Our team of legal experts has extensive experience of advising businesses in all aspects of this complex and fascinating sector.
We’re here to help. With our specialists’ deep understanding of the economic and policy environment in which your customers and partners – notably the NHS – operate, we will support you throughout this journey, providing tailored legal solutions and ensuring you make the most of the opportunities available.
Our diverse range of clients includes research-based and generic pharmaceutical manufacturers and distributors; suppliers of over-the-counter and veterinary medicines; university spin-out companies; medical device manufacturers and suppliers of healthcare informatics.
We also act for international life sciences businesses and can guide you as you expand your sales in the UK and beyond.
On the corporate side we act for venture capital funds and investors which specialise in life sciences and also advise founder teams and investee companies taking such funding, from pre-seed/seed capital for start-ups through to Series A investment and beyond for more established businesses.
In our commitment to this sector we have established close links with a number of regional science parks and we are active members of Bionow, the award winning business development and services company at the heart of the biomedical and life sciences sector in the North of England.
With our full spectrum of legal services, solid reputation and 360 degree knowledge of the sector, you can be confident that the advice you receive is the cutting edge, helping drive your business forwards.
- Advising a UK-based international pharmaceutical wholesaler and distributor in relation to various matters, including distribution arrangements and shareholder exit
- Advising an in-vitro diagnostic solution provider on patent and patent infringement questions
- Advising a specialist manufacturer on a range of commercial agreements including non-disclosure, product development, logistics and supply, and regulatory (Misuse of Drugs Regulations)
- Advising a specialist manufacturer on the launch of a new product including trials agreements, supply chain agreements, distribution agreements and IP protection
- Advising various manufacturers and suppliers of pharmaceuticals and speciality chemicals on competition compliance
- Acting for a specialist manufacturer in the registration of a number of trade marks for their generics and specials products and advising on a number of commercial agreements and, in particular, on intellectual property issues.
- Acting for an in-vitro diagnostic solution provider in negotiating technology transfer agreements with a number of businesses involved in the provision of assay analysis equipment, involving the licensing of various technology and the provision of a range of other training and support services.
- Acting for a University in the establishment of a joint venture company with a Foundation Trust which offers a rapid DNA and RNA based testing service to NHS, private sector, pharmaceutical sector and research institutions.
- A pharmaceutical business in relation to product acquisitions and their potential agency arrangements with an existing supplier
- Generics suppliers in relation to product acquisitions, licensing and distribution arrangements
- A new generics supplier in relation to their start up, investor and shareholder arrangements
- A diverse pharmaceutical group, including CT and supply, in relation to various reorganisations
- Lawyers to the GM and Cheshire Life Sciences Fund, based at Alderley Park, Cheshire, in its numerous investments in life sciences and medical device companies, including, Blueberry Therapeutics, Proveca, Biorelate, Microbiosensor and Gendius
- Acting for a number of other regional funds and angel investors with special focus on this sector
- Providing corporate services, from initial investment through to Series A and beyond to numerous investee companies in this sector, including medical device developers and biomedical businesses
- Acting for UK business on being appoint the exclusive distributor for cosmetic and pharmaceutical products
- Acting for client on the development and manufacture of new eyecare and optical products, along with a supporting new business model.
- Acting for a supplier of diagnostic equipment on termination of its contract with its Scandinavian distributor and resulting claims, resolved via negotiation
- Acting for a US supplier of medical packaging on ownership of intellectual property rights and recovery of damages from a UK company
- Acting for a leading global supplier of safety equipment on various disputes, often involving an international element
- Advising a North East headquartered biomanufacturing business on a corporate joint venture arrangement with a listed tissue engineering business, for the research and development by the JVC of cultivated meat technology. The matter involved negotiation of in-bound IPR licences, services agreements, and terms of investment by the counterparty, and shareholders’ agreement.
- Acting as outsourced commercial counsel for a world leading supplier of cell-based quality control materials. Recent instructions include the negotiation and conclusion of distribution arrangements in various overseas territories, and the conclusion of a third party white-label/own-brand distribution arrangement.
- We advised an overseas based life sciences business on immigration law issues to enable their founder and key employees to come to the UK, with a view to setting up and establishing a UK branch. Initially this focussed on considering the individuals’ immigration status when entering the UK for preparatory meetings and fact finding for their planned business expansion; subsequently we provided advice in relation to the immigration law requirements that permit non-UK nationals to work in the UK. This involved advice to both the business and individual employees on work permits (including the Skilled Worker visa route, Expansion Worker route and Global Business Mobility), along with considering other potential immigration options for specific individuals such as Innovator Founder and Global Talent visas. We also advised on the compliance requirements and potential penalties for any breaches. We got to know the business well; initially meeting with them as part of a trade delegation focussing on local investment in the region, followed by virtual meetings and written advice. We were able to provide commercial and pragmatic advice to help them achieve their objectives in line with their timescales. This has ensured their business expansion plans can progress at pace. More generally, our immigration team (which is one of the largest outside of London) regularly advises businesses and individuals on these sorts of issues and has a 100% success rate with sponsor licence applications.
- We have supported a number of start up and scale up life sciences business with their HR and employment law needs. This includes providing bespoke employment contracts and company handbooks crucially ensuring that their business, confidential information and IP is protected. Our life sciences clients have also benefited from joining our HR Protect scheme which is our solicitor led advisory service providing employment law advice on day to day matters with cost certainty. HR Protect has given those clients access to hundreds of template letters and documents, guidance notes and FAQs all for a fixed fee.