About

Provided by Bristows LLP

Bristows has one of the most highly-regarded life sciences practices in the world.

We have a true cross-disciplinary team of over 80 lawyers in this space encompassing our renowned IP practice, regulatory, competition,  transactional, dispute resolution, IT and data protection teams.  The strength of each individual practice complements the others to provide a fully integrated and comprehensive service.

Our life sciences specialists - many with backgrounds in biology, chemistry, biochemistry, genetics and neuroscience -  advise clients from the different key participants making up the life sciences eco-system.  As such we act for global pharma, specialist investors, growing biotech and medtech companies, universities and research institutes, specialist service providers and government funded bodies.  Our clients also include tech companies now entering the sector as convergence takes hold.

Clients come to us for advice on issues including intellectual property disputes and the coordination of disputes in multiple jurisdictions – whether patents, trade marks or confidential information – and freedom to operate analysis, as well as disputes arising from collaborations and other contractual arrangements.

We advise on the navigation of the regulatory regime for complex new products, spin-outs, financings, IPOs and other exits, the application of competition law to developing business models and on the validity, enforcement and exploitation of novel plant variety rights.

Chambers Review

Provided by Chambers

Life Sciences: Transactional - UK-wide

2
Band 2

What the Team is Known For

Bristows has a superb patent litigation and IP practice. It provides excellent advice on UK and European regulatory frameworks, as well as on commercial and corporate transactions for both emerging innovators and giants of the life sciences industry. It is a leading destination for advice with regard to digital health and medtech, and associated data privacy issues.

Work Highlights

  • Bristows advised AstraZeneca on a global licence agreement with Nona Biosciences to develop new tumour-targeted therapies, based on novel antibodies discovered through a pioneering discovery platform.

Strengths

Provided by Chambers

Notable Practitioners

Provided by Chambers

Brian Cordery
1
Brian Cordery
1
Band 1
Brian Cordery marshals winning arguments on behalf of the world's leading pharmaceutical and life sciences corporations in business-critical and highly complex patent disputes. His experience spans patent revocation, infringement and matters with parallel proceedings in multiple jurisdictions.

Brian is excellent;he really gets involved in the detail and is extremely sensible and experienced.

Brian is a well-established player; one of the leading powerhouses in patent IP.

Alex Denoon
2
Alex Denoon
2
Band 2
Alex Denoon advises pharmaceutical, medical device and biotech companies on how best to comply with the various regulatory frameworks governing the sector. He often handles the complex regulatory aspects of acquisitions and commercial transactions.

Alex really knows his stuff and is a pleasure to work with.

Alex is an excellent lawyer with a pragmatic approach to commercial and legal issues.

Matthew Warren
2
Matthew Warren
2
Band 2
Matthew Warren leads the firm's commercial IP practice and has a notable profile acting on the manufacture and development of pharmaceutical products. He is well thought of for his work on behalf of growth-stage and well-established innovators in life sciences.

Matthew Warren is thorough, and he gives me what I need. He's excellent around intellectual property.

Xisca Borras
2
Xisca Borras
2
Band 2

Xisca Borras is adept at advising life sciences companies on the full spectrum of EU and UK regulatory law. She has a particular focus on medical technology and the biopharmaceutical sectors.

Xisca does a lot of EU advocacy and is astonishingly good. She really is a standout.

Xisca is very clear on complex topics and a pleasure to work with.

Claire Smith
3
Claire Smith
3
Band 3
Claire Smith advises clients in the life sciences sector on commercial transactions covering partnering agreements, collaboration, and licensing. She also advises on the IP and commercial aspects of corporate deals. Her client list comprises notable pharmaceutical and biotech companies.

Claire is excellent, very clear, pragmatic and accessible. She delivers on time and has good client management skills.

Liz Cohen
3
Liz Cohen
3
Band 3
Liz Cohen counsels sector clients on patent litigation and registry strategies. She has extensive experience with regard to small molecule and biosimilar patents. She has extensive experience of coordinating disputes across different jurisdictions.

Liz is an absolute pleasure to work with. She is very commercially minded and a really good team player.

Richard Dickinson
3
Richard Dickinson
3
Band 3
Richard Dickinson co-heads the life sciences department at Bristows. He is a transactional lawyer who advises clients in the life sciences sector on commercial contracts. His scientific background helps him to approach transactions from a technical point of view.
Rob Burrows
3
Rob Burrows
3
Band 3
Rob Burrows represents market-leading corporations in patent litigation relating to blockbuster drugs and medical devices. He is also an authority in the field of plant varieties.

Rob Burrows has excellent technical expertise on complex genomics.

Rob Burrows is never flustered and is very commercially minded. He's very good.

Ellen Lambrix
U
Ellen Lambrix
U
Up and Coming

Ellen Lambrix is recommended for her handling of all manner of IP-driven transactions in the sector. Her clients range from university spin-outs to pharma giants.

Ellen is very commercial, and has strong drafting skills and a good client manner.

U
Rachel Mumby
U
Up and Coming

Rachel Mumby is a solicitor advocate well known for her expertise in life sciences litigation. She frequently acts for multinational biotech and pharma companies in complex patent proceedings before the High Court.

Rachel has a really good combination of technical as well as legal and analytical skills. She is good at applying her chemistry background to the life sciences sector.

Rachel is excellent. She's very good at coordinating large clients in trial.

Ranked Lawyers at
Bristows LLP

Provided by Chambers
Filter by
Band

UK-wide

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation

Brian Cordery
1
Brian Cordery
1
Band 1
Liz Cohen
3
Liz Cohen
3
Band 3
Rob Burrows
3
Rob Burrows
3
Band 3
U
Rachel Mumby
U
Up and Coming
Life Sciences: Regulatory

Alex Denoon
2
Alex Denoon
2
Band 2
Xisca Borras
2
Xisca Borras
2
Band 2
Life Sciences: Transactional

Matthew Warren
2
Matthew Warren
2
Band 2
Claire Smith
3
Claire Smith
3
Band 3
Richard Dickinson
3
Richard Dickinson
3
Band 3
Ellen Lambrix
U
Ellen Lambrix
U
Up and Coming

Members

Provided by Bristows LLP

Claire Smith

David Horner

Dom Adair

Gemma Barrett

Gregory Bacon

Liz Cohen

Liz Cohen

Head of Department

Marek Petecki

Rachel Mumby

Richard Dickinson

Head of Department

Xisca Borrás

Industries

Provided by Bristows LLP

Animal Health

Biotech

Digital Health

Food & Agriculture

Health Care

Medical Devices

Pharma

Plant Varieties

Regenerative Medicine