DAVIS, Calif. (October 20, 2008) – Arcadia Biosciences, Inc., an agricultural technology company focused on developing technologies and products that benefit the environment and human health, today announced the appointment of Wendy Neal as its Vice President and Chief Legal Officer. In this role, Wendy will help shape Arcadia’s business as well as manage Arcadia’s legal needs, including business transactions, licensing and intellectual property.
Ms. Neal has extensive experience in agricultural biotechnology and intellectual property, including developing and implementing intellectual property protection and enforcement strategies, negotiating technology-driven business transactions and handling intellectual property infringement litigation and dispute resolution. Prior to her current position, she provided legal counsel to Arcadia as partner in the Intellectual Property & Technology group at the law firm Snell & Wilmer L.L.P. Before Snell & Wilmer, Ms. Neal worked with the patent team at GE Aircraft Engines. She also has had technical roles in various industries, including nitrogen fertilizer manufacturing with BP Chemicals, and oleochemicals (chemicals derived from biological oils) research and manufacturing at Henkel Corporation.
Ms. Neal has served as a Risk Policy Consultant to the American Institute of Chemical Engineers government relations team in Washington, D.C. and is a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
"Due to Arcadia’s rapid pace of growth, high deal volume and continued innovation, we needed to bring legal expertise in house and also increase overall capacity of the senior management team," said Eric Rey, president and CEO of Arcadia. "With her relevant agricultural technology and intellectual property expertise, and since Wendy has played a critical role already as outside counsel, she is ideally suited to fill this newly-created senior management position."
A member of both the American Chemical Society and the American Intellectual Property Law Association, Ms. Neal holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a J.D. from the University of Cincinnati. She also is actively engaged in the community and currently serves as president of the Muscular Dystrophy Association Greater Phoenix Chapter’s Executive Committee.
About Arcadia Biosciences, Inc.
Based in Davis, Calif., with additional facilities in Seattle, Wash. and Phoenix, Ariz., Arcadia Biosciences is an agricultural biotechnology company focused on the development of agricultural products that improve the environment and enhance human health. For more information visit www.arcadiabio.com
