Frank Silber has more than 25 years of experience in drafting and negotiating technology-related transactions, including research and development collaborations and licenses to commercialize highly valued intellectual property used in a wide array of industries. He regularly advises clients in the life sciences, health care, IT, and manufacturing industries on transactions involving all types of intellectual property, including patent, copyright, and trademark licenses, as well as data sharing agreements and contracts for the transfer and protection of proprietary know-how and confidential information.
"Frank is outstanding and provides legal services at the highest professional level leveraging his extensive experience, knowledge, and abilities,” one of his clients told Chambers USA, which develops rankings using in-depth interviews and objective research. In another interview, a client told Chambers, “I am always impressed with Frank's ability to provide counsel on complex business matters. He consistently exceeds expectations, which is remarkable as he has set the bar extraordinarily high.” Clients also shared with Chambers researchers that he "excels at interpreting and simplifying complex deal structures, and financial consequences of different models, and identifying potential business and legal risks and concerns … his attention to detail is remarkable.”
In the life sciences field, Frank has negotiated hundreds of contracts, including sponsored research agreements, biomarker discovery and validation projects, licenses for genetic tests, collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and laboratories for companion diagnostics (personalized medicine), material transfer agreements, and supply agreements for proprietary instruments, chips, and consumables.
His computer science background and prior work experience in network operations at IBM also allow him to effectively counsel software developers and professionals in the IT industry. He frequently represents clients entering into agreements for software licenses, SaaS subscriptions, and development, support, distribution, escrow, and consulting services.
Frank also has a substantial amount of experience in areas where the life sciences industry and IT industry intersect, such as IT systems, databases, and reporting tools for next-generation sequencing and digital pathology.
Frank is a partner with Parker Poe where he resides in its Raleigh office. He previously served as the practice group leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group and as the team leader of the firm’s Life Sciences Industry Team.