Peter Homberg

Practice Areas

Peter Homberg is a partner in the Dentons Berlin office. He focuses on life sciences, IP, corporate law and M&A transactions in the life sciences and high-tech sector as well as in R&D and cooperation agreements, cross-border IP licensing and IP strategies. Furthermore, he has extensive experience providing legal advice on compliance issues. Additionally, he is the head of the European Cannabis sector group. Peter advises inter alia companies in the pharmaceutical, diagnostics, biotechnology, medical device and medical cannabis industries—from startups to large publicly listed companies. Furthermore, he has broad transactional experience in Southeast Asia. Peter is member of the Licensing Executive Society (LES), the German Association for Intellectual Property and Copyright (GRUR), the German Institution for Arbitration (DIS) as well as the Pharma-Lizenz-Club Deutschland e.V. He regularly holds lectures at seminars and conferences. He is the author of numerous professional articles and other publications regarding corporate or IP law in the field of life sciences.

Career

Dentons (formerly Salans) – Partner (since 2012); Raupach & Wollert-Elmendorff (2010-2012); Jones Day (2001-2009); Roche Diagnostics GmbH (1996-2001); Debis Marketing Services (1994-1996); Thümmel Schütze & Partner (1990-1994); C. Wuppesahl Insurance Brokers (1989-1990)

Professional Memberships

Licensing Executive Society (LES), German Association for Intellectual Property and Copyright (GRUR), German Institution for Arbitration (DIS), Pharma-Lizenz-Club Deutschland e.V., Branchenverband Cannabiswirtschaft e.V. (BvCW)

Publications

Peter Homberg is author of numerous publications regarding corporate and IP law in the field of Life Sciences. Peter regularly holds lectures at national and international seminars and conferences.

Articles and Interviews (Selection):

"Germany passes new law on the use of cannabis (“CanG”) partially legalizing cannabis for recreational use,” Cannabis Law Journal, March 2024

“Update on the Current Developments in the German Legalization Process,” Cannabis Law Journal, January 2024

“Aktuelle Entwicklungen und Herausforderungen von M&A im Biotech-Sektor, M&A Review, December 2023

“CBD Oils: Food or Pharmaceutical?,” Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 3, December 2023

„Current Developments in the German Legalization Process,” Cannabis Law Journal, November 2023

“Draft Bill German Cannabis Law—Consequences for Medical Cannabis”, Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 2, September 2023, FOCUS online expert series on cannabis law with regular contributions, since April 2023

“Recent developments in the German legalization process of recreational cannabis”, Legal Industry Reviews Germany Vol. 1, May 2023

“Marketability of CBD products in Germany and the European Union,” Cannabis Law Journal, December 2022 “Grundlegende Änderungen in der zukünftigen Verschreibungspraxis von Medizinalcannabis,“ krautinvest, December 2022

“Key Proposals Paper: New Details on Planned Cannabis Legalization in Germany,” Cannabis Law Journal, November 2022

“Geplante Cannabis-Legalisierung – Zwischen Wunschdenken und Rechtsrealität,” LTO, September 2022

“The Fate of the German Medicinal Cannabis Industry Post-Legalization,” Cannabis Law Journal, August 2022

“Online-Handel von Cannabis: Der Vertriebsweg der Zukunft?,” krautinvest, July 2022

“Legalization in Europe? – Candidates for the legalization of recreational cannabis in the near future,” Cannabis Law Journal, May 2022

“Warum die Legalisierung von Freizeitcannabis völkerrechtlich bedenklich ist,” krautinvest, April 2022

“The legalization of recreational cannabis in conflict to the UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs 1961,” Cannabis Law Report, December 2021

“Harmonisierung des Rechtsrahmens für medizinisches Cannabis auf EU-Ebene,” krautinvest, November 2021

Co-author, “Die Pflicht zur Deckungsvorsorge nach § 94 AMG für bestrahlte Cannabisblüten,” Pharma Recht 09/2021 “Künstliche Inteligenz unter der EU-Medizinprodukteverordnung,” Science4Life, 2021

“Neue Entwicklungen im deutschen Markt für medizinisches Cannabis und Cannabidiol (CBD) 2021 – ein Überblick,” Going Public, Biotechnology, 2021 Column about German and European regulation of medical cannabis, Cannabis Law Report, since 2020

“Staatliche Benutzungsanordnungen und Zwangslizenzen im Kampf gegen COVID-19,” Science4Life, 2020

“Die Rechte des Arbeitnehmers und des Arbeitgebers an einer Diensterfindung,” Science4Life, 2019

“M&A-Aktivitäten im chinesischen Biotechbereich – Chancen und Herausforderungen für deutsche und europäische Akteure,“ Going Public, Biotechnology 2019, September 2019

“Chinese investments in the European Biotechnology Sector – Overcoming Challenges in Cross-Border Collaborations,” Going Public, Investing in Biotechnology, February 2019

"Germany: The Essential Requirements on Trading Medical Cannabis under the 1961 Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs,” pharmaboardroom.com, 2019

Co¬author, “Der (virtuelle) Datenraum als „conditio sine qua non” für eine erfolgreiche Transaktion,” Jubiläumsbroschüre, 2018

“GmbH in Gründung: Die Rechtsfähigkeit im Gründungsprozess,” Science4Life, 2018

Co-author, “The use of telemedicine is liberalised in Germany,” Digital Health Legal, Volume 5, Issue 6 “The German E-Health-Act As Goal Tracker For The German Government's Commitment To E-Health Innovation,” Digital Health Legal, January 2018

