Life Sciences
Our global Life Sciences practice comprises a multi-disciplinary team. We act for companies and their investors across the industry, including in the pharmaceuticals, biotech, veterinary, medtech, diagnostics and healthcare sectors.
The practice operates on a cross-border basis and covers the full spectrum of legal support. We advise on mergers and acquisitions, commercial transactions (including licensing and collaborations), IP (both contentious and non-contentious), capital markets and finance, regulatory and dispute resolution. Our international network ensures that we have a ready resource of expertise in a number of jurisdictions, including those in emerging markets, and that we are well positioned to advise on cross-border work.
We have won a reputation for providing far-sighted advice to some of the world’s leading life science companies – including GlaxoSmithKline, Pfizer, UCB, Merck, Bayer and Novartis.
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News & insights
News: 12 January 2022
Technology deals dominate the 2021 global M&A market
Allen & Overy’s latest M&A Insights report* shows that that the value of global M&A transactions surged to a record high of nearly USD5.8 trillion in 2021, an increase of 64% on 2020, and 48% higher…
Publications: 12 January 2022
The UK National Security and Investment Act 2021: the impact on M&A
The mergers and acquisitions (M&A) landscape in the UK changed on 4 January 2022 when the National Security and Investment Act 2021 (the Act) came fully into force. The following article has been…
Publications: 16 November 2021
The UK’s trade remedies regime
The creation of an independent UK trade remedies regime is a critical and under-reported aspect of the UK’s new trade policy. Going forward, the UK’s newfound ability to shape its own trade remedies…
Publications: 07 October 2021
Record-breaking M&A run continues at pace
Dealmaking across the globe continues to break records, as investors take advantage of benign market conditions to deploy capital at an accelerating pace.
Recognition
Strong European offering with noted expertise in IP and patent litigation matters. Well regarded for its impressive client portfolio, which spans the pharmaceutical, biotechechnology, medtech, diagnostics and healthcare industries. Also offers impressive expertise in commercial transactions and M&A.
Chambers Global 2018 (Life Sciences: Global-wide)
Fast and to-the-point advice and counselling... they have the understanding to adapt to what's needed.
Clients quoted in Chambers Europe 2017 (Life Sciences: Europe-wide)
The lawyers we worked with were uniformly excellent… it was great to work with a firm that had strong local counsel in several countries.
Client quoted in Chambers Europe 2017 (Intellectual Property: Europe-wide)
Related links
Life Sciences Hub
We report on EU and national regulatory, compliance, intellectual property and transactional developments in the sector.
Read moreCRISPR microsite
The characterisation and optimisation of the CRISPR (also known as CRISPR-Cas) system for gene editing and other applications, is undoubtedly one of the most powerful and ground breaking advances in the history of biotechnology.
Go to micrositeGrowth Capital microsite
Allen & Overy is an engaged and active player in the growth company ecosystem.
Go to micrositeCannabis microsite
According to UN estimates, the global cannabis market is currently worth approximately USD150 billion annually.
Go to micrositeDownload our sector brochure
An insight in to our Life Science and Healthcare sector 2022
Related content
Global trends in merger control enforcement
Record levels in the first half of 2018 and considerable contraction in the second.