Mark Foster
Business Lawyer
California
CA
About
I led Duke University spinoff Volumetrics Medical Imaging in our decade-long successful patent enforcement campaign, stopped patent infringement and licensed patents to worldwide ultrasound industry.
35years+ in Silicon Valley, Tokyo, Research Triangle.… read more Served as Special Counsel to US Embassy, Tokyo. AV Rated©.
♦ Outside & Inside General Counsel ♦ Disruptive New Venture Creation | Management ♦ International Trade Agreements ♦ Corporate Governance ♦ Commercial | Regulatory | Trade Policy ♦ Corporate Legal Infrastructure Development ♦ International and Domestic Negotiation ♦ Litigation Management
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Client Reviews
"Mark exceeded all expectations for this work. We were strongly impressed with his depth of knowledge, breadth of experience, and thoughtful handling of our needs. We also were lucky to discover that he had strong expertise in our industry. It has been a pleasure working with him, and we look forward to engaging with him again in the future. Mark has our highest recommendations."
"Mark is an incredible resource for corporate legal matters, management issues and strategic planning. He saved Natus several times by his ability, diligence and business skillset. If you can include him in your venture, you should! -Kenneth Traverso, CEO & Co-Founder, SafeinHome.com; formerly EVP Global Sales & Marketing, Natus Medical (NTUS)"
"The work you did … on telecommunications, medical, and electrical product technical standards and systems laid the groundwork for the US government’s [decade-long] major trade initiative in the “Market Oriented Sector Selective” trade talks. We owe a lot to your pioneering effort… American firms who benefit from your work may never know the key role you played. United States Embassy, Tokyo, Japan (Mike Mansfield, Ambassador)"
"Mr. Foster has had a distinguished legal career, having served in private practice, in government as a trade negotiator in Japan, as Counsel in Japan for the entire U.S. Electronics Industry, as lecturer in international business to MBA students and American law to foreign lawyers, and as General Counsel of public companies. United States Attorney General Richard Thornburgh"
"Mr. Foster’s legal career has been devoted to increasing world commerce by eliminating trade barriers and promoting transparent legal and regulatory systems governed by the rule of law. Mary Kay Kane, Chancellor and Dean Emerita, University of California"
"Your [high tech] industry knowledge is critical to the Department of Commerce and Office of the United States Trade Representative in pursuing trade objectives that reflect the concerns and interests of the private sector. -Secretary of Commerce Gary Locke, and United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk (President Obama Cabinet)"
Work History
Law Offices of Mark Foster
Founder & Managing Partner (www.markfoster.com)
Jan 1988 - Present
My firm's been in Silicon Valley since 1988. We handle domestic & international business & commercial law. I've been a member of 10 startup teams taking the companies from founding to IPO or sale.
In 2001 I joined Natus Medical as GC upon our IPO. From 2005-12, I led Volumetrics Medical Imaging, inventor of 4D medical ultrasound, as President, GC, CFO.
I resumed my Law Office in 2016.
Volumetrics Medical Imaging, Inc.
General Counsel, Secretary, President, CFO
Jul 2005 - Dec 2015
Volumetrics Medical Imaging Inc. (VMI) invented 4D medical ultrasound imaging at Duke U.
Mark Foster led VMI for a decade to successfully force GE, Siemens, Toshiba, Philips & Samsung to stop infringing and, instead, to legally license VMI’s real-time 3D/4D patents.
Foster’s leadership produced a substantial return in patent license income to VMI employees and investors including Duke Univ.
Natus Medical, Inc.
General Counsel; Secretary; EVP for HR, Regulatory,Quality, Manufacturing; Acting CFO; Chairman Natus UK and Natus Japan.
Nov 2001 - Jul 2005
Natus Medical invented newborn baby hearing screening, now a standard of care globally. I was on Natus' startup team. We took Natus public 2001.
As GC, I handled all domestic and international legal & regulatory matters. I wrote SEC, FDA, & foreign filings. I served as acting CFO for a year.
I managed Corporate Governance & Board issues, working closely with founder William New, MD,PhD.