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Legal Counsel for Startups, Innovators, and Emerging Growth Companies

At Crowley Law LLC, we deliver proactive legal solutions tailored for life sciences innovators. Our team helps startups and emerging growth companies anticipate risks, protect intellectual property, navigate FDA and regulatory pathways, and secure investor-ready deals. From formation to funding to commercialization, we ensure your innovation is safeguarded and your company is positioned for long-term success.

Who We Serve

We partner with founders, scientists, and executives in:

  • Biotechnology: platforms and therapeutics including gene/cell therapy, synthetic biology, rare diseases, and ML‑enabled discovery
  • Pharmaceuticals: small molecules, biologics, and advanced drug delivery
  • Medical Devices: Class I–III devices, SaMD/AI, wearables, and digital therapeutics
  • Diagnostics: IVDs, LDTs, companion diagnostics, and genomics
  • Personal Care Products: cosmeceuticals and advanced formulations

Legal Services for Your Science

Our tailored legal solutions for life sciences are designed to anticipate challenges, accelerate key milestones, and ensure full compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

We partner with biotech, medtech, and diagnostics teams to protect intellectual property, navigate FDA requirements, and secure the agreements and financings that drive long-term growth. Our legal solutions include:

 

What We Offer

  • Company Formation & Structuring
     We help you choose the right entity, jurisdiction, and governance documents (bylaws, charters), set up founder equity and operating agreements to limit future risk and establish clarity.

 

  • Intellectual Property Strategy & Protection
    Your IP is central. We advise on patent filings, protecting trade secrets, securing IP assignments, and licensing with universities and research institutions.

     

  • Licensing Agreements & Collaborations
    We negotiate sponsored research agreements, tech transfers, joint development agreements, and university collaboration/licensing deals.

     

  • Fundraising & Financial Strategy
     Assistance is provided from early stage (seed / pre-seed) to more mature financings. We guide you through term sheets, equity/convertible investments, investor rights, and help prepare for capital raise strategy.

     

  • Regulatory & Compliance Advisory
     We advise on FDA pathways and regulatory risk, support compliance obligations, help with business formation compliance (state & federal), and monitor ongoing legal risks.

     

  • Contracts, Agreements & Operational Legal Support
     Drafting and negotiation of agreements (NDAs, vendor/supply/manufacturing, consultant contracts), contract review and risk allocation in operational relationships.

     

  • M&A, Exits & Transactional Work
    Supporting you during buy-side/sell-side diligence, negotiating asset/IP transfers, structuring contingent payouts, earn-outs, and post-transaction transitions.

     

  • Litigation & Dispute Resolution
    We counsel on commercial disputes, IP litigation, breach of contracts and business transactions when they arise, with focus on protecting your interests and minimizing legal exposure.  
Lawyer sitting at the desk with legal papers.

Our Process

Our proven process is built around a proactive risk management strategy and comprehensive risk mitigation plan that guide every stage of your company’s growth. We don’t just react to legal issues — we anticipate them, helping you stay focused on innovation while we manage the legal and regulatory complexities.

From early discovery to ongoing counsel, every step is designed to safeguard your intellectual property, ensure compliance, and support your milestones.

  • Discovery: Understand your science, roadmap, and regulatory pathway. Conduct a full risk identification and clinical trial assessment.

  • Risk Mapping: Identify IP gaps, compliance obligations, and deal dependencies, with risk management processes tailored to your venture.

  • Strategy & Priorities: Sequence actions to protect value and enable milestones, integrating a risk mitigation process for early stages and ongoing monitoring.

  • Execution: Draft, negotiate, and close agreements. Provide project management to ensure timelines are met and risks are tracked.

  • Ongoing Counsel: Continuous support to monitor risks, update boards, and ensure compliance at every stage.

