Rebecca Shortle is an associate in the Biotech group of Morrison & Foerster’s Palo Alto office. Her practice encompasses a wide range of technologies in the chemical and biotechnological fields, including small molecule pharmaceuticals, drug delivery devices, biochemical assays, gene therapy, and microassay devices. Ms. Shortle’s practice focuses on preparation and prosecution of patent applications, portfolio management, strategic patent counseling, due diligence, and patentability and freedom to operate searching and evaluations.

Ms. Shortle received her J.D. from the University of California at Berkeley, Boalt School of Law, with a certificate in the Law & Technology program. Prior to attending Boalt, Ms. Shortle was a patent agent at Morrison & Foerster. She received her bachelor’s degree with high honors in Chemistry from Pomona College, and her master’s degree in Chemistry from Harvard University. She was awarded both National Science Foundation and Department of Defense Office of Naval Research predoctoral fellowships. While at Harvard University, she conducted research in the laboratory of Don C. Wiley, investigating the structure of the influenza M2 protein. She took additional graduate courses in Biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco. At UCSF, she conducted research in the laboratory of David A. Agard, on thermodynamic versus kinetic control in protein folding and stability.

Ms. Shortle is a member of the State Bar of California and is registered to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.