Retired Partner
Dr. Christopher (Chris) Hazuka retired from the partnership in February 2026. He advised life sciences companies on the agreements and transactions that were essential to their success at all stages of their life cycle, drawing on his experience as a scientist and former in-house counsel.
Chris, based in both San Diego and the Bay Area, brought clients a scientist’s sensibility, a passion for creating synergies to bring innovation to market, and a pragmatic understanding of the full complement of business and legal issues clients face. In particular, he helped established and emerging life sciences companies by providing problem-solving advice to structure, negotiate, and execute a myriad of transactions, such as:
In the context of strategic transactions, he advised on:
Chris earned a PhD at Stanford University in the Neurosciences Program for his work in Dr. Richard Scheller’s laboratory on the molecular mechanisms of neurotransmission. He later served as in-house counsel for Orexigen Therapeutics, an emerging company that successfully developed and commercialized a drug to treat obesity. At the La Jolla, California-based company, Chris assisted with challenging issues across the company’s full range of legal matters.
He also clerked for Judge Jeremy Fogel of the United States District Court of Northern California, assisting on several high-stakes technology patent litigation matters.
Chambers USA recognized the firm as a “powerhouse in the capital markets space.”
Chambers USA recognized the firm’s Mergers & Acquisitions Practice for “world class expertise when it comes to the most challenging transactions.”