Covington & Burling

Headquartered in Washington DC, Covington & Burling is a full-service firm with a significant presence in the life sciences industry. Among one of the largest industry-focused practices, the firm houses what one peer describes as a "deep bench of talented lawyers." The firm's financial and corporate practice assists clients in strategic and complex transactions, often for major pharmaceutical companies. The firm's practitioners are also experienced handling transactions for biotech and medical device companies.

Vice-chair of the firm's life sciences industry group Emily Leonard is often highlighted for her client work in the licensing and collaborations space. Edward Britton focuses on assisting clients in a variety of transactions, including strategic licensing agreements, joint ventures and collaborations. Van Ellis is skilled in working with clients ranging from early to multinational companies.

John Hurvitz serves as co-chair of the life sciences industry group, head of the technology transactions group, and vice-chair of the corporate group. Alongside a strong multidisciplinary team, Hurvitz recently assisted IFM Therapeutics, which was acquired by Bristol Meyers Squibb for $300 million in August 2017. Catherine Dargan adeptly represents clients in strategic and complex transactions, including mergers and acquisitions for both private and public companies.

General practice firm Covington & Burling has one of the most comprehensive life sciences practices, in IP offering expertise in prosecution patent litigation. The firm is highly ranked for its strength handling Hatch-Waxman disputes for branded drug companies. A competitor in the patent litigation space says: "Anytime I have anything with Covington I'm impressed with them."

George Pappas is a leading litigator in the life sciences sector, with deep experience in ANDA litigations. Notable representations include AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck. Christopher Sipes is deemed a "good courtroom lawyer," and a "real intellect in the field" by a peer. In addition to his work as a patent litigator, he also offers knowledge of FDA issues. Jeffrey Elikan is another standout practitioner serving pharmaceutical clients in patent disputes against generic challengers.

Andrea Reister has a broad-based practice in IP, combining expertise in post-grant proceedings, district court litigations, and patent strategy. She serves as head of the firm's Patent Office trials practice group.

Covington & Burling offers a broad-based practice in the life sciences, with a deep bench of attorneys who contribute to the firm's longstanding reputation as a high-quality practice. The firm receives top ranking in FDA pharmaceutical counseling, licensing and collaboration, Hatch-Waxman disputes and white-collar matters.

In the regulatory space, the firm has particular expertise handling FDA issues on behalf of pharmaceutical clients. The group provides extensive experience in compliance matters and enforcement for clients in both pre-market and post-market stages. A peer regards the firm as a "powerhouse," and another considers it one of the "go-to-firm[s] for the branded industry." Michael Labson regularly advises and strategizes with pharmaceutical companies on FDA matters. His practice has involved FDA disputes, market exclusivities, clinical trial misconducts, and REMS. Geoffrey Hobart also focuses on handling FDA investigations, representing pharmaceutical companies dealing with the FDA and its investigations into the clients' practices.

A peer says the firm "provides excellent service in the Hatch-Waxman area," a practice many of the firm's notable patent litigators are experienced in. George Pappas is among one of the most noteworthy senior patent trial lawyers in the field, who has represented the likes of AstraZeneca, Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merck. Christopher Sipes and Jeffrey Elikan also stand out in the life sciences practice as some of the firm's most skilled patent litigators. Sipes is described by a peer as a "good courtroom lawyer," and a "real intellect in the field." Andrea Reister serves as head of the Patent Office trials practice group, who, in addition to her post-grant work, also specializes in district court litigations and patent strategy.

Emily Leonard serves as vice-chair of the firm's life sciences industry and is one of the firm's go-to practitioners for licensing agreements and collaborations. Edward Britton and Van Ellis also contribute to the firm's licensing capabilities. John Hurvitz is vice-chair of the corporate group and life sciences industry co-chair. He handles transactions for clients in the pharmaceutical, biotech, med tech and diagnostics industries, among other areas. Catherine Dargan brings deep expertise in M&A and other financial matters.

The firm receives top ranking in government investigations and white-collar matters, and is also notable for its antitrust and product liability groups. Ethan Posner stands out as one of the firm's leading litigators in the white-collar space. Michael Imbroscio co-chairs the product liability practice.

Covington & Burling offers a regulatory practice with a particular expertise handling FDA issues on behalf of pharmaceutical clients. The group provides extensive experience in compliance matters and enforcement for clients in both pre-market and post-market stages. Peers give the regulatory group high praise, as one calls it a "powerhouse," while another considers it one of the "go-to-firm[s] for the branded industry."

Michael Labson regularly advises and strategizes with pharmaceutical companies on FDA matters. As of late, Labson's practice has involved FDA disputes, market exclusivities, clinical trial misconducts, and REMS, among other areas. He is also experienced in providing regulatory support in corporate transactions and handling government investigations against pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. In addition to Labson, Geoffrey Hobart also focuses on handling FDA investigations, representing pharmaceutical companies dealing with the FDA and its investigations into the clients' practices. Hobart is also experienced in investigations involving the False Claims Act, Anti-Kickback Act, and Medicaid Rebate statute violations.