Financial & Corporate

A historically strong full-service firm for life sciences companies, Cooley continues to have a booming presence in the financial and corporate practice area. The firm's group spans the US with over 90 lawyers, giving the firm its national reputation for having "a deep bench" according to peers, and the bandwidth to handle what a peer regards as an "extensive list of clients." An opposing client in a transaction notes: "Sitting across the table, I have been impressed with their thoughtful and efficient approach on financial transactions."

Chairing the life sciences practice internationally is Barbara Kosacz, who is considered "very strong in collaborations" by a peer in the space. Kosacz's recent work includes a billion-dollar collaboration and a worldwide licensing agreement between two biopharmaceutical companies that has the potential to total over $700 million.

In the corporate space, Laura Berezin handles matters for startups and public companies. One peer states that Berezin is "considered really top [in] IPOs." Advising the underwriters, Brent Siler and Mark Weeks handled a multimillion-dollar IPO for an orthopedic company. A peer points out that they "see [Siler] quite a bit in the small company space." Based in California, Weeks' specialty includes the venture capital space. He recently advised life sciences companies in financings, including a completed equity and debt financing for a client this year.

Barbara Borden serves as co-chair of the firm's M&A practice, representing both targets and acquirers. Recently, Borden advised Sucampo, a biopharmaceutical company, on its $1.2 billion acquisition by Mallinckrodt.

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.

Dechert is a full-service firm that is especially notable for its work related to corporate transactions, licensing agreements and collaboration deals. A client commends the firm for its "great knowledge of licensing and asset sale transactions," adding the firm has an "excellent team" that is "always available and responsive." The firm regularly represents clients in cross-border transactions, calling on its global footprint to serve clients based around the world.

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. Rosenthal had a dynamic year of client work, including representation of two firms as joint-book running managers in a share offer, Aviragen Therapeutics in its merger with Vaxart, and NOAVDAQ in a significant and strategic sale to Stryker.

Also among the firm's leading attorneys is David Schulman, whose practice touches all facets of the financial and corporate space. His practice is global in scope, exhibited by a licensing deal he recently led that spanned the US, China and France. In another recent transaction, Schulman led a team representing Ferring Pharmaceuticals in a strategically important acquisition of late-stage clinical microbiome company Rebiotix.

Internationally known for its financial and corporate work, full-service law firm Gibson Dunn & Crutcher offers life sciences clients deep expertise handling complex transactions. The firm's practice is especially versed in M&A and corporate counseling. In addition, the firm is also experienced in handling strategic licensing agreements and collaborations, exhibited by its recent representation of Merck in an $8 billion collaboration with AstraZeneca to co-develop and co-commercialize a cancer drug. Gibson Dunn's clients range from investors in corporate transactions, as well as, emerging pharmaceutical and large biotechnology companies.

Financial and corporate star Ryan Murr is the co-chair of the firm's life sciences practice group. He handles a wide variety of transactions, including corporate financings and acquisitions on behalf of numerous companies. On the corporate side, Murr recently represented multiple lead investors, including Biotechnology Value Fund and TPG Capital, in an array of financings. He also represented several companies in IPOs, including for Odonate Therapeutics, one of the ten largest IPOs in California in 2017.

Joseph Barbeau offers a multifaceted practice in the financial space. He previously practiced in Hong Kong for over a decade, and continues to focus on domestic and international transactions from the firm's Beijing and Palo Alto offices.

Seated in major hubs throughout the US, Goodwin Procter offers a vigorous financial and corporate practice focused on the life sciences, and a dedicated team deeply experienced in handling a variety of deals and corporate matters. One of the firm's clients applauds the firm's "specific, extensive [and] relevant experience" in the financial space. Another client describes the firm as having a "strong overall practice in the life sciences arena."

California-based Sarah Solomon focuses on handling complex and strategic collaborations, licensing agreements, and other partnering transactions. A client praises Solomon for her work in a recent matter, saying she supplied "extensive experience in every issue we faced during negotiations." The clients adds she "negotiated masterfully," and "was always calm, cool, and teacher-like in her explanations."

A client considers Kingsley Taft's greatest strength to be "transaction strategy and execution." Taft recently handled numerous equity financings and IPOs for clients, ranging from clinical stage companies to one of the largest private biotechs. A client highlights Taft's background in sciences, citing, "His training as a PhD chemist is a plus as it contributes to his legal analyses." Taft co-chairs the firm's life sciences practice along with Mitchell Bloom, who a client commends for his "great service" in handling a financial and corporate matter. A competitor in the field considers Bloom to be "the best generalist biotech lawyer on the East Coast or in the country" and has "incredible breath of knowledge."

Featuring offices across the US and internationally, Hogan Lovells maintains a dominant presence in the life sciences industry, offering a full suite of financial and corporate support for clients. The firm is highly ranked for its work in M&A and licensing and collaboration. The financial and corporate practice often represents prominent, international life sciences entities, as well as mid-market and emerging companies.

Recently, global life sciences group head Asher Rubin advised The University of Pennsylvania's Tmunity Therapeutics in a Series A financing round, and assisted Pfizer in launching its new business venture Springworks Therapeutics, which started with a successful Series A financing. Rubin's dynamic practice crosses over into all areas of the finance and transactional sector.

