John Burtis

John Burtis is an experienced legal professional with a strong focus on intellectual property and corporate law. Currently serving as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary at Makana Therapeutics since October 2020, Burtis provides legal and strategic counsel for innovative xenotransplantation solutions. As Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel at Recombinetics since June 2017, Burtis advises on transactional and litigation matters for a gene-editing startup. Previous roles include Senior Legal Counsel at Imation, Interim Chief Intellectual Property Counsel at Ecolab, and Principal Litigation Counsel at Medtronic, where Burtis managed significant corporate litigation. Early career experience includes positions at 3M Company and Fish & Richardson P.C., focusing on a broad range of intellectual property services. Educational credentials include a Juris Doctor from the University of Minnesota Law School and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of Minnesota.