Miller Canfield offers free legal services to Michigan start-ups
Following Pfizer’s announced pull-out from Ann Arbor, the law firm of Miller Canfield expects increased growth in new business ventures in life sciences. To help develop the inevitable wave of spin-off businesses, the firm is offering to incorporate and organize qualified start-ups – at no cost for legal services.
Following Pfizer’s announced pull-out from Ann Arbor, the law firm of Miller Canfield expects increased growth in new business ventures in life sciences and other emerging technologies.
As former Pfizer professionals develop spin-off businesses, the firm is offering to incorporate and organize – at no cost for legal services – qualified start-ups seeking to commercialize their emerging technologies and grow their businesses in Michigan.
The legal firm has expanded its Venture and Technology Practice by adding two experienced corporate and finance partners, Michael VanHemert and Jeffrey LaBine, to its Ann Arbor office, and the firm is actively looking to add biotech and intellectual property lawyers.
Paul Dimond, senior counsel in Miller Canfield’s Ann Arbor office says, “With the University of Michigan, one of the top ten research universities in the world, as our anchor, Ann Arbor is uniquely positioned to generate, attract and retain talent and new inventions.”
The firm has good reason to believe its efforts will help grow Ann Arbor’s life science industry. In 2003, Miller Canfield established their “Stick Around” Campaign, designed to assist ex-Pharmacia workers who wanted to remain in the Kalamazoo community. Southwest Michigan First estimates that pro-bono services by local attorneys helped 200 scientists remain in the Kalamazoo area; launching more than two dozen new businesses.
In certain cases, Miller Canfield also will offer discounted packages for intellectual property work, procuring IP, as well as other fee arrangements for future rounds of external financing.
The An Arbor firm represents a growing number of businesses in emerging sectors important to Michigan’s economy: life sciences and biotechnology; automotive technology; alternative energy; software and I.T.; and homeland security and defense.
Those interested in exploring these business opportunities should contact attorneys Michael VanHemert, Jeffery LaBine or Paul Dimond at the Ann Arbor office of Miller Canfield at 734.663.2445 or visit www.millercanfield.com.
Source: Miller Canfield of Ann Arbor
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