Lightwave Logic Appoints Michael Best to Overhaul Patent and Licensing Strategy

Lightwave Logic, Inc. (NASDAQ:LWLG), a technology platform company specializing in proprietary electro-optic (EO) polymers, announced on April 29, 2026, that it has retained Michael Best & Friedrich LLP as outside counsel to support its intellectual property (IP) strategy. The engagement encompasses invention harvesting, patent preparation and prosecution, international filing strategies, portfolio management and analysis, and IP licensing matters.

The partnership is intended to safeguard Lightwave Logic’s electro-optic polymer platform, which is positioned as a foundational technology for next-generation AI and data center infrastructure. By working with Michael Best, the company aims to create a licensing-friendly framework for semiconductor foundries and design partners, while also streamlining technology transfer to accelerate commercialization and adoption across the silicon photonics industry.

Dr. Aref Chowdhury, Chief Technology Officer and Head of Strategy at Lightwave Logic, emphasized the significance of the move: “At Lightwave Logic, we have spent years pioneering a foundational electro-optic polymer platform that we believe will be essential for the next generation of AI and data center infrastructure. Drawing from my career experience in managing and shaping complex intellectual property portfolios in the telecommunications and optical technology sectors, I recognize and greatly value the importance of intellectual property. As we transition from R&D to large-scale commercialization, protecting our significant investments in proprietary material science and devices is paramount. Partnering with Michael Best allows us to robustly defend our innovations while simultaneously creating a licensing-friendly ecosystem. Our goal is to ensure our technology is easily accessible to semiconductor foundries and design partners around the world, while maintaining the rigorous IP standards necessary to safeguard our competitive edge and long-term shareholder value.”

Michael Best brings over a century of experience in intellectual property law, with a team of professionals holding advanced degrees in computer science, engineering, physics, chemistry, and biotechnology. The firm is recognized for providing clients with technical depth and legal expertise, regularly advising both public and private companies on building, managing, and licensing IP portfolios to support long-term growth and competitive positioning.

Jeffrey Peterson, Partner and Sub-Group Leader of IP Business Solutions at Michael Best, commented, “Lightwave Logic’s electro-optic polymer platform sits at the intersection of AI infrastructure, data center expansion, and next-generation photonics, a convergence that creates extraordinary licensing and partnering opportunities. Our team brings technical fluency and deep transactional experience to help Lightwave Logic structure licensing, partnering, and technology transfer agreements that protect their innovations while accelerating their path to market.”

Molly Lawson, Partner and Sub-Group Leader of Patent Prosecution & Opinions at Michael Best, added, “Lightwave Logic’s technology and innovation roadmap present exciting opportunities for strategic patent development as the demands for fast yet efficient data transmission will only continue to grow with the rapid development and deployment of AI. We look forward to partnering closely with their team to support invention development, portfolio growth, and long-term IP planning.”

The collaboration is expected to establish a standardized framework for technology transfer and licensing agreements, facilitating the commercialization and adoption of Lightwave Logic’s polymer-based modulators across the silicon photonics industry and related sectors. By integrating sophisticated IP management into its broader commercial strategy, the company aims to accelerate market entry while ensuring the protection of its core intellectual assets.

Recent months have seen Lightwave Logic announce several commercialization and partnership milestones. On March 11, the company entered a development agreement with Tower Semiconductor, and on February 24, it provided a commercial pipeline update—both announcements were met with strong positive market reactions. However, the availability of the company’s platform in GlobalFoundries’ GDSFactory PDK on March 16 was followed by a decline, while the scheduling of the annual meeting on April 14 coincided with a gain. The current engagement with Michael Best fits into this broader effort to commercialize and protect the company’s electro-optic polymer platform.

On the day of the announcement, Lightwave Logic’s stock fell 7.15%, a move that appeared specific to the company rather than indicative of a broader chemicals-sector trend, as key peers showed mixed, smaller movements. Peer momentum data flagged only one peer in scanners, reinforcing that the market reaction was likely stock-specific. The company’s recent news flow has often triggered strong market reactions, both positive and negative, around commercialization and partnership updates.

Lightwave Logic is not currently involved in any active or pending intellectual property litigation. The company’s proactive approach to IP management is intended to support a sustainable and scalable business model as it expands its presence in the AI-driven future of optical communications.