/English/Our team/Laurence Kao
Team Introduction
Mr. Laurence Kao, Esq.
Attorney-at-law
Managing Partner, OPES Law
CEO, OPES IP Consulting
President, OPES IP Shanghai
Partner, Icarus Venture Partners
Laurence Kao is a practicing attorney focusing on the areas of patent laws, technology transactions and cross-border corporate law. He is also a partner at Icarus Venture Partners, a global accelerator based in Taiwan.
Laurence has over 15 years of experience advising companies ranging from startups to Fortune 500 corporations. In 2011, Laurence founded OPES IP, which incubates cutting-edge technology from the point of view of intellectual property protection. OPES IP bridges the gap between early-stage technology and industry while ensuring that the technology stands on firm intellectual property platform from which to spring for commercial success. Since 2011, OPES IP has advised and incubated more than 50 start-ups worldwide. To extent services to companies in the Greater China region, Laurence founded OPES IP Shanghai in 2019.
Laurence is also a partner at Icarus Venture Partners, a global accelerator with the mission to help entrepreneurs to launch and scale their ventures. Icarus Venture Partners accepts and supports startups in cohort batches by providing mentorship, business counseling, seed investment and network connections.
Laurence also teaches in renowned law schools in Taiwan and China since 2008. He is an adjunct professor at National Chiao Tung University, Shih Hsin University and Shanghai International College of Intellectual Property, teaching courses in intellectual property laws, patent litigation, privacy laws and legal writing.
Laurence sits on the board of various technology companies. He also serves as a Committee Member for Intellectual Properties Committee of Chinese National Federation of Industries, and www.opesip.com Program on Innovation and Entrepreneurship of Biotechnology, Ministry of Education. Laurence is a Senior Advisor for National Program for Intelligent Electronics, a Committee Member for the Tissue Bank Committee of Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, and a Mentor for Garage+.
Laurence worked in two global law firms before starting his own practice. Prior to his legal career, Laurence served as the Vice President of business development at a start-up wireless company in Atlanta, Georgia, responsible for developing strategic alliances with engineering and manufacturing partners. Laurence began his career in New York City as an associate with the investment bank Credit Suisse First Boston.
Laurence received his BS degree from Cornell University, double majoring in Operation Research & Industrial Engineering and Biology. Laurence also received a full scholarship for the JD/LL.M joint degree program in Intellectual Properties from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law. Laurence is admitted to practice in New York and New Jersey, and is registered to practice before the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
