LAWYER PROFILE
Catherine Polizzi

Catherine Polizzi

Global 2026

Chambers ranking badge
Chambers ranking badge

Ranked in 1 practice area

About

Provided by Morrison Foerster

Global

Practice Areas

Patent Strategy + Prosecution; IP Due Diligence; Venture Intellectual Property; Emerging Companies + Venture Capital; Patent Trial and Appeal Board Litigation; Patent Litigation

Career

Catherine is relied on by global brands and startups in the life sciences for her vigorous, ultra-effective approach to IP strategy and challenges, risk assessment, and due diligence work. Catherine helps emerging and established companies through the process of obtaining patents, and provides effective portfolio counseling and management, as well as strategic advice surrounding freedom of operation and other forms of IP assessment.

Catherine’s IP portfolio development and management acuity have been seminal to the valuation of deals, as well as the product pipeline successes of her clients, both evidence of the high-value work with which these leading companies entrust her.

She develops valuable, strategic portfolios around breakthrough therapies in a variety of areas, including: cancer, cancer immunotherapy, autoimmune diseases, inflammatory diseases, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases.

Catherine is an acquisition and value enhancement driver, a critical conduit for companies as they grow from startup through IPO, exit, and beyond.

Personal

J.D., Stanford Law School; Ph.D., University of California, Santa Barbara; M.A., University of California, Santa Barbara; B.A. University of Mississippi

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Chambers Global Guide

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation - USA

Band 1
Band 1

Individual Editorial

Catherine Polizzi maintains a broad practice in the field of intellectual property which encompasses Freedom to Operate assessments, portfolio management and patent applications, as well as diligence in high-value acquisitions.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

  • Catherine is very good on the science and legal nuances of IP but is also very conscious of the broader biotech ecosystem and practical business considerations when providing input.

    Life Sciences: IP/Patent LitigationChambers Global Guide

Ranked Individuals at Morrison Foerster (91)

Belgium

China

  • Profile image of Tim Blakely
    Tim Blakely

    Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Chen Zhu
    Chen Zhu

    Corporate Investigations/Anti-Corruption (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Marcia Ellis
    Marcia Ellis

    Corporate/M&A: Hong Kong-based (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Tim Blakely
    Tim Blakely

    Dispute Resolution: Litigation (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Marcia Ellis
    Marcia Ellis

    Private Equity: Buyouts & Venture Capital Investment (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Xiaoxi Lin
    Xiaoxi Lin

    Private Equity: Buyouts & Venture Capital Investment (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Gordon Milner
    Gordon Milner

    Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT) (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Chuan Sun
    Chuan Sun

    Technology, Media, Telecoms (TMT) (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Paul D McKenzie
    Paul D McKenzie

    TMT: Data Protection & Privacy (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Gordon Milner
    Gordon Milner

    TMT: Data Protection & Privacy (International Firms)

    View profile
  • Profile image of Chuan Sun
    Chuan Sun

    TMT: Data Protection & Privacy (International Firms)

    View profile

Germany

Global Market Leaders

What success is built on

Chambers is the leading data and intelligence partner for the legal sector.

Explore thought leadership