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: 30 MARCH 2020
China’s life sciences industry remains opportune despite Covid-19 coronavirus
While the novel Covid-19 coronavirus is at the top of the agenda for businesses around the world, and for good reason, it is creating challenges for medical and healthcare systems and signalling fundamental change across the life sciences industry.
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Publications: 16 MARCH 2020
Coronavirus - what is the current situation in Germany?
In order to contain the Coronavirus the German federal states as well as the German government have put strict measures into place. Schools and kindergartens have been closed as well as borders to most neighbouring states for private travel. In order to mitigate the economic consequences, the German government announced a comprehensive package of measures.
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Publications: 19 FEBRUARY 2020
Phase One Sino–U.S. trade agreement and the pharmaceutical industry
On 16 January 2020, China and the United States signed the Economic and Trade Agreement between the Government of the People’s Republic of China and the Government of the United States of America (the Phase One Trade Agreement).
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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.
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
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Global trends in merger control enforcement
Record levels in the first half of 2018 and considerable contraction in the second.