Please note: the Science History Institute Museum will close at 4pm on Friday, September 22 and reopen at 5pm for Vibrant, Dazzling, BOLD: An Opening Celebration.

Science History Institute Mourns Loss of Pioneering Biotech Attorney Alan Mendelson

The longtime member of the Institute’s Board of Overseers passed away October 8, 2021, at the age of 73.

October 11, 2021

The Science History Institute is saddened by the passing of pioneering biotechnology attorney Alan Mendelson, a longtime member of our Board of Overseers (now Board of Advisors) and cohost of our annual Bay Area Life Sciences Pioneers Dinner. Mendelson, who died suddenly on October 8 at the age of 73, will be remembered at the 2021 dinner being held October 21, where he was scheduled to serve as moderator of the evening’s program.

Mendelson was most recently general counsel and secretary at Blade Therapeutics, Inc. He also served as co-chair of the Life Sciences Industry Group for the Silicon Valley office of Latham & Watkins LLP, a major global law firm where he recently retired as senior partner after a 20-year career with the firm. He was the incorporator of Amgen Inc. in April 1980 and played a leading role in all of Amgen’s major transactions during the first 10 years of its existence.

In addition to being a member of the Institute’s Board of Overseers, Mendelson also served on the boards of other organizations, including the University of California (UC) Berkeley Foundation, UC Berkeley College of Chemistry, UC Berkeley Library, UC Berkeley Chancellor’s External Affairs Committee, UC Innovation Council, and the Buck Institute for Research on Aging.

The Legal 500, an industry publishing firm, ranked Mendelson among just four individuals to receive a star in its hall of fame for legal professionals serving the life sciences sector. He was the first service provider to receive the Life Sciences Leadership Award at the BayBio Pantheon and was repeatedly recognized as one of the 100 most influential lawyers in the United States by the National Law Journal.

More News

illustration of a man giving a lecture
news

Institute Launches New Science and Society Speaker Series

Nobel laureate Roald Hoffmann kicks off this engaging program with a talk on November 16, followed by an expert panel discussion on plastics on December 6.

Carolyn Bertozzi in 2022
news

Nobel Laureate Carolyn Bertozzi to Present Science History Institute’s 2023 Ullyot Lecture

Q&A session, award presentation, and reception to follow Stanford professor’s ‘Sweet Revenge on Cancer’ talk being held October 17.

students gathered at a conference
news

Grace3 Technologies, National Black Empowerment Council Present 3rd Annual Xtreme5 Teen Tech Summit at Science History Institute

Drones, robotics, and Google’s Be Internet Awesome online safety program top list of tools and technologies experienced by more than 200 Philadelphia students at STEM event.

    Republish

    Copy the above HTML to republish this content. We have formatted the material to follow our guidelines, which include our credit requirements. Please review our full list of guidelines for more information. By republishing this content, you agree to our republication requirements.