MichBio, the Michigan Biosciences Industry Association, announces a new partnership with the law firm of Foley Hoag to provide legal services for early stage companies.

Through this partnership, emerging bioscience companies that are MichBio members will receive crucial legal services from Foley Hoag attorneys to help their businesses form and thrive while mitigating risk. Companies can take advantage of free consultations and scheduled open office hours, as well as alternative fee arrangements for longer-ranging representation.

“We’re excited to offer our bioscience startups the expert legal support from Foley Hoag, which has had a longstanding and distinguished presence in the life sciences and healthcare fields,” said Stephen Rapundalo, PhD, President and CEO of MichBio. “Working together with Foley Hoag, our emerging company members can take advantage of this terrific benefit to their membership and help position themselves correctly on the path to commercial success with sound and experience legal advice.”

Foley Hoag will act as MichBio’s preferred legal counsel, and its service offerings will include startup entity formation, contract drafting and negotiation (such as customer contracts, vendor agreements and confidentiality agreements), website terms and conditions, website privacy policy, corporate governance, corporate structure, tax issues, waivers, employment/human resource legal issues and IP services including patents and trademarks.

Foley Hoag attorneys will also attend MichBio events and give periodic presentations on legal topics of interest to startup entrepreneurs.

“MichBio is a well-respected state bio-industry association, and we are thrilled to partner with its member community in Michigan,” stated Foley Hoag partner DeAnn Smith. “Several Foley Hoag attorneys—myself included—have strong, longstanding ties to Michigan. We look forward to working with Michigan’s talented bioscience entrepreneurs. This partnership will be marked by collaboration, quality of service and a commitment to client success and the state’s bio-industry as a whole.”