Ms. Susan Finston

Susan Kling Finston, J.D./M.P.P., is a key opinion leader in innovation, life sciences, and the commercialization of emerging technologies. With over 25 years of experience at the intersection of business, government, and international policy, she has advised Fortune 100 companies, multilateral organizations, and national governments on intellectual property, bioscience research and development, renewable energy, and low-carbon technologies. As President of Finston Consulting since 2005, she has delivered transformative licensing and commercialization transactions exceeding $20 million, guided market access and strategic partnerships, and supported technology transfer initiatives worldwide.

Her distinguished career includes serving as Associate Vice President for Intellectual Property at PhRMA, where she led groundbreaking campaigns for pharmaceutical patent reform in India, Egypt, and the UAE, and contributed to historic WTO accession packages. Earlier, as a US Foreign Service Officer, she directed bilateral IP cooperation with Russia, negotiated agriculture and biotech issues during the GATT Uruguay Round, and coordinated APEC ministerials, earning multiple Meritorious Honor Awards. She has also advised the US Department of Commerce and USTR on IP and trade facilitation, and served on industry trade advisory committees for both intellectual property and customs.

Susan co-founded several companies and NGOs, including Amrita Therapeutics, the American BioIndustry Alliance, and the Washington Embassy Network, working with biotech pioneer Dr. Ananda Chakrabarty. She is also a contributing editor to BiotechBlog.com and a frequent commentator on international IP and innovation policy. She holds a J.D. and Master in Public Policy from the University of Michigan Law School & Ford School of Public Policy, and a B.A. with High Honors in Philosophy from the University of Michigan.

At TIV, Susan brings this wealth of experience to advise clients on bioscience innovation, commercialization strategies, and intellectual property frameworks that align emerging technologies with global best practices.