Robert Funsten's corporate, M&A and securities practice focuses on advising life sciences companies, including pharmaceutical, medical device and biotechnology firms. Rob is a co-chair of the firm’s life sciences practice.
Rob has extensive experience advising life sciences companies in licensing and development deals, strategic alliances and joint ventures, mergers and acquisitions, debt and equity financings and other business transactions. Rob is a seasoned life sciences industry professional having served as the head of legal, intellectual property and governmental affairs for medical device and pharmaceutical companies. Previously, Rob was the senior vice president, general counsel and secretary of Watson Pharmaceuticals, a multibillion-dollar specialty pharmaceutical company, and the vice president and general counsel of Chiron Vision Corporation (now a part of Bausch & Lomb), an ophthalmic medical device company.
Rob is frequently invited to speak on legal issues affecting life sciences companies. In 2006 and 2007, he was the co-chair of ACI’s Pharmaceutical Life Cycle Management Conference (West Coast Edition). He also has appeared on a nationally televised ABC News Special regarding the pharmaceutical industry and patent rights.
- American Bar Association (Business and Intellectual Property Law Sections)
- Licensing Executives Society International
- Admitted to practice in California
- Stanford Law School, Juris Doctor, 1986
- University of California, Los Angeles, Bachelor of Arts, 1982