Katherine Ku has become a chief licensing adviser at law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati after calling time on more than 27 years at Stanford’s OTL in June 2018.

Katherine Ku (pictured), the former executive director of Stanford University’s Office of Technology Licensing (OTL), has taken up a position as chief licensing adviser at law firm Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati (WSGR).
Ku will work from WSGR’s technology transactions practice in Palo Alto, California, offering its clients insights into company formation and tech licensing gained from more than 27 years at the helm of OTL, which ended in June 2018.
Ku joined Stanford in 1979 as a patent engineer in the Office of Sponsored Research, shifting across to OTL in 1981 before working her way to the top ten years later. She also directed the Office of Sponsored Research for four years in the mid-1990s.
OTL experienced substantial growth during Ku’s time in charge, extending its headcount from 20 to 48 and annual revenues from approximately $25m to between $50m and $100m.  Throughout her tenure, the office spawned hundreds of technologies and generated $1.8bn of income, much of which was reinvested in fresh research.
Ku was awarded professional association Autm’s Bayh-Dole Award in 2001. She is the architect of a tech licensing code first published in 2007 and since adopted by more than 120 institutions, titled “In the public interest: nine points to consider in licensing university technology.”
Ian Edvalson, partner and co-leader of the technology transactions practice at WSGR, said: “Kathy was involved in Stanford’s transformation of research projects into some of the most important technologies in use today. She is well known for her leadership in catalysing the formation of remarkable technology and life science enterprises.”
“She has a level of insight into company formation and technology licensing matters that perfectly complements the expertise we offer to innovative companies and institutions. We are excited that Kathy has joined the firm and look forward to collaborating with her.”