Khin’s client experience is just as diverse as his technical expertise: he has built and managed complex patent portfolios in support of a variety of different sizes and types of business ventures. He is always ready and eager to learn the ins and outs of a new technology and the specific business strategy to best guide the patent strategy. With more than 15 years of experience in life sciences patent law, Khin has extensive knowledge of how to build an effective patent strategy that best suits each client’s needs.

“I have been directly involved in building patent portfolios to fit the needs of clients with a range of needs—from startups with less than 5 members to academic institutions (on both the licensee and licensor side) to multinational, publicly-traded mega-cap biotechnology companies—and with different or overlapping aims, including protecting initial discoveries, protecting drugs in late stage clinical trials, and protecting market-leading commercialized products. I also recognize needs change as companies mature, and how their IP can be transformed from simple invention disclosures into complex portfolios. My experience has made it possible for me to advise clients so they can avoid many of the common pitfalls that may plague a patent portfolio, either new or mature.”

Khin’s experience also includes supporting IP due diligence, freedom-to-operate searches and analyses, invalidity and patentability opinions, and post-grant prosecution, including ex-parte reexamination and reissue.  

“I’ve been a hands-on, client-facing team member working with a client to acquire a small early-stage startup, and to expand the acquired patent portfolio to protect what would become the client’s next flagship instrument. I was a part of the entire process.  I helped with the due diligence of the IP portfolio of the startup through the acquisition process, the prosecution of patents worldwide for major components of the new instrument which incorporated the startup’s technology, and freedom to operate analyses in connection with the final commercially released instrument. This experience underscored for me not only the value of IP assets, it was also an excellent example of the power and value of synergy between the BFF team and the client’s in-house team.”

Khin takes the most pride in understanding the needs of his clients and facing each challenge with the care of someone personally invested.  With client communication a key component of his practice, Khin firmly believes in timeliness when responding to questions, being thoughtful in understanding every problem, and patience in explaining a formulated strategy for moving forward.

“A main objective is service to our clients, and communication is the most important component of any client relationship.  Whenever I’m a client in some customer service experience—whether it be at a fast food restaurant or as a hotel guest—I think about the things that make me feel heard: timeliness in responding to my questions, thoughtfulness in understanding the problem, and patience in explaining available solutions or even when there is no solution. I use the lessons from my personal experiences in the service of my clients.” 

Overall, of all the personal rewards Khin finds in patent law and servicing clients, a love of science and exploiting its power for good is at the top of the list.

“Clients that just love the science they are doing and trying to solve serious problems for others (e.g., through medicine) make working on their IP portfolios so very, very gratifying.”