iTTU Mentor

Natalie Dean

Functional Expertise

• Startup Formation

• Legal

• IP Strategy

Industry Expertise

• Biotech/Pharma

• Software/IT

• Medical Devices

Natalie Dean is an intellectual property attorney and corporate who works extensively with startups, university innovators, and technology-driven companies to develop and execute IP strategies that support commercialization and growth. Her practice focuses on patents, trademarks, and technology transactions, with particular emphasis on helping companies build and leverage their intellectual property portfolios.

Natalie has substantial experience working with university-developed technologies and supporting the transition of research innovations into commercial ventures. She regularly works with founders, researchers, and technology transfer offices on intellectual property protection, patent portfolio development, licensing strategies, and the legal structures necessary to bring new technologies to market. Her work frequently involves advising startups on how to align IP protection with fundraising, product development, and long-term commercialization strategies.

In addition to working with startups and university technologies, Natalie counsels companies across a range of industries -including life sciences, biotechnology, medical devices, and software - on securing and managing intellectual property rights and structuring agreements that maximize the value of their IP assets. She also assists clients in negotiating and drafting technology licenses, research and development agreements, services agreements, and other transactions involving proprietary technology.Natalie holds degrees from Texas A&M University and Indiana University. She is admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and state and federal courts in Indiana.