Hugh Wellons focuses his practice on biotechnology and financial law, including corporate law, securities law (including board compliance matters), and mergers and acquisitions. As an advisor to various software and Biopharma companies, he has formed and organized companies; aided in the drafting of business plans; negotiated and drafted IP licenses from universities, non-profits and private groups, as well as licenses and cross licenses with third parties; prepared securities disclosure documents and IPO's, joint venture agreements, leases, supply agreements, and investment documents. Hugh is former chair of the ABA Biotechnology Committee and is current joint chair of the Life Sciences division of the ABA's Science and Technology Section and is senior editor and an author of the ABA book "Biotechnology and the Law: A Primer." Mr. Wellons also was selected for "The Best Lawyers in American" for Biotechnology Law from 2007-present. Robert F. Copple consults with major corporations on complex litigation, intellectual property, crisis management, government relations, and regulatory matters. He is also a trained mediator specializing in technology and environmental disputes. He practiced as a litigator with major law firms in Denver and Phoenix, and was senior litigation counsel for Motorola. While at Motorola, he was the lead attorney for all environmental litigation, all litigation for the Semiconductor Sector, and the majority of the company's intellectual property litigation. In addition, he reorganized and managed the company's Superfund liability, developed risk-management systems for the Iridium Satellite Launch Program, led the eCommerce law team, coordinated all alternative dispute resolution, and developed decision Science methods for litigation evaluation and strategy analysis. Mr. Copple has written and spoken extensively on litigation practice, communications law, economics, environmental, intellectual property, and alternative dispute resolution topics. In addition, he has lectured and taught graduate and law school coursed at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Arizona State University, the University of Nebraska, and the University of Houston Law Center. He has provided training seminars for the CPR International Institute for Conflict Prevention and Resolution and the American Arbitration Association. Mr. Copple received his undergraduate, masters, and law degrees from the University of Nebraska, where he was the executive editor of the Nebraska Law Review, and his Ph.D. in mass communications from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He also clerked for a state Supreme Court chief justice and for a federal district judge. Prior to his legal career, Mr. Copple was a working journalist on several newspapers and a legislative aid in the U.S. Congress and the Nebraska Unicameral Legislature. 6/07 Bill Wofford is a partner and member of the Executive Committee of Hutchison Law Group, a Raleigh-based law firm focused on serving the business and intellectual property needs of life sciences and technology companies. Bill assists early-stage and established companies acquire intellectual property, raise capital, collaborate with strategic partners and engage in mergers and acquisitions. Bill, who was recognized in The Best Lawyers in America 2007 for expertise in the area of biotechnology law, is actively involved with the American Bar Association's Biotechnology Committee, the Licensing Executives Society, Southeast BIO, the Council for Entrepreneurial Development and other organizations. He regularly coaches start-up companies on business formation and capital-raising and works with entrepreneurs and university technology transfer professionals to commercialize technology. He often writes and speaks on topics relevant to life sciences companies, including serving as an author and editor of Biotechnology and the Law: A Primer, a 2007 publication of the American Bar Association. Bill serves on the Board of Directors of Kramden Institute which refurbishes computers for donation to underserved families and schools and the American Lung Association of North Carolina. Bill is a graduate of the University of Virginia (B.A. and J.D.). 5/07
