WilmerHale

WilmerHale operates a life sciences practice that revolves around multidisciplinary teams representing biotechnology, pharmaceutical, and medical device companies, as well as venture capitalists and entrepreneurs. The firm is particularly active in venture capital financings, but also performs M&A, capital market transactions, counseling, strategic alliances, and licensing. The firm has represented both underwriters and life sciences companies in follow-on offerings and Rule 144A placements.

Steven Singer led Wilmer's representation of Agios Pharmaceuticals in a $287 million public offering in May and a $172.5 million public offering last September. Wilmer also led the company in a global license agreement with Aurigene Discovery Technologies to market small molecule inhibitors for cancer.

Steven Barrett co-chairs the firm's technology transactions and licensing practice group, while also advising technology companies on structuring, negotiation, strategic alliances and joint venture transactions. In March, Wilmer represented Editas in a strategic research and development alliance with Allergan.

Belinda Juran advises clients in technology transactions, including biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, and medical devices. She advises clients on collaborations, distributions, and licensing agreements.

WilmerHale continues to uphold its reputation as a premier patent litigation firm, one peer noting "they do really good work" in the life sciences industry and another simply calling them a "great firm." Much of Wilmer's reputation rests on its senior litigator William Lee, who enjoys rock star status in the patent contentious world. "What can you say about Bill Lee at this point that hasn't been said?" a peer says. "That guy is patent litigation!" Lee's career spans more than 40 years, during which he has tried over 200 cases to verdict. His life sciences practice tends to pharmaceutical and medical device clients.

Wilmer's impressive litigation roster certainly extends past Lee with co-chair of the IP litigation practice group Lisa Pirozzolo. She just recently wrapped up a successful representation of a major branded pharmaceutical client in a global litigation. In addition to infringement cases, Pirozzolo also has expertise in licensing disputes and arbitrations. She is shortlisted for the 2017 LMG Life Sciences General Patent Litigator of the Year Award in the New England market. Amy Wigmore had a busy practice over the past year representing major innovator clients in the pharmaceutical and biopharma industries. Two of her ongoing cases involve the IP protection of high-profile blockbuster products. Wigmore is shortlisted for the 2017 LMG Life Sciences Hatch-Waxman Litigator of the Year Award on the branded side.

WilmerHale’s life sciences practice is renowned for its range and multidisciplinary teams that counsel clients in biotechnology, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, as well as investment banks and venture capitalists.

“They do really good work,” a peer says of WilmerHale’s intellectual property practice, another simply declaring the law shop a “great firm.” The firm employs more than 120 attorneys skilled in IP matters with undergraduate and scientific degrees in scientific areas. Forty-year legal veteran William Lee maintains his status as one of the most respected litigators in the IP arena. “What can you say about Bill Lee at this point that hasn’t been said?” a peer says. “That guy is patent litigation!” Lee has tried over 200 cases to verdict, and in the life sciences focuses on pharmaceutical and medical device clients. Lisa Pirozzolo has expertise in patent litigation, licensing disputes and arbitrations. Recently, she successfully represented a major branded pharmaceutical client in a global litigation. Vice chair of the litigation & controversy practice group Amy Wigmore is involved in two ongoing cases related to the IP protection of high-profile blockbuster products. Both Pirozzolo and Wigmore are shortlisted for 2017 LMG Life Sciences Awards, in the General Patent Litigator of the Year and Hatch-Waxman Litigator of the Year categories, respectively.

While IP easily makes up much of WilmerHale’s litigation repertoire, the firm is gaining an increased amount of attention for its capabilities in the securities and enforcement area as well. The group is described by a peer as “a go-to firm for the big-bucks litigation,” and employs a few impressive practitioners on its roster. Securities- based partner Michael Bongiorno successfully represented InVivo Therapeutics Holdings, a spinal cord therapy company, in a putative class action by investors alleging it lied in public statements about drug trial opportunities, when, in January 2017, the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit agreed with the lower court that it had rightfully dismissed all claims related to company’s disclosures about FDA communications. Howard Shapiro scored on behalf of longtime client Purdue Pharma when, in January 2016, the Fourth Circuit unanimously ruled in favor of the client in a case involving the application of the pre- 2010 public-disclosure bar of the False Claims Act.

WilmerHale has represented life sciences clients in venture capital, mergers and acquisitions, initial public offerings and other capital markets transactions, public company counseling, strategic alliances, licensing and governance matters. Since 2004, the firm has been involved in more life sciences initial public offerings in the eastern United States than any other law firm. The firm also represents life sciences companies and underwriters in follow-on public offerings and Rule 144A placements, and has experience representing issuers, placement agents and investors in PIPE financings. The firm continues to build its reputation in licensing and collaboration and M&A work. Chair of the firm’s transactional department, and 30-year veteran Steven Singer represented Editas throughout the proceedings. Partner Steven Barrett represents entrepreneurs, early-stage, and established life sciences companies in a variety of technology transactions. Belinda Juran co-chairs the firm’s life sciences industry group, advises pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and medical device companies on all phases of product development and commercialization, including technology transactions, collaboration, and joint venture agreements, among others.

Described by industry peers as "a go-to firm for the big-bucks litigation," WilmerHale is a large full-service firm that inspires competitor praise on a regular basis, with many of its litigators boasting star-power status. While WilmerHale's brand-name practitioners in the appellate and intellectual property realm are sufficiently documented, the firm is generating an increasing amount of notice in the securities and enforcement field as well. New York securities-based partner Michael Bongiorno successfully represented InVivo Therapeutics Holdings, a spinal cord therapy company, in a putative class action by investors alleging it lied in public statements about drug trial opportunities, when, in January 2017, the US Court of Appeals for the First Circuit agreed with the lower court that it had rightfully dismissed all claims related to company's disclosures about FDA communications. Bongiorno also secured a significant victory for Tetraphase Pharmaceuticals and three current and former company officers, when, in May 2017, Bongiorno achieved dismissal of all claims in a shareholder class action lawsuit alleging violations the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 after the company announced disappointing trial results in September 2015, which led to a nearly 80% drop in its stock price. Building upon the firm's 10-year relationship with Purdue Pharma, Howard Shapiro scored on behalf of said client when, in January 2016, the Fourth Circuit unanimously ruled in favor of the client in a case involving the application of the pre-2010 public disclosure bar of the False Claims Act. The court of appeals affirmed the district court's dismissal of the relators' amended complaint, holding that their allegations were derived from a prior litigation and therefore barred under the public disclosure bar.