Gaston & Snow

Gaston & Snow was a prominent Boston-based law firm that played a foundational role in the emergence of the biotechnology industry. Founded in 1844, the firm became the leading legal counsel for early biotech pioneers such as Biogen and Genetics Institute during the 1980s. It provided essential services in intellectual property, venture capital, and corporate structuring that helped define the modern biotech business model. The firm's 'Biotech Group' was among the first of its kind, specializing in the unique legal challenges of life science startups. Despite its prestige and central role in the Boston innovation economy, the firm filed for bankruptcy and dissolved in 1991. It is historically significant for establishing the legal frameworks that supported the first generation of recombinant DNA technology companies.