticles to brain tumors.
Dr. Ali R. Alemozafar is a partner at Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, where he leads the tools, diagnostics, and deep technology practice in the Patents and Innovations group. He counsels companies and venture capital firms on strategic intellectual property matters across a broad range of technical fields, including diagnostics, life science tools, genomics, bioinformatics, digital health, quantum computing, artificial intelligence, advanced materials, and engineering. Ali holds a Ph.D. from Stanford University and completed a postdoctoral fellowship at Harvard University, bringing deep scientific and engineering expertise to his legal practice.
Exam Notes: (None) Series of papers or assignments throughout the semester
(Subject to change by faculty member only through the first two weeks of instruction)
Course Category: Intellectual Property and Technology Law
This course is listed in the following sub-categories:
Practicums
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