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Meet Our Professionals

Frank E. Silber

Partner
Raleigh | 919.890.4174
Fax | 919.835.4559

Frank Silber has more than 25 years of experience in drafting and negotiating technology-related transactions, including research and development collaborations and licenses to commercialize highly valued intellectual property used in a wide array of industries. He regularly advises clients in the life sciences, health care, IT, and manufacturing industries on transactions involving all types of intellectual property, including patent, copyright, and trademark licenses, as well as data sharing agreements and contracts for the transfer and protection of proprietary know-how and confidential information.

In the life sciences field, Frank has negotiated hundreds of contracts, including sponsored research agreements, biomarker discovery and validation projects, licenses for genetic tests, collaborations between pharmaceutical companies and laboratories for companion diagnostics (personalized medicine), material transfer agreements, and supply agreements for proprietary instruments, chips, and consumables.

His computer science background and prior work experience in network operations at IBM also allow him to effectively counsel software developers and professionals in the IT industry. He frequently represents clients entering into agreements for software licenses, SaaS subscriptions, and development, support, distribution, escrow, and consulting services. 

Frank also has a substantial amount of experience in areas where the life sciences industry and IT industry intersect, such as IT systems, databases, and reporting tools for next-generation sequencing and digital pathology.

Frank is a partner with Parker Poe where he resides in its Raleigh office. He previously served as the practice group leader of the firm’s Intellectual Property Group and as the team leader of the firm’s Life Sciences Industry Team.

Representative Experience

  • Negotiated agreements with major national and international universities for sponsored research, licenses and technology transfer.
  • Represented a publicly traded company entering into several collaboration agreements, joint ventures, and strategic alliances for the discovery, validation, and commercialization of biomarkers for various diseases and conditions.
  • Drafted form agreements for numerous software and content licensors.
  • Represented a large electric power company in the development and licensing of next generation software for implementing smart grid technology.
  • Negotiated agreement for a pharmaceutical company to secure rights to develop, test, obtain FDA approval, and commercialize an implantable device for subcutaneous delivery of a pharmaceutical treatment.
  • Negotiated software distribution agreement for mobile application to be used by college students.
  • Drafted policies and agreements for subscription-based, restricted access, online personal health information management portal.
  • Represented buyers and sellers in the negotiation of intellectual property warranties and license agreements to be entered into in connection with the sale or acquisition of entire businesses, divisions, or product lines (including asset, stock, and merger transactions).
  • Represented game inventor in commercializing a new concept into a board and video game that was sold at major retailers.
  • Drafted form commercial contracts for clients in many industries, including supply agreements, distributor agreements, sales representative agreements, and consulting agreements.

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Honors & Awards

  • The Best Lawyers in America in Corporate Law, 2016-2025; Biotechnology and Life Sciences Practice, Copyright Law, Patent Law, 2019-2025
  • The Best Lawyers in America "Lawyer of the Year" in Raleigh for Biotechnology and Life Sciences, 2022
  • Chambers USA: America’s Leading Lawyers in Intellectual Property, 2013-2024
  • Business North Carolina magazine's "Legal Elite” in Intellectual Property, 2009-2010 & 2012, and Business, 2010
  • Order of the Coif

Memberships

  • Order of DeMolay, NC Treasurer, 2011-present; Past NC Executive Officer, 2007-2010
  • Licensing Executives Society (LES)
  • Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP)