Life Sciences | Europe

Arnold & Porter boasts an outstanding UK-based practice with particular strength advising clients on EU regulations. The lawyers advise leading pharmaceutical clients on an array of regulatory compliance issues, including clinical data disclosure, product approval, and advertising and marketing rules. The law firm is also active in contentious matters, such as product liability claims and fraud investigations. Arnold & Porter has additional experience in transactions and licensing agreements.

Covington & Burling is a top firm with pan-European capabilities out of pre-eminent offices in London and Brussels. The law firm offers clients market-leading regulatory expertise in clinical trials, pharmacovigilance and data protection. Its further expertise includes assisting with corporate matters including distribution and collaboration agreements, as well as contentious mandates relating to EMA regulations and investigations. Covington also assists with M&A in the sector.

Hogan Lovells has an excellent life sciences practice with key teams in the Benelux region, Germany, Italy, France and the UK. It offers expertise across an expansive range of matters, assisting pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with M&A and competition law. The firm further advises on regulatory mandates including clinical trials, data protection and product classification, in addition to contentious matters such as patent and product liability disputes. It also advises on distribution agreements.

Bird & Bird has an impressive team with notable offices in the UK, Italy and Spain, and additional branches in Germany and Belgium. The law firm has particular strength in IP mandates, advising on patent revocation and litigation. It is also active on corporate mandates, advising clients on cross-border acquisitions and collaboration agreements. Bird & Bird further acts on regulatory aspects, including data protection and regulatory issues in clinical trials.

The firm has a notable network of offices across Europe, including well-regarded practices in the UK and France. It is particularly noted for its transactional and IP experience, including patent infringement and litigation, and unfair competition matters. It also has expertise in handling collaboration and licensing agreements, as well as regulatory advice covering trade secrets, data protection and freedom to operate. On 1st May 2024, Allen & Overy and Shearman & Sterling merged to form A&O Shearman.

"What distinguishes the firm in this space is combining subject matter expertise in both life sciences with legal expertise in M&A and deal-making. The experience of the partners is so vast that it is hard to come up with a set of facts in which they do not have a recommended strategy and structure, all born out of negotiations and an impressive back catalogue of deals."

CMS has key teams in the UK, Hungary, the Netherlands and Germany. The law firm has extensive expertise in acquisitions and competition matters. The lawyers also assist with contentious cases before the CJEU. It has further strength in IP matters, advising on advertising and patent infringement issues, with additional experience in product liability and licensing matters.

HOYNG ROKH MONEGIER has strong offerings in Spain and Belgium. The law firm is particularly respected for its patent litigation on behalf of leading pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. It additionally offers regulatory strength, assisting clients with questions relating to market exclusivity and regulatory data protection. The law firm has further strength in enforcement of rights and cases relating to biosimilars.

Sidley Austin has notable offices in Brussels and London, with particular recognition for its regulatory capabilities. The law firm assists clients with major pan-European regulatory matters before EU institutions, including the ECJ. Sidley Austin's additional regulatory expertise covers product liability and recall matters and questions relating to pricing and reimbursement.

Bristows has expertise in pan-European IP matters, with a solid reputation in cross-border matters of both a transactional and contentious nature. The law firm advises leading life science clients on patent litigation, with notable strength in revocation and enforcement proceedings. It also represents clients in market authorisation files, assisting with development and commercialisation of new products. Bristows also continues to be active for leading research teams in landmark cases relating to COVID-19 vaccines and variants, and testing.

Clifford Chance has a strong transactional team with an expansive network, offering life science expertise in Germany, with additional capacity in France. The law firm is especially recognised for its pan-European M&A and competition work, advising leading pharmaceutical clients on cross-border collaboration agreements and acquisitions. It is also active in product liability and patent law matters, with a leading patent litigation team in Spain. Clifford Chance additionally advises on regulatory matters including clinical trials and market authorisation.

Taylor Wessing is a distinguished firm with reputable life sciences teams in Germany and the UK. The law firm handles the full breadth of life sciences matters, including patent litigation and product liability. It additionally advises on corporate matters including multi-jurisdictional M&A and product licensing. Taylor Wessing additionally assists with regulatory matters, advising clients from the pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical device industries on online sales, distribution and biosimilars.