Dechert

Dechert is a full-service firm that is especially notable in the life sciences space for assisting clients in corporate transactions, licensing agreements and collaborations. One peer notes the firm is "top-tier" with an international presence, regularly representing clients in cross-border transactions.

David Rosenthal serves as co-leader of the life sciences practice and co-chair of the global corporate finance and capital markets practice. He represents clients in M&A and general corporate transactions, including his recent representation of pharmaceutical company Aquestive in its initial public offering. A peer says of Rosenthal: "David is one of the top capital markets lawyers in the United States, advising numerous life sciences issuer clients. He is adept at steering his clients through the complicated web of rules and regulations needed to go public."

Another leading attorney at the firm is David Schulman, whose practice encompasses all aspects of the financial and corporate space. Schulman advises clients from around the globe, recently assisting BioAtla with its worldwide collaboration with BeiGene.

Dechert's life sciences team includes a large group of professionals focused on all areas of intellectual property. The firm is nationally ranked for its expertise in Hatch-Waxman disputes for branded companies and patent strategy. A recent patent client says the firm provided "very creative work that added significant value to a portfolio." Commenting on the firm's recent growth in personnel, a peer says: "They are very active in the lateral market and have been for a while. They are a very fine law firm." Another peer says, "They are definitely one to look out for."

Andrea Reid co-chairs the firm's global life sciences group and is an expert in strategic patent counseling and portfolio management. She recently advised a clinical stage biopharmaceutical client PureTech in a multiyear deal with Hoffman-La Roche valued at a potential $1 billion in milestones. This year she was shortlisted for the Patent Strategy & Management Attorney of the Year in Massachusetts. Silicon Valley-based Jonathan "DJ" Loeb provides expertise in patent litigation and strategic counseling.

In litigation, practice group leader Martin Black is deemed a "very fine lawyer" by a peer, and is noted for being a steadfast trial presence in the Hatch-Waxman arena. He and Princeton partner Robert Rhoad recently acted for Endo Pharmaceuticals at the Federal Circuit, which affirmed a district court decision in favor of the client.

Stephen Rabinowitz recently came to the firm from Hughes Hubbard & Reed, bolstering the firm's strength in IP litigation. Up-and-comer Kassie Helm was awarded US Rising Star in Intellectual Property by LMG Life Sciences for her significant work in the biologics space.

Headquartered in Philadelphia with several domestic and international offices, Dechert is routinely recognized for its strong group of life sciences attorneys across practice areas, including product liability and antitrust litigation. The firm notably boosted its products law profile with the recent hiring of a Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan team dedicated to this area.

Based in New York, Sheila Birnbaum is co-chair of the firm's product liability and mass torts practice. Birnbaum, who was part of the move from Quinn Emanuel in 2018, is considered "The Queen of Torts," by a peer. Fellow co-chair and recent hire Mark Cheffo is highly regarded for his work in high-stakes litigation. Both Birnbaum and Cheffo currently lead the team representing Purdue Pharma in more than 1,400 cases concerning its prescription opioid pain medications.

In Chicago, Nathan Hoffman is currently representing AbbVie in national product liability litigation related to the client's product AndroGel, a testosterone replacement therapy. AbbVie is a defendant in approximately 4,300 cases in an MDL in the Northern District of Illinois, and an additional 200 state court cases in California, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Mississippi, and New York. The Dechert team developed and defended the company witnesses through both deposition and trial, and responded to all written and documentary discovery aimed at the company.