gcox@ipblaw.com
301.471.9218 
George W. Cox, PhD, JD
Attorney at Law
Registered U.S. Patent Attorney
George has twenty years’ experience in government and academia as a biomedical scientist, ten years’ experience in large intellectual property, corporate, and general practice law firms as a technical specialist, student associate, and attorney, and since 2010, experience as a successful business owner and solo practitioner. He has worked with companies of all sizes including sole owner-managed startups and multinational Fortune 500 companies. Although George provides legal counsel and services to businesses at all stages of development, he particularly enjoys working with entrepreneurs and small to medium-sized companies with one to fifty members that allow him to play an integral part of their growth and success. He is committed to delivering legal services with the collegiality and dedication that clients expect from their most valued and trusted advisors and team members. Most recently, George was the Chief Legal Officer and Corporate Secretary of Propella Therapeutics, Inc. (www.propellatx.com), which was acquired by Astellas Pharma, Inc. in December 2023.
Phone: 301-471-9218
Email: gcox@ipblaw.com
Practice Areas:
Law School:
The American University Washington College of Law (Juris Doctor)
Postdoctoral Fellowship:
National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health (Biotechnology, Immunology & Molecular Biology)
Graduate School:
The Ohio State University College of Medicine (Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmacology)
Undergraduate School:
Ohio Wesleyan University (Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry and Zoology) (Chi Phi Fraternity)
Employment History:
- Propella Therapeutics, Inc., an Astellas company
- Miles & Stockbridge P.C.
- Finnegan, Henderson, Farabow, Garrett & Dunner, L.L.P.
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, F. Edward Hebert School of Medicine
- National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health
- The Ohio State University College of Medicine
Bar Admissions:
- District of Columbia
- Maryland
- New Jersey (r 2018)
- United States District Court for the District of New Jersey (r 2018)
- United States Patent and
Trademark Office
Bar/Professional Associations:
- Association of Corporate Counsel (2015- present)
- American Bar Association (Business Law Section and Section of Intellectual Property Law) (2006 – present)
- American Intellectual Property Law Association (2008 – present)
- The Bar Association of Frederick County, Maryland, Inc. (Business Law Section and Intellectual Property & Technology Law Group) (2007 – 2019)
- The Maryland State Bar Association, Inc. (Section of Business Law, Section of Intellectual Property, and Section of Solo & Small Firm Practice) (2006 – present)
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (1985 – 2013)
- American Association for Cancer Research (1992 – 2003)
- The American Association of Immunologists (1992 – 2013)
- American Society for Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics (1987 – 2013)
- Society for Leukocyte Biology (1990 – 2013)
Science Advisory Boards:
- The Journal of Immunology (Section Editor, 2000 – 2001; Associate Editor, 1996 – 2000)
- Society for Leukocyte Biology, Constitution and Bylaws Committee (Chair, 2004; Member, 2002 – 2004)
- American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Scientific Advisory Council (Member, 2000 – 2004)
- Institute for Medical Research, Inc., Durham, N.C. Veterans Affairs Research Grant Program (Ad Hoc Reviewer, 1999)
- Arkansas Science & Technology Authority, Basic Research Grant Program (Ad Hoc Reviewer, 1999)
- National Institutes of Health Immunological Sciences Research Grant Study Section (Ad Hoc Reviewer, 1994)
- National Institutes of Health Allergy and Immunology Research Grant Study Section (Ad Hoc Reviewer, 1993)
Business/Community Leadership:
- First United Bank & Trust (Advisory Group for the Frederick County region, 2014 – 2019)
- Goodwill Industries of Monocacy Valley, Inc. (Chair, Board of Directors, 2016 – 2018; Vice Chair/Chair-Elect, Board of Directors, 2014 – 2016; Board of Directors, 2014 – 2019; Chair, CEO Search Committee, 2015 – 2016)
- Frederick County Public Schools Academic Business Connection (2014 – 2019)
- Rotary Club of Frederick (Member, 2012 – 2019) (Editor, The Rotogram, 2013 – 2015)
- Middletown Area Chamber of Commerce (Board of Directors and Community Relations Director, 2013 – 2015)
