Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

A Silicon Valley institution, Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is highly regarded for its robust financial and corporate practice focused on emerging life sciences companies. The firm assists clients in a number of matters involving transactions, licensing, collaboration, and venture capital.

Ian Edvalson is co-leader of the firm's technology transactions department and advises a number of public and private life sciences companies on licensing agreements and strategic collaborative transactions. Among his recent clients, Edvalson represented Parvus Therapeutics in its collaboration and licensing agreement with Genentech worth approximately $800 million.

Kenneth Clark is well known in the industry and has significant experience assisting clients with licensing agreements and collaborations, among other areas. Recently, Clark advised Kallyope, an innovative biotechnology company, in its collaboration with Novo Nordisk.

Robert Ishii is based in San Francisco and primarily focuses on mergers and acquisitions in the life sciences space. Ishii is currently advising Peloton Therapeutics in its potential $2.2 billion sale to Merck.

Based in Palo Alto, Phillip Oettinger is a new addition to this year's list, and assists several life sciences clients with public offerings, venture capital financing, as well as transactions. A peer says Oettinger is "one of the leading corporate lawyers in Silicon Valley focusing on life sciences, and especially medical device companies. [His] full skillset enables Phillip to guide companies from inception through to IPO."

Bay Area staple Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is highly recommended in generic Hatch-Waxman litigation and patent strategy. The firm is also notable for its expertise in patent prosecution. Speaking to the group's strength in strategic counseling, a peer says: "Their patent management and ability to bring a small client up and make them successful and get sold is a big part of their business. They do a good job with that." In the litigation sphere, a recent opponent in a pharmaceutical dispute says, "We thought they were worthy adversaries."

Vern Norviel is a preeminent patent strategist for clients in the life sciences industry and leader of the firm's patents and innovations counseling practice group. He specializes in patent prosecution, strategy and portfolio development. Norviel recently assisted client 10x Genomics in patent matters related to its $50 million Series D financing.

James Heslin is an expert in the medical device field, drawing on more than 20 years of experience as a patent counselor. San Diego partner Jeffrey Guise specializes in patent protection, litigation strategy and transactions.

In litigation, Douglas Carsten is a go-to professional for pharmaceutical disputes involving the firm's generic clientele. He recently acted for United Therapeutics and Supernus Pharma against USPTO Director Iancu in a Federal Circuit appeal. The matter resulted in an added 1.5-year patent term regarding the client's hypertension drug.

Debuting as an LMG Life Sciences star this year is Michael Hostetler, who specializes in strategic counseling and technology transactions. He recently acted for United Therapeutics in a licensing agreement related to a hypertension drug in development. A peer says of Hostetler: "He's very strategic, and I think he's a great guy.