The Provisional Licensure Program

California attorney Ben Lyon has practiced out of corporate offices in both Los Angeles and San Francisco, working with many internationally known technology companies as a senior executive, general counsel and adviser. In addition, he has served as adjunct professor of law at the University of San Francisco School of Law as well as visiting professor at Charles University Law School in Prague instructing students on both the law and practice of law.

In 2020, the California State Bar launched the Provisional Licensure Program to help graduates transition from law school to practicing law during the pandemic. The initiative launched in November 2020 allowed graduates to start practicing law immediately without passing the bar exam, providing a valuable service to the public. Under the supervision of a qualified attorney, program participants can offer clients a broad array of legal services.

An expansion of this program in January 2021 allows those who took the state bar exam between July 2015 and February 2020 and scored 1390 or higher on any California State Bar exam to work under a provisional license regardless of when they graduated from law school. Moreover, with a provisional license, an attorney can complete 300 hours of supervised legal practice, in addition to other program requirements, to qualify for full licensure without retaking the bar exam. The California State Bar expects at least 2,000 attorneys to apply for the program.

Preparing to Quit Job & Start Enterprise

With a juris doctor earned from Loyola Law School, attorney Ben Lyon, who has served as vice president and general counsel of biopharmaceutical company Immix Biopharma, now brings his talents to Kaga Fei America, (formerly Fujitsu America). Also a motivational speaker, Ben Lyon dedicates efforts outside his responsibilities as an attorney and executive to help aspiring entrepreneurs achieve their dreams.

Becoming an entrepreneur brings a host of challenges, but if these are addressed properly, there is an ability to achieve success. Often, new entrepreneurs already have steady long-term jobs before the idea of becoming a new business comes to mind. However, nurturing the concept to reality and success requires full and complete dedication, which necessitates quitting an existing job and total focus on the entrepreneur's new ideas and inventions..

Quitting a job means cutting a main line of sustainable income. Even if the business idea is feasible, years will be required before the entrepreneur can draw significant income or revenue from their new venture. To prepare for this, an entrepreneur needs sufficient amount of money and a backup plan to sustain their lifestyle for the years it will take to draw significant income or revenue from their new venture. It is also important that they also maintain good relationship with their current employer when quitting their job, since the future is uncertain. In some situations, the new venture could even benefit by partnership with the previous employer.

Membership Perks of the Silicon Valley Association

Recently, brought on board with KagaFei (formerly Fujitsi America) Ben Lyon has had a lengthy career as both a General Counsel and executive for technology companies in both Northern and Southern California. He has been actively involved in a number of professional organizations, including acting as a board member of the Silicon Valley Association of General Counsel (SVAGC), which provides indepth, state-of-the art information and analysis of some of the most important and current issues involving technology and law.

The SVAGC was formed 30 years ago as a nonprofit organization that acts as a business leader for in-house attorneys in life science and technology companies in the area. SVAGC offers opportunities for peers in the field to meet and discuss professional and social topics. The organization holds monthly luncheons to help its more than 100 members network.

SVAGC members must meet certain qualifications and be active in the organization’s activities. An All-Hands Meeting, a major technolgy and the law event is held each year in Silicon Valley, and includes a series of presentations from experts in various fields that apply to member companies. This once a year event is open to non-members from Silicon Valley corporate legal departments. It draws speakers from all over in the United States and internationally. Members also have access to videos and webinars to learn more about hot topics of interest.

Examining Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Trends

An attorney in Los Angeles and San Francisco, California, Ben Lyon earned his law degree at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles. Since 2015, attorney Ben Lyon served as the general counsel and executive vice president of ImmixBiopharma, a biopharmaceutical company.

There is an ever-growing need for biopharmaceuticals around the world as the population looks toward less expensive options for medications. Biological drugs, produced from living sources, are far different from synthetic drugs. As with branded drugs with generic alternatives, biological drugs have biosimilars. Companies are working to produce biosimilars for up to 15 significant drugs that will reduce prices significantly.

Manufacturers have relied on Asia for their active pharmaceutical ingredients for a number of years, but now, manufacturers are looking for other sources. Sourcing ingredients from other areas will help ensure that there is enough to meet demand.

Research and development should also see a big push since governments and corporations see how crucial they are. Expect to see larger investments from both governments and private firms in the future of biopharmaceuticals.