Dr. Laura Pedraza Fariña

Biography

Laura Pedraza-Fariña is a Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law, specializing in patent law, international intellectual property law, and innovation theory. Her research focuses on innovation law and policy, particularly in the context of international organizations addressing global health intellectual property concerns. Utilizing mixed methods from network science and technology studies, her scholarship offers a sociologically informed approach to intellectual property, examining how social norms interact with intellectual property regimes and influence the advancement of knowledge. She also studies the complex regulatory interactions of international organizations like the World Trade Organization, World Health Organization, and World Intellectual Property Organization, and their roles in shaping international law and norms. Professor Pedraza-Fariña received her J.D. from Harvard Law School, her Ph.D. in Genetics from Yale University, and her B.A. in Chemistry from Oberlin College. Prior to joining UCLA, she practiced as an associate at Covington & Burling in Washington, D.C., focusing on pharmaceutical patent litigation. Her scholarly outputs appear in various prestigious law reviews and she is frequently cited for her contributions to the discourse on intellectual property reform in the face of global health challenges.

Research Interests