Bryan Wahl, Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear partner
Image: courtesy photo
Bryan Wahl, 34, partner
Knobbe Martens Olson & Bear
Making partner by age 34 is one thing, but doing so while simultaneously practicing medicine, as Dr. Wahl has done, takes "high achiever" to a whole new level. He dedicates nights and weekends to his patients in hospital wards and the ICU. During the week, he puts on his intellectual-property-law hat and serves clients seeking to protect medical-device patents or build IP portfolios to attract capital or invite acquisition. Recently, he facilitated the $43 million acquisition of client Embrella Cardiovascular Inc., by building its patent portfolio and defending acquisition diligence. He also helped a prominent university obtain vital patents concerning a promising treatment for HIV. On top of that crowded schedule, Wahl also volunteers his dual talents, working pro bono for the Public Law Center and Kids in Need of Defense, and at free medical clinics.
Word that best describes you?
Inquisitive.
Kind of law would you least like to practice?
Also being a physician, probably plaintiff-side medical malpractice.
Most interesting place you've traveled, and one thing that made it interesting?
Costa Rica. I was zip-lining on a stormy day in the cloud forest of Monteverde, and headwinds brought me to a complete stop thousands of feet in the air, and only halfway across the zip line.
Most unusual hobby you've ever had?
Restoring several century-old Victorian homes.
A lawyer you admire?
Gerard von Hoffmann, my mentor at the firm and a legend in the medical device industry, whose teaching and guidance has been instrumental to my success at Knobbe.
Hours worked per week?
Sometimes 100-plus, if I'm also on call seeing patients at the hospital. Fortunately that's not every week.
Deal you wish you could have worked on?
Would have been interesting to be on either side of the BSX-Guidant or JNJ-Synthes acquisitions, which were among the largest medical device transactions of all time.
