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
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.
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Blog Post: 15 SEPTEMBER 2021
Fibrogen v Akebia: Court of Appeal judgment on sufficiency of functional claims
The Court of Appeal (Birss LJ, Floyd LJ and Phillips LJ) handed down its judgment in Fibrogen v Akebia on 24 August 2021, overturning Arnold LJ (another Court of Appeal judge) on his judgment on…
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News: 09 AUGUST 2021
UPDATED AUGUST 9 2021 AT 2.33PM ET SILICON VALLEY - Allen & Overy today announces the investment in eight partners from the White & Case LLP Technology practice. This multidisciplinary and…
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Publications: 08 JULY 2021
Dramatic pause in global Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) clouds the outlook
The extraordinary boom in U.S. SPAC formations continued in Q1 but declined steeply from April onwards. Few believe the trend is over, but a period of greater uncertainty seems likely. SPACs are now…
Read moreRecognition
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 2021
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Global trends in merger control enforcement
Record levels in the first half of 2018 and considerable contraction in the second.