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: 29 NOVEMBER 2019
As more countries liberalise their cannabis policies, there has been a rapid increase in the number of registered IP rights as competitors seek to establish their places in the market.
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Publications: 04 OCTOBER 2019
Outstanding performance by A&O in global M&A league tables
A&O has marked the end of Q3 2019 with an outstanding performance in the M&A league tables; the result of advising on a number of complex, high-value transactions in a wide range of sectors and markets, around our global network in 2019.
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Publications: 28 AUGUST 2019
NICE consults on Draft Guideline on prescribing medicinal cannabis
On 8 August 2019, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)1 published a draft guideline on prescribing cannabis-based medicinal products (the Draft Guideline) for consultation.2
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Publications: 26 JULY 2019
China removes more barriers to market entry
The pledge by President Xi at the G20 Summit in Osaka that China would continue to liberalise market access has seen immediate progress in the form of a new update to the Catalogue of Encouraged Industries for Foreign Investment (the Industries Catalogue) and the publication of two revised negative lists governing foreign investment.
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.
View the blogCRISPR 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 2020
Related content
Global trends in merger control enforcement
Record levels in the first half of 2018 and considerable contraction in the second.