Longtime intellectual property lawyer Cindy Lynch has moved up to the general counsel seat at Sunnyvale, California-based Simplify Medical Inc., a medical device company.

Lynch has led Simplify's IP team as a consultant since March 2016, according to her LinkedIn page. As GC, she's technically a new hire, but the past two and a half years have given her insight on the company.

“I already know and have been working with most of the Simplify team over the last couple of years. I know they are an exceptional and dedicated group and it was an easy decision to join them when the timing was right,” Lynch said in an email to Corporate Counsel.

She'll keep overseeing IP while also adding new responsibilities such as legal strategy, compliance, commercial agreements and business development, as the company gears up for the completion of a two-level U.S. investigational device exemption clinical trial for its cervical artificial disc. Simplify said it estimates 200 patients at 18 centers will be enrolled in its two-level study by the end of the year.

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Lynch said the typical medical device startup has a high level of IP work in its early years, and Simplify is no exception. She said the company has been active in pursuing patents for its cervical disc and other spine products.

“At this stage, Simplify is shifting from an R&D and clinical focus to a more commercial focus with the expected upcoming U.S. commercial launch following requisite regulatory approval, it was the right time to bring on in-house legal support,” she said.

She has previously served as VP of intellectual property for a number of organizations, including Elixir Medical Corp., Moximed Inc., SpinalMotion Inc. and Conor Medsystems Inc. Before her in-house roles, she was a partner at Burns, Doane, Swecker & Mathis.

Lynch also spent four years as a patent examiner at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, according to her LinkedIn page. She holds a master's degree in business administration from San Francisco State University and a law degree from George Mason University School of Law.

“Cindy has led our intellectual property program for years, and we are very excited she has joined our team as General Counsel,” said Simplify's CEO David Hovda in a press release. “While continuing to lead our IP program, which we believe is the largest and most impactful portfolio in cervical spine motion preservation, she will lead our overall legal strategy and continue to ensure our technology remains fully protected.”