Jeffrey Morton, Ph.D.
Partner | Co-Chair - Biotechnology Practice Group
Orange CountySan FranciscoPalo Alto
Biography
Jeffrey Morton, Ph.D is a partner at Haynes Boone and Co-Chair of the firm’s Biotechnology Practice Group. Based in San Diego, he advises clients across California, nationally and internationally on structuring and leveraging intellectual property (IP) assets.
With a Ph.D. in immunology and technical expertise in immunological therapies, genomics, gene editing, and agricultural technologies, Jeff acts as a strategic advisor to investment funds, international counsel, and corporate leaders. His practice focuses on three core areas:
- Investors, VC & Strategic Acquirers. Conducting rigorous due diligence, freedom-to-operate analyses, and asset evaluations to protect capital during investments, mergers, and acquisitions.
- Foreign Counsel Partnership. Serving as a U.S. partner for international law firms requiring comprehensive IP protection, complex USPTO prosecution, and cross-border asset management.
- Corporate Transactions & Asset Management. Advising industry leaders on licensing agreements, technology transactions, and ongoing IP portfolio strategy from development through commercialization.
Jeff is the former Chair of the Intellectual Property Law Section for the San Diego County Bar Association. He is recognized in Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., IAM Patent 1000, IAM Media, and IAM Strategy 300, IAM Media.
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- Licensing Executives Society, USA and Canada
- San Diego County Bar Association
- University of Victoria Alumni Association, Southern California Branch Contact
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- Best Lawyers in America, Woodward/White, Inc., 2023-2024
- SD 500 Most Influential People in San Diego, San Diego Business Journal, 2021-2023
- Leader of Influence in Law, San Diego Business Journal, 2022-2023
- Leader of Influence in Life Sciences, San Diego Business Journal, 2023
- WIPR Intellectual Property Leaders, Newton Media, Ltd., 2023-2024
- IAM Strategy 300 Global Leaders, 2022-2023, 2025-2026
- IAM Patent 1000, 2022-2025
- IAM Strategy 300: World-Leading IP Strategist, Legal-Technology Transfer, 2021-2023, 2025
- California Trademark Leader, World Intellectual Property Review, 2022
- Top Attorneys, San Diego Metro Magazine, 2022
- Arizona Patent Leader, World Intellectual Property Review, 2022
- Leaders in Law Finalist, San Diego Business Journal, 2020-2021
- Men of Influence Winner, San Diego Metro Magazine, 2021
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- "Federal Circuit Provides Guidance on Patentability of Recombinant Host Cells," co-author, Haynes Boone Client Alert, March 4, 2026.
- “Strategies to Consider with USPTO's New Fast-Track Examination Pilot Program,” co-author, Haynes Boone Client Alert, January 7, 2026.
- “Life Sciences Due Diligence and the Importance of Recent Prosecution Timing Changes at the USPTO,” author, Westlaw Today, September 29, 2025.
- “Fifth Annual Networking Roundtable: How to Get Into Intellectual Property Practice with any Background,” moderator, San Diego County Bar Association, San Diego, September 25, 2023.
- “The Building Blocks of a Successful Biotech Startup,” co-presenter, The Salk Institute, September 12, 2023.
- “Clarifying the Interplay of Patent Term Adjustment and Obviousness-Type Double Patenting: In Re Cellect,” co-author, September 5, 2023.
- “Life Sciences patent practice: A comparison between Brazil and the United States,” co-author, The Life Sciences Lawyer, Issue 9, CTC Legal Media, August 2023.
- Speaker. “General Legal Considerations for Binational Operations of your Life Sciences Business,” Binational Life Sciences Roundtable, San Diego, CA, July 14, 2023.
- Co-author. “Why new FTO techniques are critical in the mRNA patent litigation landscape,” IAM, June 2, 2023.
- Co-author. “5 Takeaways from the U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Amgen v. Sanofi,” May 23, 2023.
- Speaker. “IP Rights Are A Key Economic Asset: Is Your IP Strategy Ready & Why It Matters,” Biocom California “Let’s Talk About” event, San Diego, CA, May 9, 2023.
- Co-author. “Key Considerations When Licensing Intellectual Property,” April 25, 2023.
- Co-Presenter. “Succcess Stories of Business Start-ups in biotech with Strategic IP Approaches,” AIChE National Capital Section, College Park, MD, April 12, 2023.
- Panelist. “Is Your Life Sciences Patent Enabled? The U.S. Supreme Court is Considering that Question,” Procopio Perspectives podcast, March 29, 2023. Transcript.
- Co-presenter. “Practically Preparing for and Surviving Your Deal,” 2023 Arizona BioPreneur Conference, Phoenix, AZ, March 24, 2023.
- Panelist. “Negotiating IP Rights in Industry Sponsored Research Agreements,” Strafford webinar, March 16, 2023.
- Co-presenter. “Is Your Life Sciences Patent Enabled?” webinar, March 14, 2023.
- Moderator. “Patent Practice Foreign Filing and Prosecution Tips,” San Diego County Bar Association, December 15, 2022.
- Author. “New USPTO Pilot Program Offers Opportunities for Cancer/Oncology Companies,” December 13, 2022.
- Co-author. “Pharma-Related Patent Enablement Reaches the Highest Court,” November 10, 2022.
- Co-author. “Tacking in Headwinds: Integrating AI and Machine Learning in Life Sciences,” October 21, 2022.
- Co-author. “Expedited Examination Programs at the USPTO: What You Need to Know to Secure Your Patent Promptly,” August 16, 2022.