“Die Zukunft in der Gesundheitsbranche?!,” transkript, 2018 Co-author, “Cannabis als Medizin,” Biotechnologie, 2017

“Crowdfunding für Biotech-Firmen,” transkript, May 2017

“Zulassungsfragen bei Produkten der personalisierten Medizin – Das rechtliche Umfeld von Companion Diagnostics,” “Transparenz / Neue Produkte” von Wolfgang Voit (Hrsg.), Marburger Schriften zum Gesundheitswesen, 18. Marburger Gespräche, Nomos Verlag, 2017

Co-author, “Aufgaben und Inhalt des (virtuelen) Datenraums,” transkript, 2016 Latest Interviews: Section in the “Karma Koala Podcast,” Cannabis Law Report, monthly “Die Miliardendröhnung,” WirtschaftsWoche, December 2022

“Liebäugeln mit Plan B,” Tagesspiegel, December 2022

“Lauterbach ringt mit EU-Kommission um Cannabis-Legalisierung,“ Handelsblatt, November 2022 “Das ist eine Revolution,” taz, October 2022

“Bubatz bald legal? Ein Experte erklärt, warum die Pläne der Ampel am EU-Recht scheitern könnten,” stern, October 2022

“In der Cannabis-Frage schaut Deutschland nach Uruguay,” DIE WELT, September 2022 “Droht Lauterbach ein Debakel wie Scheuer bei der PKW-Maut?,” n-tv, September 2022 “Ein lukrativer Markt mit Hindernissen,” Deutschlandfunk Kultur, July 2022

“Quo vadis Cannabinoidbasierte Fertigarzneimittel? Status quo und Perspektiven,” krautinvest, March 2022

“Ampelkoalition will Cannabis für Erwachsene legalisieren—die wichtigsten Fragen und Antworten,” Handelsblatt, November 2021

“Cannabis: Eine Branche wird erwachsen,” Deutsche Welle, August 2021

“Konsolidierung im Cannabismarkt? Die Hochpreisigkeit wird es nicht mehr geben,” krautinvest, August 2021

Books:

“Product liability for medical devices” (“Produkthaftung bei Medizinprodukten”), in: Foerste/Graf von Westphalen, Product Liability Manual (“Produkthaftungshandbuch”), 4th edition (4. Auflage), 2024

“Pharma und Life Sciences” contract manuel (“Vertragshandbuch”), Verlag C.H. Beck, 2nd Edition 2021

Presentations (selection):

Speech to the Slovenian National Council on the legalization of cannabis in Germany, February 2024,

“Modernizing Germany’s Cannabis Policies”, Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference Slovenia, September 2023

“Cannabis Legalization in Germany”, International Cannabis Business Conference Berlin, June 2023

“Five Years of Cannabis-As-Medicine-Act. The German Way”, Keynote Speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, July 2022

“The German Way to Medical and Recreational Cannabis”, Keynote speech, Cannabis Business Europe Conference, June 2022

“Developments of the German Cannabis Market”, Keynote speech, European Medical Cannabis Conference, September 2021

“Medical Cannabis from German Cultivation”, Keynote speech, International Cannabis Business Conference, August 2021

Personal

Peter Homberg has broad experience in the Southeast Asian market.

Experience

DEMECAN GmbH: Preparation of a legal opinion on the compatibility of the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes in Germany with international and European law. Identification of possible solutions to overcome obstacles under international and European law.

Canopy Growth Corp.: Advising a subsidiary of one of the leading Canadian medical cannabis suppliers on the acquisition of the German inhaler manufacturer Storz & Bickel GmbH & Co. KG for €135 million.

DEMECAN GmbH: Preparation of a comprehensive legal opinion regarding legal hurdles for the legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes and analysis of possible legal solutions.

Proteona Pte. Ltd.: Advising biotech company on an exclusive worldwide licensing agreement with the National University of Singapore (NUS).

Canadian medical cannabis supplier: Advising on the conclusion of a joint venture agreement with a German pharmaceutical wholesaler.

Scil Technology GmbH: Advising regarding the out-licensing of certain intellectual property for the regenerative treatment of inter alia Osteoarthritis to Sanofi.

Scil Technology GmbH: Advising regarding the sale of its service and production division to Nanohale AG.

German biotechnology company: Advising regarding the sale of a certain IP-portfolio for the treatment of cardiac insufficiency.

German mid-size pharmaceutical company: Advising regarding the licensing and distribution of a certain API for the treatment of interstitial cystitis to a multinational US-based pharmaceutical company.

US-based pharmaceutical enterprise: Advising regarding the due diligence in connection with a certain technology portfolio for the manufacturing of vaccines prior to the in-licensing of the technology.

Swiss-based biotechnology company: Advising regarding cooperation with a French multinational pharmaceutical enterprise.

Priaxon AG: Advising regarding the out-licensing of a certain technology to Boehringer Ingelheim.

German-Singaporean biotech company: Advising regarding the in-licensing of a certain diagnostic technology from the National University of Singapore.

French venture capital fund: Advising regarding the acquisition of shares in a German-based biotechnology company.

German medium-size pharmaceutical company: Advising regarding the restructuring of its distribution channels in Portugal and in other European countries.

Various clients in the life sciences sector: Advising in all types of transactions, including technology transfer agreements, R&D agreements, M&A transactions, private equity transactions, arbitration proceedings and litigations.