Dr. Malathi Lakshmikumaran has more than 30 years of experience in the field of biochemistry and Molecular Biology with an expertise in plant genomics, DNA fingerprinting and genetic transformation. Malathi serves as Executive Director and heads the life science group at the IP division of the firm. She is a registered patent agent and has been actively engaged in preparing, filing and prosecuting of patent applications, both in India and abroad. She mainly works on pharmaceutical, chemical and biotechnological patent applications. She advises clients on plant variety protection and registration. She is actively involved in the area of Biodiversity and Traditional knowledge. Dr. Malathi also undertakes extensive work for start-ups and incubates, especially with incubates in C-CAMP and IIT Delhi, advising them on Patents and Freedom to operate opionons. Prior to joining the firm, she served as the Head, Centre for Bioresource & Biotechnology Division in The Energy and Resource Institute (TERI) for a period of 17 years. Malathi has successfully supervised Ph.D. students in the area of Plant Molecular Biology. She has more than 100 publications to her credit in various International and Indian journals. Qualifications 1. Ph.D. in Biochemistry 2. Fellow of the National Academy of Sciences (FNASc) 3. Registered as a Patent Agent in India AWARDS 1. Recognised as Top Women Entrepreneur 2. Receipient of National Science talent Scholarship 3. Recipient of the prestigious Fogarty Visiting Research Associate ship from National Institute of Health, Bethesda, USA. 4. Receipient of the National Young Women Scientist Award by Department of Biotechnology in March 2000 5. Ranked in Chambers-Asia Pacific 6. Listed as Patent Leaders in WIPR for Patents 7. Recognised as Individual Expert in Patent Prosecution in IAM Patent 100