UC San Diego?s Alan Paau, assistant vice chancellor of technology transfer, will address local startups at an Emerging Companies Summit on Oct. 26 sponsored by Catalyst Law Group.

Paau will discuss how to assess technology?s chances for commercialization. The conference is also expected to feature panels of experts who will address financing a startup in the earliest stages, basics about intellectual property and initial public offerings, as well as employee benefits.

In addition to Paau, expert panelists include David Kabakoff, a pioneer of the local biotech industry and former chief executive officer of Salmedix Inc., Jack Florio, of the investment group Tech Coast Angels, Dan Dubois, managing partner at RetirementDNA, attorneys from Catalyst and other speakers.

The summit will be held at the Hyatt Regency La Jolla at Aventine and will run from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. with a reception to follow. The cost to attend is $75. For more information, call (858) 200-0584.

Catalyst, founded in 2001, is a boutique law firm that specializes in intellectual property and corporate law with a technology and life sciences focus.

? Katie Weeks