Ka-on Li is the co-leader of Jones Day's IP Transactions team. She works closely with clients to successfully structure and execute IP, technology, and commercial transactions to achieve high-stakes business objectives. She is an experienced IP and technology lawyer whose practice focuses on transactions for clients active in the technology, life sciences, data, food and beverage, retail, financial, apparel, consumer, telecommunications, media, and entertainment fields. Ka-on drafts and negotiates contracts involving R&D (research and development), collaborations, outsourcing, licensing and commercialization, manufacturing and distribution transactions, software and cloud-related matters, and infrastructure projects. She also advises clients on IP compliance issues, including those arising from the use of open source, AI (artificial intelligence), and big data.
Ka-on has solid experience in assisting emerging and established businesses in U.S. and overseas markets. She has represented software and life science companies at all stages, from formation to exit. She has drafted and negotiated some of the most significant collaborations and strategic agreements and alliances between industry entrepreneurs, service providers, acquirers, and investors. Much of her experience involves working on deals involving the commercialization of products driven by the convergence of multiple technologies, such as digital health, fintech, and AI-driven platforms.
She has acted for clients on a full range of M&A, private equity, and financing transactions involving domestic and foreign IP and technology assets on the buy-side and the sell-side.
Ka-on's deep and diverse experience, including her secondment at Australia's largest telecommunications provider, enables her to bring a pragmatic, business-oriented and collaborative approach to her work and negotiations.
Experience
Additional Speaking Engagements
- January 19, 2022
AI in Drug Discovery and Development
- University of Sydney (LL.B. Hons. 2006; B.A. in Modern History and Sociology 2004); University of California, Los Angeles (Exchange program/study abroad, 2003-2004; Dean's Honors List)
- California
Named in "Top Women Lawyers in California" list, Daily Journal (2020)
"Top 40 under 40" honoree, Daily Journal (2020)
Named in "Women of Influence" list, Silicon Valley Business Journal (2020)
"Rising Star" in technology, Law360 (2019)
"40 under 40" honoree, Silicon Valley Business Journal (2019)
- Law Clerk to the Honorable Justice George Alfred Palmer, Equity Division, Supreme Court of New South Wales (2006-2008)
- English (native) and fluent in spoken Cantonese