Berne

Alexander Berne

Associate
Registered Patent Attorney
New York

I am passionate about helping clients secure valuable patent protection for their pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and chemical innovations.

As an associate and registered patent attorney in Foley Hoag’s Intellectual Property Department, Alexander Berne focuses on preparing and prosecuting U.S. and foreign patent applications in the pharmaceutical, biotechnological, and chemical arts. Alex’s technical expertise is augmented by his years of experience as a research scientist at a leading global pharmaceutical company. 

Before his career in patent law, Alex was a process chemist at Pfizer, where he helped enable the synthesis of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) for use in the clinic. Alex’s chemistry has been run on multi-kilogram scale in Pfizer’s API manufacturing facilities. 

In graduate school, Alex’s research resulted in the discovery and development of a novel Nazarov-type 4π electrocyclization reaction. 

While an undergraduate, Alex worked as a process chemistry intern at Millennium Pharmaceuticals (now Takeda Oncology), where he helped develop a novel selective sulfamoylation reaction.
 

Education

  • University of Connecticut School of Law, J.D., with Honors, 2024
  • University of Pittsburgh, M.S., Organic Chemistry, 2015
  • Boston University, B.A., Chemistry, 2012

Bar and Court Admissions

BAR ADMISSIONS
  • New York
  • U.S. Patent & Trademark Office (Agency)

Experience

  • Patent prosecution in the pharmaceutical and chemical arts for a variety of companies and universities.  
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
  • Pfizer, Senior Associate Scientist, Groton, CT (2016-2020)

Publications

  • Ashcroft, C. P.; Berne, A. M. et al. "Development of a Cost-Efficient Process Toward a Key Synthetic Intermediate of the EZH2 Inhibitor PF-06821497." Org. Process Chem. Res. Dev. 2024, 28, 6, 2260-2268. DOI: 10.1021/acs.oprd.3c00477.
  • Armitage, I.; Berne, A. M. et. al. "N-(tert-Butoxycarbonyl)-N-[(triethylenediammonium)sulfonyl]azanide: A Convenient Sulfamoylation Reagent for Alcohols." Org. Lett. 2012, 14, 2626-2629. DOI: 10.1021/ol3009683

Honors & Involvement

HONORS
  • United States Patent and Trademark Office Patent Pro Bono Achievement Certificate (2023)
  • Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch
    • Intellectual Property Law (2026, 2027)
    • Life Sciences Practice (2026, 2027)
    • Patent Law (2026, 2027)

Events