Kandace Watson Bio

Kandace P. Watson is a Mergers and Acquisitions Partner in the Corporate Practice Group in the firm's San Diego (Del Mar) Office. Ms. Watson has extensive experience representing companies, corporate boards and executives in intellectual property (IP) intensive industries, including, chemical, software and technology. Her expertise includes board governance and director and officer duties in M&A and other complex transactions, consortium agreements, corporate spin-offs and reorganizations, IP licenses, CRADAs and other cooperative research, development and commercialization agreements, material transfer agreements (MTAs), joint ventures, public and private offerings, securities compliance, cross-border and multi-jurisdictional transactions, and supply, manufacturing and distribution agreements. Ms. Watson has frequently handled matters involving non-practicing entities ("NPEs" or "Patent Trolls") for a number of her clients. She regularly drafts and negotiates patent purchase and license agreements and develops defense strategies for companies, often when NPEs are involved on a point of consideration. Corporate boards and management teams seek Ms. Watson's legal and strategic advice to structure, negotiate and close complex M&A and other transactions, comply with related SEC and other federal and state regulations, and expand operations globally. She also advises corporate boards and management teams regarding strategic alternatives as well as ongoing operations. Ms. Watson was recommended in 2016 by Legal 500 US for Mergers & Acquisitions and Buyouts. She was named San Diego’s “Top Attorneys 2015” in the Corporate Transactional practice category presented by The Transcript. In 2014, Ms. Watson was profiled by the San Diego Business Journal and was recognized as a nominee for "Power of Attorneys 2012 – San Diego's Top Corporate Counsel." In 2008, she was a recipient of the Earl B. Gilliam Bar Association’s Distinguished Service Award. Ms. Watson was recognized as one of the “Forty under 40” in 2006 by the Phoenix Business Journal and in 2004, she was profiled by American Business Gazette. Ms. Watson also regularly presents and writes on corporate issues to industry, trade and legal organizations.