Representative Matters

I’ve been working with Phil for a very long time; it’s been a great experience working with him. He restructured the company altogether from the get-go. He’s astounding. He comes at law from a very detailed perspective and a very business-oriented perspective I hadn’t encountered before. [A] focus on taxes and exit strategies is an obvious thing for a startup company to think through, but it was not obvious to me that we would be thinking about these things this early on. He’s just a really good attorney.
Chris Marshall CEO of Research Stage Biotech Company
Phil brings decades of big company executive experience combined with an entrepreneurial ability to think outside the box.
John PennettEntrepreneur, Technology Innovator and Investor, Professional Venture Capitalist
Phil responded to me quickly, identifying a variety of risk scenarios to consider and he turned over his recommended red-lined contract in a matter of hours. Ever since then, I rely on him as a consummate legal resource and trusted advisor.
Leigh Ann SoltysiakSilverleaf Consulting, Commercialization Strategy Consultant, Consumer Tech & Health Wellness
Phil Crowley has been extremely helpful in providing quick and thoughtful counsel regarding our business needs. Highly recommend his services.
Tor AldenFormer CEO & Principal of a High-Technology Design Engineering Firm
Phil has been a trusted advisor to our company as we have expanded into the US market. His extensive legal and business experience has proven invaluable to the company. A great sounding board for practical, strategic advice, Phil is always one of the first people we turn to.
Alex KellyPresident and Co-Founder of Ireland-based software-as-a-service company
Phil helped me assess and modify a complex Master Services Agreement from a client. I found Phil to be very thorough and pragmatic, and the MSA was agreed to quickly.
Lori LonczakPresident, Strategic Marketing, Bio & Health Tech Products

Our representative matters highlight the depth of experience and proven results we bring to life sciences clients. Over the years, our team has successfully guided biotech, medtech, and diagnostics companies through high-value transactions, strategic negotiations, and complex licensing agreements.

These examples demonstrate not only our legal expertise, but also our ability to understand the science, anticipate regulatory challenges, and deliver outcomes that protect innovation and drive growth:

  • Represented an innovative diagnostics company in a seven-figure follow-on equity financing.
  • Represented a biotech company with patented technology in negotiations with a major biopharma company.
  • Represented a biotech company in the eight-figure sale of a patent estate with complex contingent payout features.
  • Represented a biotechnology company in negotiating multiple licenses with the National Institutes of Health and several major research universities.
  • Represented consultants to the life sciences industry in contracts with emerging medical products companies.

Common Founder Questions

Founders in the life sciences space face a unique mix of scientific, regulatory, and business challenges. From protecting breakthrough discoveries to navigating early financing rounds, the right legal foundation is critical for long-term success. Here are some of the most common questions we help founders answer every day:

  • How do we protect our IP while collaborating with academic labs?
  • What’s the most capital-efficient regulatory path for our device or diagnostic?
  • Which license terms (field, territory, milestones, diligence) matter most?
  • What’s the best way to set up our seed round to support future fundraising?
  • What operational contracts do we need before clinical work?

For Universities & Research Hospitals

Universities and research hospitals play a pivotal role in translating discoveries from the lab to the market. Clear, well-structured agreements are essential to foster collaboration, protect intellectual property, and align incentives between institutions, researchers, and commercial partners. Our team supports institutions with:

  • Tech transfer support: Option agreements, exclusive/non-exclusive licenses.
  • Sponsored research and MTAs: Clear IP ownership, publications, and diligence.
  • Conflict management: Consulting, equity, and founder roles aligned with policies.

 

Life sciences legal consultation with attorneys reviewing documents with startup founders in office

Why Choose Us

We understand that life sciences startups face unique legal, regulatory, and commercial challenges. At Crowley Law LLC, we provide proactive legal counsel that helps you anticipate risks, protect your intellectual property, navigate regulatory pathways, and close investor-ready deals. Our goal is to position your company for sustainable growth and long-term success.

Here’s why founders and executives choose to work with us:

  • Deep experience in life sciences and biotech
    Our founder, Phillip P. Crowley, leads a team with decades of expertise advising startups and established companies on intellectual property, venture financings, and strategic deals. We understand the science, the markets, and the regulatory environment your company operates in.
  • Comprehensive legal support at every stage
    From company formation and governance to fundraising, licensing, regulatory compliance, and M&A, we provide end-to-end guidance. We help you anticipate risks, structure agreements, and execute transactions efficiently.
  • Proven track record of high-value outcomes
    We’ve guided companies through seven-figure equity financings, eight-figure patent estate sales, and multiple licensing deals with leading universities. Our results reflect a commitment to reducing risk while enabling growth.
  • Risk-focused, founder-first approach
    We tailor our counsel to your business, helping you mitigate risk, navigate complex regulatory pathways, and make informed decisions. We act as your strategic partner, not just your lawyers.
  • Access to specialized networks
    Beyond our in-house expertise, we collaborate with patent attorneys, regulatory consultants, and technical specialists to ensure you have the right support for every aspect of your venture.
  • Trusted for complex disputes and transactions
     We handle complex business and commercial litigation when it arises, focusing on protecting your interests and finding solutions that preserve value.

 

Learn how Crowley Law LLC can provide solutions for life sciences and proactive legal counsel at every stage of your venture.

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