Blake Ilstrup
Versatile and Experienced Emerging Company Attorney and Strategic Advisor
Washington
WA
About
I have served as a strategic business advisor to companies in multiple verticals, including life sciences, software, hardware, mobile, web services, digital media, manufacturing, and retail. I have also served both as outside corporate counsel in AmLaw Global 100 law firms, and as in-house General Counsel to a highly successful software company and two high-growth biotechnology companies.
experience
Work History
KPI Therapeutics
Executive Vice President and General Counsel
Jan 2016 - Present
KPI Therapeutics™ is a collaborative drug development engine designed from the ground up to accelerate drug development and improve investor outcomes. As GC and EVP, I oversee strategic, legal and business development matters. As one of KPI's founding executives, I played an integral role in designing our novel corporate structure, business model and financing strategies.
Kineta
General Counsel and Senior VP
Feb 2011 - Dec 2015
Responsible for strategic planning, financing, legal and business development matters for this fast-growing biopharmaceutical company. I played an integral role in designing Kineta’s novel corporate structure, business model and financing strategies. I also managed Kineta’s strategic transactions, including in- and out-licensing of drug assets, mergers and acquisitions, and investment rounds.
Cooley LLP
Senior Attorney
Oct 2008 - Feb 2011
My practice focused on VC and bank financing, M&A, corporate partnerships, contracts, IP licensing, and public offerings. I worked with a wide variety of clients in multiple industries. I have been recognized 9 times in the Washington Law & Politics survey as a "Rising Star" among lawyers in WA and am listed in the Best Lawyers in America publication for VC law.
Heller Ehrman's Venture Law Group
Senior Attorney
Jun 1999 - Oct 2008
General corporate/securities counseling for 100+ technology companies and the entities that fund them. Significant experience in company- and investor-side financings, M&A, IP licensing, SOX compliance, IPOs, employee benefits/exec comp, bank financings, commercial agreements and corporate partnerships.
Qpass
General Counsel
May 2005 - Sep 2006
Functioned as the single point of contact for all legal matters for a global 300+ employee, digital content software/services business, including management of commercial contracts/licenses, mergers & acquisitions, human resources and employment matters, securities law compliance, management of IP portfolio and SOX compliance. Spearheaded the successful sale of the company to Amdocs for $300M.
United States Navy
Surface Warfare Officer
Jun 1993 - Jun 1997
Combat Information Center Officer, USS ARKANSAS (CGN 41). Trained over 100 personnel in the operation of the ship’s command/control center. Led 54 operations specialists. Ranked #1 in officer year group. Awarded Navy Commendation Medal by battlegroup admiral for performance during Operations Desert Strike and Southern Watch.