- Police Activities League of Frederick, Maryland (Board of Directors, 2012 – 2014; Secretary, 2013 – 2014)
- Frederick County Chamber of Commerce (2011 – 2014)
- Fort Detrick Alliance (2010 – 2013)
- The Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. (Chair, Board of Directors, 2009 – 2010; Board of Directors, 2008 – 2011; Chair, Biotechnology Client Selection Committee, 2006 – 2012)
Published Legal Writing:
- Cox, G.W., “Protecting Inventions with Patents,” The Frederick News-Post (SCORE Topics: Tips for Small Businesses) (Jan. 5, 2015)
- Arnold & Cox, “The Blurry Outer Boundaries of Declaratory Judgment Jurisdiction.” BioNews (June/July 2007)
- Co-Author, “Determining Obviousness Post KSR International Co. v. Teleflex Inc. et al.,” Miles & Stockbridge News Brief (May 2007)
- Co-Author, “Patent Licensing After MedImmune v. Genentech,” Miles & Stockbridge News Brief (February 2007)
Published Science Writing:
Speaking Engagements:
- “How to Obtain Cash Without Giving Up Equity,” Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP, Baltimore Emerging Company Roundtable Discussion, Baltimore, MD (September 14, 2017)
- “Protecting Your Intangible Assets,” Saul Ewing LLP, Baltimore Emerging Company Roundtable Discussion, Baltimore, MD (December 3, 2015)
- “Protecting Your Brand Through Trademark Registration,” SBDC Network, Maryland Small Business & Technology Development Center, Frederick, MD (May 21, 2015)
- “Building Blocks of Intellectual Property: Intellectual Property Basics,” SBDC Network, Maryland Small Business & Technology Development Center, Frederick, MD (April 23, 2015)
- “Protecting Your Brand Through Trademark Registration,” Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. Lunch and Learn Program, Frederick, MD (April 15, 2015)
- “Understanding Contracts,” SBDC Network, Maryland Small Business & Technology Development Center, Frederick, MD (March 30, 2015)
- “LLC Operating Agreements: What are They and Why do You Need One?,” SBDC Network, Maryland Small Business & Technology Development Center, Frederick, MD (March 6, 2015)
- “Choosing a Legal Form of Business and Protecting its Intellectual Property,” SBDC Network, Maryland Small Business & Technology Development Center, Frederick, MD (January 22, 2015)
- “Choosing a Form of Business and Protecting its Intellectual Property,” Entrepreneurship course, MBA program, Mount St. Mary’s University Bolte School of Business, Frederick, MD (September 10, 2014)
- “Essentials of Trade Secret Protection,” Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. Lunch and Learn Program, Frederick, MD (April 16, 2014)
- “Choosing a Form of Business and Protecting its Intellectual Property,” Entrepreneurship course, MBA program, Mount St. Mary’s University Bolte School of Business, Frederick, MD (September 18, 2013)
- “Building a Business on Intellectual Property: Key Strategies for Protecting and Using IP,” Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. and Mount St. Mary’s University Entrepreneur Lecture Series, Frederick, MD (November 9, 2011)
- “Building a Business on Intellectual Property: Key Strategies for Protecting and Using IP,” Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. and Frederick Community College Entrepreneur Lecture Series, Frederick, MD (November 11, 2010)
- “Business Law,” Frederick County Entrepreneur Support Network, Frederick, MD (June 2, 2010)
- “Building a Business on Intellectual Property: Key Strategies for Protecting and Using IP,” Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. and Frederick Community College Entrepreneur Lecture Series, Frederick, MD (November 13, 2008)
- “Teaming Agreements and Intellectual Property Rights,” 4th Annual SMART PROC Federal Procurement Conference, Frederick, MD (October 31, 2008)
- “IP from the Entrepreneur’s Perspective,” Technology-Based Businesses: Ideas to Products course, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD (October 29, 2008)
- “Best Steps for the Chemical Entrepreneur,” National Meeting, American Chemical Society, New Orleans, LA (April 8, 2008)
- “How to NOT Lose Your Intellectual Property Without Really Trying,” Frederick Innovative Technology Center, Inc. and Frederick Community College Entrepreneur Lecture Series, Frederick, MD (November 8, 2007)
- “Patent Licensing After MedImmune v. Genentech,” Eastern Region Meeting, The Association of University Technology Managers, Washington, DC (June 6, 2007)