- Co-author. “USPTO Introduces Climate Change Mitigation Pilot Program,” June 30, 2022.
- Panelist. “Expanding the OC Role with AI Tools: Applying technology to be a strategic advisorto clients and colleagues,” World Intellectual Property Review Insights webinar, June 28, 2022.
- Co-author. “What the PTAB’s CRISPR-Cas9 Decision for Broad Institute Means for Gene Editing Patent Landscape,” IP Watchdog, May 20, 2022.
- “Patenting Ranges: The Importance of Effective Disclosure in Light of the Indivior Decision,” CU Innovations, University of Colorado, April 11, 2022.
- Co-Author. “Pharma Patents: New Insights To Satisfy Written Description For Claimed Ranges,”
- Outsourced Pharma, April 11, 2022.
- “International Patent Law and Start-Up Enterprises,” UC Davis School of Law, April 5, 2022.
- “Russia Permits Patent Misappropriation From Unfriendly Countries,” Snell & Wilmer Global Connection Newsletter, March 15, 2022.
- Guest Blogger. “The Importance of Freedom To Operate,” Hans & Company Blog, February 16, 2022. Episode Host. “mRNA Vaccines and the Importance of Freedom To Operate (FTO),” CalCurrent Podcast, February 10, 2022.
- Co-Author. “Keeping Valuable IP When a Key Employee Jumps to a Competitor,” Today’s General Counsel, January 24, 2022.
- Co-Author. “Juno v. Kite Case Implications For Functionally Claimed Biological Compositions,” BioProcess Online, November 12, 2021.
- Co-Author. “Collaboration Agreements: Critical Issues and Common Pitfalls,” BioProcess International, October 28, 2021.
- Co-Author. “Setting a New Standard,” Intellectual Property Magazine, October 1, 2021.
- Co-Author. “Presenting Working & Prophetic Examples in Patent Applications,” Co-Author, Bloomberg Law, September 8, 2021.
- Episode Host. “Five Common U.S. Patent Applications,” CalCurrent Podcast, July 22, 2021.
- “International IP Strategy for Startups,” SBDC @ University of California, Irvine Beall Applied Innovation Incubator, July 13, 2021.
- “USPTO Update: Distinguishing Between Prophetic and Working Examples,” Snell & Wilmer Legal Alert, July 2, 2021.
- Co-Author. “Home of the Free, Land of the Waive? Patent Waivers in the Time of COVID-19,” Snell & Wilmer Global Connection Newsletter, June 23, 2021.
- “Trends Related to Licensing Intellectual Property out of University and Research Institutions,” Intellectual Property Law Section of the San Diego County Bar Association, June 16, 2021.
- Co-Presenter. “IP Issues in the Time of COVID-19,” Snell & Wilmer Virtual CLE Series, June 15, 2021. Episode Co-Host. “CalCurrent’s 50th Episode!” CalCurrent Podcast, June 3, 2021.
- Co-Author. “Challenges of ‘Enabling’ Antibody Claims with Functional Limitations,” Bloomberg Law, April 20, 2021.
- “Life Science Patent Law: International Perspectives for Start-Up Enterprises,” UC Davis School of Law, April 12, 2021.
- Co-Presenter. “Transactional Legal Practice: Views from In-House and Private Practice,” Grand Canyon University’s Honors College Seminar Series, March 30, 2021.
- Episode Host. “Will the Supreme Court’s Decision in Minerva Surgical v. Hologic Change U.S. Patent Law?” CalCurrent Podcast, March 18, 2021.
- “Roundtable: How to Get Into Intellectual Property Practice with Any Background,” Intellectual Property Law Section of the San Diego County Bar Association, March 4, 2021.
- Co-Author. “The Importance of Minerva Surgical v Hologic,” Life Sciences Intellectual Property Review, February 2, 2021.
- Co-Author. “Intellectual Property Protection in the Transportation Industry,” The Transportation Lawyer: TLA Feature Articles and Case Notes, December 2020.
- Episode Host. “Four Branding & Trademark Tips for Business Owners,” CalCurrent Podcast, December 23, 2020.
- Episode Host. “Four Branding & Trademark Pitfalls for Business Owners,” CalCurrent Podcast, December 03, 2020.
- Co-Author. “Compulsory Patent Licensing in the Time of COVID-19: Views from the United States, Canada, and Europe,” American Bar Association Landslide Magazine, November/ December 2020.
- Presenter, “Nuts and Bolts of Patent Law,” Arizona State Bar Intellectual Property Section, November 19, 2020.
- Episode Host. “Bayh-Dole Act Casting a Shadow Over New COVID-19 Medical Developments,” CalCurrent Podcast, November 05, 2020.
- Co-Presenter. “International IP Strategies for Protecting Emerging Technologies in the Life Sciences Sector,” Licensing Executives Society (LES) 2020 Annual Meeting, October 19, 2020.
- Co-Presenter. “Patent Fundamentals, Drafting & Prosecution,” USC Stevens Center for Innovation, September 16, 2020.
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Education
- Certificate, Artificial Intelligence Strategy, Cornell University, 2023
- Certificate, Leadership and Management, University of Pennsylvania Wharton School, 2019
- J.D., University of British Columbia Faculty of Law, 2007, Associate Editor, UBC Law Review
- Ph.D., Immunology, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, 2004
- B.Sc., Biology and English, University of Victoria, 1998, with distinction
Admissions
- California
- Arizona
- British Columbia
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Canadian Intellectual Property Office
News/Insights
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