EXHIBIT 5
LAW OFFICES
LIPPENBERGER, THOMPSON, WELCH, SOROKO & GILBERT LLP
250 MONTGOMERY STREET
SUITE 500
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94104-3401
(415) 421-5300
FACSIMILE
(415) 421-0225
August 15, 2000
Securities and Exchange Commission
450 Fifth Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20549
Re: BioTime, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3
Ladies/Gentlemen:
We are counsel to BioTime, Inc. (the "Company") in connection with the
offer and sale of up to 622,548 Common Shares (the "Shares") issuable upon the
exercise of certain warrants (the "Warrants"). The Warrants and Shares are being
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, pursuant to a
Registration Statement on Form S-3.
We are of the opinion that the Warrants are legally and validly issued
and outstanding and constitute binding obligations of BioTime, enforceable in
accordance with their terms. We are also of the opinion that when the Shares are
issued and sold upon the exercise of the Warrants, in accordance with the terms
and provisions of the Warrants, the Shares will be legally and validly issued
and outstanding, fully paid and nonassessable.
The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of California
and the Federal laws of the United States of America.
We hereby consent to the use of our opinion in the Registration
Statement.
Very truly yours,
Lippenberger, Thompson, Welch, Soroko & Gilbert LLP
