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Life Sciences (Dispute Resolution)

Life Sciences

Our full-service group of specialist Life Sciences lawyers brings knowledge and passion to this dynamic but highly regulated sector. We focus on patent, regulatory, major contract, insurance and competition law disputes across the life sciences sector.

Known for our nimble and creative approach, we pursue every avenue to protect our clients' interests. For example, our regular use of civil search and asset freezing orders in counterfeit pharmaceutical and agrochemical cases sets us apart from our competitors.

We understand that having the right regulatory advice is critical to your success and we advise on the full range of commercial agreements including licences, research and development agreements, large-scale clinical trial programmes and technology transfer.

Our clients range from multi-nationals to start-ups, operating in the pharmaceutical, medical device, biotechnology, agrochemical, crop science and veterinary medicine fields. We also work with academic institutions and non-profits, tailoring legal solutions to match their institutional needs and risk preferences.

As new developments arise we provide our clients with clarity, recently advising several clients on the regulatory landscape affecting medical cannabis and CBD products. Tenacious problem-solvers, our Life Sciences group relish the commercial challenges of a sector disrupted by technology but rooted in regulation.

Key Services

  • Managing complex multi-jurisdictional disputes relating to validity and infringement of patents, SPCs, and entitlement issues
  • Freedom to operate advice in the light of third party rights and clearing the way to market

  • Protection, exploitation and enforcement of IP rights across the life sciences industry, advising on complex clearance issues and portfolio management relating to pharmaceutical brands 
  • Anti-counterfeiting strategies including innovative use of civil and criminal remedies (including actions for fraud and for recovery of proceeds of crime) and Border detentions
  • Trade secrets protection

  • Advice on obtaining marketing authorisations and acting in cases relating to regulatory decisions
  • Regulatory and contractual issues relating to clinical trials agreements
  • Regulation of novel foods and food supplements
  • Pharmacovigilance issues
  • Reimbursement and pricing issues
  • Advice in relation to paediatric and orphan drugs

  • Resolution of IP, competition, regulatory and contractual disputes, including through mediation and arbitration
  • Product liability
  • Reputation management
  • Conducting internal investigations
  • Advising in respect of bribery and corruption legislation/exposure in the UK
  • Directing and guiding criminal investigations, and conducting private prosecutions (including for fraud, IP breaches, and counterfeiting offences)
  • Insurance coverage disputes

  • Advising on relevant market definition applicable to the pharmaceutical sector
  • Advising on the interplay between competition law and intellectual property, including patent settlement, FRAND issues in relation to regulatory data and potential misuse of the patent system/SPCs
  • Advising various drug manufacturers and wholesalers on various issues associated with the application of EU competition law to the pharmaceutical sector

  • Negotiating the full range of research, development and collaboration agreements for new therapies and medical devices
  • Advising both pharma companies (as Sponsors) and contract research organisations on the largest multicentre study arrangements, covering interventional, extended use, paediatric and observational studies

  • Advising on insurance programmes relevant to the pharmaceutical sector and potential gaps in coverage, including product liability policies, bespoke clinical trial policies, D&O insurance
  • Representing life sciences companies in high-value insurance coverage disputes against their insurers, such as product liability Bermuda Form arbitrations, employment practices liability, directors' and officers' liability
  • Representing life science companies in claims against insurance brokers for breach of contract/negligence
  • Insurance coverage advice

  • Advising on and negotiating the full suite of commercial transactions across the Life Sciences industry
  • Data protection, data privacy and cyber-security advice
  • Advising in relation to advertising and marketing issues.

  • Purchases and sales of companies or their assets. Accessing capital markets and IPO
  • Advising financial institutions and other investors on investments in the Life Sciences sectors and related due diligence
  • Private equity transactions, including buy outs and buy ins, corporate business acquisitions and disposals, public-to-private transactions, growth/development capital investments
  • Transactions involving re-organisations and demergers, including advice on TUPE
  • Fund structuring and establishment, including tax and regulatory advice
  • Managing the full spectrum of contentious and non-contentious employment law, from HR advisory and contractual agreements to advising on team moves, data theft and restrictive covenants
  • Expertise in business immigration and incentives
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