K. Lance Anderson is a member in Dickinson Wright’s Austin office who advises technology-driven companies, infrastructure developers, research institutions, and emerging ventures on complex transactions and long-term strategic initiatives. He works with clients on development agreements, joint ventures, public-private partnerships, licensing arrangements, and the intellectual property and commercial aspects of large-scale projects, acquisitions, and operational growth.
Lance brings a practical, business-focused perspective shaped by more than a decade of in-house experience with a research university system and a private equity operation. His practice spans infrastructure and innovation-focused projects in sectors including energy, life sciences, AI, and emerging technologies, where he helps clients structure collaborations, manage technology assets, and navigate the transactional demands of complex development and commercialization efforts.
Education & Credentials
Education
Texas Tech University School of Law
J.D., 2000Texas Tech University
M.S., Crop Science, 2000- magna cum laude
Texas Tech University
B.S., Entomology, 1997- magna cum laude
Bar Admission
Acknowledgements
- The Legal 500 United States
- Cannabis, 2022
- Intellectual Property - Patents, Licensing, 2023-2025
- IAM Patent 1000
- Transaction: Recommended, 2024-2025
- Best Lawyers in America®
- Patent Law, 2026
- Distinguished Alumni Recipient, Texas Tech University's Davis College of Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources, 2019
Prominent Assignments
- Advises clients on infrastructure and development projects involving complex commercial, technology, and collaboration agreements
- Represents companies, research institutions, and nonprofit organizations on strategic transactions and operational legal matters
- Counsels clients on joint ventures, public-private partnerships, and development arrangements tied to innovation and emerging industries
- Advises on the intellectual property and technology components of mergers, acquisitions, and other corporate transactions
- Represents clients in federal contracting matters, including cooperative research and development agreements (CRADAs)
- Assists organizations with technology transfer, portfolio development, and commercialization initiatives related to large-scale projects and emerging technologies
- Manages innovation and intellectual property stewardship
Professional Involvement
- U.S. Patent and Trademark Office
- Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM), Planning Committee Member 2022-2023
- Member, Licensing Executives Society (LES)
- Member, State Bar of Texas, Intellectual Property Law Section
- Member, Austin Bar Association
- Member, American Bar Association (ABA)
Community Involvement
- Board of Directors, Texas Medical Device Alliance (TMDA)
- Advisory Board Member, Texas Tech University Innovation Hub and Research Park, 2014-2016
- Member, University of Texas at Austin, College of Natural Sciences IP Task Force, 2012
- Advisory Board Member, West Texas Center for Innovation and Commercialization, 2010-2012
- Board Member, Center for Life Sciences Technology (CLiST), University of Houston, 2009-2010
Publications/Presentations
-
Speaker, Legal Issues in Agricultural Biotechnology: Intellectual Property Rights and Regulatory Frameworks, AUTM Annual Meeting, March 2025
-
Co-Host, "Generative AI: Look Before You Jump," DW FastTrack Podcast, Spotify and YouTube, July 2024
-
Co-Author, "At the Intersection of Law and Technology: Navigating Generative AI in the Legal Industry Part 2," Texas Lawyer, March 2024
-
Co-Author, "Artificial Incompetence: How Generative AI Creates Latent Intellectual Property Issues," The Journal of Robotics, Artificial Intelligence & Law, March 2024
-
Featured, “Meet The Lawyer Playing Matchmaker To Research Universities And Cannabis Entrepreneurs,” The Mary Jane Society Podcast, Jul 2023
-
Speaker, "Cannabis Innovation, Videos 1-4," Dickinson Wright Minutes on the Matter, June 2022
-
Presenter, “Clearing the Haze: Cannabis Opportunities in Academia,” AUTM Annual Meeting, February 2022
-
Co-presenter, "Direct Billing for Licensee Patent Expenses: Save Time and Gain Efficiency for your TTO," Tech Transfer Central, January 2022
-
Author, "5 Reasons Companies Are Sometimes Wary of Partnering with Universities," University Business, January 2022
-
Featured, "Non-Disclosure Agreements, Part 2," DW’s Minutes on the Matter, February 2021
-
Featured, "Non-Disclosure Agreements, Part 1," DW’s Minutes on the Matter, February 2021
-
Speaker, “Next is Now,” BTS 2020 Bengaluru Summit, November 2020
-
Presenter, "Inventor’s Workshop", New Horizons Foundation, Hobbs, New Mexico, January 15, 2020
-
Presenter, "New Horizons Foundation Inventors Seminar", New Horizons Foundation, Hobbs, New Mexico, June 28, 2019
-
Presenter, "Preventing Legal Disputes with Faculty Start-Ups: Drafting Agreements that Avoid Future Conflicts" April14, 2019
-
Author, "Intellectual Property Issues with Research and Academic Institutions," Intellectual Property Deskbook for the Business Lawyer, American Bar Association’s Business Law Section, 4th Edition, March 2019
-
Moderator, "Intellectual Property and Licensing," Texas Medical Device Alliance, February 21, 2019, Austin, TX
-
Panelist, Legal Issues in Advancing Technology Panel Discussion, Austin Chapter of the Association of Corporate Counsel, February 20, 2018, Austin, TX
-
Author, “The Patent Mirage: The New Challenge for Today’s IP Strategy,” MedTech Intelligence, November 28, 2017
- Author, “Managing Today’s Innovation in Healthcare: The Modern IP Strategy,” Healthcare Michigan, September 2017
- Co-Author, “Legal Considerations,” Biosimilars of Monoclonal Antibodies: A Practical Guide to Manufacturing, Preclinical, and Clinical Development, First Edition, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., January 2017
- Co-Author, "Keys To IP Collaborations With Universities: Part 3," Law360, March 9, 2015
- Presenter, "Intellectual Property Workshop," 2015 LaunchU Business Plan Competition, Oberlin College, Oberlin, OH, January 31, 2015
- Presenter, "SBIR and Data Rights," 2014 Fall National Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) / Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) Conference, Austin, TX, November 13, 2014
- Co-Author, "Keys To IP Collaborations With Universities: Part 2," Law360, October 20, 2014
- Co-Author, "Keys To IP Collaborations With Universities: Part 1," Law360, July 21, 2014
- Author, "Intellectual Property Issues with Research and Academic Institutions," Intellectual Property Deskbook for the Business Lawyer, American Bar Association’s Business Law Section, 3rd Edition, September 2013
- Panelist, "IP for Entrepreneurs," Spectrum Educational Series, Austin Chamber of Commerce, Austin, TX, September 17, 2013
- Panelist and Co-Author, "Going Commercial: How Ideas and Inventions Become Economic Realities," 7th Annual John Huffaker Agricultural Law Course, Lubbock, TX, May 23, 2013
- Guest Lecturer, "Negotiation," IC2 Institute, Advanced Commercialization Training program, U.S. Dept. of State’s Building Opportunity Out of Science and Technology (BOOST) Program, Ankara, Turkey, April 23-25, 2013
- Moderator, "Tech Transfer: Tapping into University Breakthroughs and Competitive Advantage," 6th Annual OneMedForum Conference, San Francisco, CA, January 9, 2013
- Panelist, "The Post-Election Political Landscape and What It Means for Your Business: From Regulatory Compliance to Tech Innovation," American Corporate Counsel Luncheon, Austin, TX, December 6, 2012
- Author, "IP and Technology Transfer," Intellectual Property Deskbook for the Business Lawyer, American Bar Association’s Business Law Section, 2nd Edition, July 2009