SAN DIEGO – Sept. 16, 2026 – Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP strengthened its Intellectual Property & Technology Practice with the addition of Kunyong Yang as a shareholder in the firm’s San Diego office. Yang joins the firm’s Patents and Innovation Strategies Group, bringing decades of combined experience as both a patent attorney and former medicinal chemist focused on protecting groundbreaking pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and life sciences innovations.
Yang advises emerging biotechnology companies, clinical-stage drug developers, and multinational pharmaceutical companies on building and managing global patent portfolios, intellectual property (IP) due diligence, licensing transactions, and lifecycle management strategies. Drawing on nearly a decade as a scientist before entering the legal profession, he offers clients a rare combination of scientific and legal insight in complex areas such as small molecule therapeutics, antibody-drug conjugates, radiopharmaceuticals, mRNA, siRNA, and other cutting-edge technologies.
“Kunyong’s combination of scientific experience, deep pharmaceutical patent knowledge, and international perspective makes him an outstanding addition to our platform,” Global Intellectual Property & Technology Practice Co-Chair Mark R. Galis said. “As innovation continues to accelerate across life sciences, biotechnology, and artificial-intelligence-driven drug discovery, Kunyong enhances our ability to help clients protect and maximize the value of their most important innovations worldwide.”
Yang is recognized for helping innovators develop and defend strategic patent portfolios that support business growth, investment, licensing, and commercialization. His experience spans the lifecycle of innovation, from early-stage discovery through regulatory exclusivity and late-stage portfolio management. He also is experienced in Hatch-Waxman litigation and post-grant proceedings before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. In addition, Yang’s fluency in Mandarin Chinese strengthens his ability to advise clients on cross-border IP matters and support innovators operating in both the United States and Asia.
“Kunyong is highly regarded in the life sciences community for his ability to translate complex scientific breakthroughs into sophisticated patent strategies,” San Diego office Co-Managing Shareholders Ellen M. Bronchetti and John P. Cleary said in a joint statement. “Before becoming a lawyer, he worked directly on the issues and challenges of drug discovery and innovation. Kunyong’s experience working as a chemist shapes his approach to intellectual property counseling, helping pharmaceutical and biotech companies identify and protect the discoveries that create the greatest long-term value.”
Among his notable representations, Yang helped establish and prosecute global patent portfolios for Nuvalent, Inc., covering precision medicines designed to target specific kinases in the oncology therapies. He also advised Allorion Therapeutics on patent matters and IP due diligence in its global licensing transactions involving clinical-stage and preclinical cancer therapies. Additional experience includes developing patent portfolios for innovative oncology, fibrosis, and metabolic disease therapies and supporting IP due diligence in significant pharmaceutical transactions and financings.
“Having worked as a scientist and inventor before entering the legal profession, I understand both the challenges and the significance of bringing new therapies to patients,” said Yang, who previously worked with Greenberg Traurig patent and life science Shareholders Christopher C. Bolten, Jeffery C. Giering, Ph.D., and Micheal L. Hebert, Ph.D. at Jones Day. “The most valuable outcomes of years of research often reside in a company’s intellectual property. This firm’s entrepreneurial culture, innovative approach, and strong reputation in technology and life sciences make it an exciting platform to help clients protect the next generation of scientific breakthroughs.”
Yang earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from the University of San Diego School of Law. He holds a master’s degree in organic chemistry from Michigan Technological University and a bachelor’s degree from Nanjing University. He is admitted to practice in California and before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.