Kandace P. Watson

Ms. Watson has extensive experience representing companies, corporate boards and executives in intellectual property (IP) intensive industries, including biomedical, biopharmaceutical, biotechnology, chemical, healthcare, pharmaceutical and telemedicine.

Her expertise includes board governance and director and officer duties, complex commercial transactions, consortium agreements, corporate spin-offs and reorganizations, mergers and acquisitions, post-acquisition integration, IP licenses (including licensing patents from universities and research institutions domestically and abroad), CRADAs and other cooperative research, development and commercialization agreements, material transfer agreements (MTAs), joint ventures, public and private offerings, securities compliance, cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions, and supply, manufacturing and distribution agreements.

Corporate boards and management teams seek Ms. Watson's legal and strategic advice to structure, negotiate and close complex transactions, comply with related SEC and other federal and state regulations, and expand operations globally. She also advises corporate boards and management teams regarding corporate governance and compliance, strategic planning, and ongoing operations. Structuring joint ventures between majority and minority- owned business enterprises is among her specialties.

Experience

Independent Counsel to Special Committee of Board of Directors of NYSE listed company. Serve as lead special counsel to special committee of the board of directors with regard to strategic alternatives, up to and including a potential sale of the company. Advise outside directors with regard to fiduciary duties in connection with unsolicited bids and other corporate governance matters. Advise outside directors in connection with securities law compliance and SEC reporting.

Clinical services agreements for oncology-focused biotechnology company. Represent an oncology-focused biotechnology company in intercompany clinical services agreements (with its major shareholder), IP and contract due diligence and securities disclosure compliance with regard to its development of a therapeutic vaccine for the treatment of melanoma.

Advise bioscience company on acquisition of telemedicine platform. Represent bioscience company in its acquisition of a multi-state operated telemedicine platform and corporate restructuring.

Advise on research agreements with university professors. Advise Global Blood Therapeutics on research agreements with world renowned professors. 

Co-development and commercialization agreement for global pharmaceutical manufacturer. Represent pharmaceutical manufacturer in co-development and commercialization collaboration.

Represent global pharmaceutical and OTC manufacturer and supplier. Advise executive management with regard to multisource pharmaceutical and OTC contracts and general corporate and commercial matters.

Interim Assistant General Counsel for a leading technology company providing connected health and safety solutions. Provide day-to-day support on legal matters related to general operations, customer relations, licensing and other commercial agreements. Draft, negotiate and administer contracts on behalf of the company, including marketing, vendor, service, manufacturing, non-disclosure and software licenses.

Patent license agreements with universities. Represent a university spin-off in patent license agreement with international oil company covering two countries and the North Sea. Advise U.S. biotech company on patent license with German university.

License agreements for biomedical device company. Represent a U.S.-headquartered biomedical device company in international distribution and license agreements in the Middle East, Europe and Asia.

Acquisition transactions for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. Represent Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, in multiple acquisition transactions.

Post-acquisition integration for global pharmaceutical manufacturer. Represent a global pharmaceutical manufacturer in post-acquisition integration of legal entities involving U.S., Dutch, Swiss, Luxembourg, Mexican and other Latin American entities.

Media Mentions

Events

Memberships

Association of Corporate Counsel, Co-Chair San Diego ACC Technology and Licensing Practice Committee, 2016-2017

Innovation Advisory Board of UC San Diego: UCSD Innovation Advisory Board Member, 2013-2015

Women in Bio, Southern California, Member

2013 Leadership Council on Legal Diversity Fellow

American Arbitration Association/International Centre for Dispute Resolution, 2010 Higginbotham Fellow

Mentor & Former Ambassador, American Bar Association, Business Law Section

Member & Former Board of Directors, Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association,

Former Board of Directors, Hayzel B. Daniels Bar Association

Lifetime Member, National Bar Association

Digital Media