Headlands Research Appoints Eric Martinson as General Counsel

New General Counsel's path from clinical trial site activation to global legal leadership gives Headlands legal expertise with genuine operational depth

WEST PALM BEACH, FL, [June 29, 2026] - Headlands Research, a leading clinical trial site network, today announced the appointment of Eric Martinson as General Counsel. Martinson will oversee all legal affairs, bringing extensive experience leading legal strategy across clinical research and life sciences, including an early career in clinical trial operations.

"Eric has something rare in a legal executive: he's worked in clinical trial operations, so he understands the business from both sides of the table," said Kyle Burtnett, Chief Executive Officer of Headlands Research. "As we continue to build out our global network, having a General Counsel with that combination of practical industry experience and legal rigor is what lets us move quickly and scale with confidence."

Prior to joining Headlands, Martinson served as Vice President of Legal Affairs at Marken, a UPS company and one of the clinical trial industry's leading logistics providers, where he led the global legal function and served on the executive leadership team. His work spanned commercial contracting, litigation management, employment matters, and legal support for a fast-moving international operation. Before Marken, he served as Corporate Counsel at PRA Health Sciences, advising on commercial contracts, litigation, and legal matters related to clinical trial regulations and operations.

"I spent time on the operational side of clinical trials before law school, and that experience shapes how I approach legal work in this industry," said Eric. "What drew me to Headlands is the quality of the network and the pace of growth. I'm looking forward to helping the team move quickly and effectively."

Earlier in his career, Martinson practiced civil litigation and employment law at Brown Law LLP in Raleigh, North Carolina. Before law school, Martinson worked as a Site Activation Specialist at INC Research, now Syneos Health, gaining firsthand experience in the clinical trial startup process that continues to inform how he thinks about legal risk in this space.

A veteran of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, Martinson was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious achievement during service in Iraq. He earned his JD from the University of North Carolina School of Law and holds a Bachelor of Arts with Distinction from the University of Oklahoma.

About Headlands Research

Headlands Research is a leading clinical trial site network with a mission to improve lives by advancing innovative medical therapies. Its group of exceptional sites focuses on large-volume recruitment of diverse and specialty patient populations while delivering the highest quality data. Headlands Research's principal investigators are proven industry leaders in their fields with expertise in a wide variety of indications. Utilizing expert recruitment strategies and access to diverse patients through its site databases and physician partnerships, Headlands Research has successfully completed more than 5,000 clinical trials. Additional information about the company is available at headlandsresearch.com.

Contact: Brittany Kearns
Phone: 571-271-7211
Email: [email protected]