Corporate practice group head Adam Golden actively represents companies in transactions, including his recent representation of Celgene in two multibillion-dollar acquisitions, significantly bolstering the client's standing as a global leader in cellular immunotherapy and other oncology treatments. Golden continues to assist Novartis in significant deals, recently leading a team with Joseph Gilligan in Novartis' acquisition of AveXis. Golden also handled the client's collaboration with Homology Medicines in 2017.

Philadelphia-based Steve Abrams represents clients in corporate matters, including IPOs and equity investments, as well as mergers and acquisitions. In early 2018, Abrams led a multi-state team representing EyePoint Pharmaceuticals in its acquisition of Icon Bioscience, a growth capital financing with Essex Woodlands Healthcare and a debt financing by SWK Funding.

General practice firm Latham & Watkins handles the full gamut of financial and corporate work for life sciences companies. One peer supports this point by saying: "They have a broad practice that involves early stage financing, venture capital, licensing and collaboration, as well as M&A." Among the firms with "the biggest market share," the firm is distinguished for doing a high volume in the financial and corporate space according to peers in the practice area. A client highlights the firm for its "expertise with life sciences companies."

Global chair of the life sciences licensing group Judith Hasko is considered "one of the top people in the collaborations space" according to a competitor. Most recently, Hasko advised late-stage clinical biotechnology company Prothena in a global multi-year research and development collaboration with Celgene Corporation. The collaboration has a potential total value of over $2 billion. This year Hasko was inducted in the LMG Life Sciences Hall of Fame, a selective honor that recognizes outstanding careers in the industry.

Known to a peer as "one of the top people" and a "grandfather of the practice," life sciences group co-chair Alan Mendelson handles a high volume of IPOs on both the issuer and underwriter side. Along with Mendelson, notable financial stars Brian Cuneo, Peter Handrinos, Mark Roeder, Cheston Larson and Patrick Pohlen handled the firm's high volume of IPOs in the past year, advising on both the issuer and underwriter sides for numerous clients.

Charles Ruck serves clients from both the firm's Orange County and New York offices, focusing on advising clients on mergers and acquisitions. Recently, Ruck and Scott Shean advised Ignyta in its sale to Roche, and handled a merger of equals to create a diversified pharmaceutical company with the fifth largest generics business in the US.

Based in Philadelphia, Morgan Lewis & Bockius is a full-service firm with an exceptional life sciences practice equipped to handle various financial and corporate matters. The firm serves a diverse set of clients, from international life sciences entities to emerging businesses, and handles matters throughout all phases of growth.

The firm is particularly prominent in the licensing and collaborations area. Randall Sunberg, Benjamin Pensak, Alan Leeds and David Glazer handled numerous agreements, including multiple deals with a potential value of over $1 billion. The team has handled several agreements and collaborations for major pharmaceutical companies, especially seeking to develop or fund and conduct clinical trials. On the international front, Pensak represented a Singapore-focused venture fund in a licensing agreement between its portfolio company and a university. This licensing agreement brought together the firm's Singapore and San Francisco offices, showcasing the strength of the firm's international footprint.

In the corporate and venture capital space, the firm represents both investors and companies in financings and IPOs. Notable members of the group include Mark Stein and Steven Navarro, who both focus on corporate transactions as well as M&A. Stein recently represented a lead investor in a Series C financing, and Navarro's latest representation includes a private placement sale of common stock for a pharmaceutical company focused on cancer therapies.

Ropes & Gray has a longstanding reputation in the life sciences industry representing clients in financial and corporate matters. The practice has locations spanning the US, including its Boston headquarters which is "phenomenally strong," a peer says. The firm is widely recognized by contemporaries for its active representation of "big pharma" clients. In addition, the firm advises and represents emerging companies in financings in addition to taking them public.

IP transactions group head David McIntosh represents numerous companies in the life sciences industry, particularly in licensing and collaborations. This year, he advised Juno Therapeutics in its agreement with Eli Lilly, and continues to advise the company in other manufacturing and clinical supply agreements.

Along with McIntosh, Marc Rubenstein is another active practitioner in licensing and collaborations, as well as corporate transactions. Last year, Rubenstein served as lead counsel for Mersana in an IPO, and Prevail Therapeutics in its seed financing and series A financing. Additionally, as part of the Vertex-CRISPR collaboration, Rubenstein represented Vertex in its co-development and co-commercialization with CRISPR for cystic fibrosis and sickle cell disease. The firm's strength in licensing and collaborations is further bolstered with Mark Bellomy, who recently represented Pfizer in a licensing agreement.

Christopher Comeau predominantly advises companies on mergers and acquisitions, and is noted by peers for his work in the space. Founder and former life sciences group chair Steven Wilcox represents leading companies in various transactions, including corporate financings and mergers and acquisitions.

Sidley Austin is a full-service firm with a strong reputation representing life sciences companies in financial and corporate matters. The firm offers a global team using a multidisciplinary approach to handle transactions for its clients. One client praises the firm for its assistance in licensing matters outside of the US, saying it did an "excellent job leading us through two partnership deals in new jurisdictions." Another client highlights the firm for its "excellent support, practical lawyers [and] depth of experience" in transactions.

The firm recently represented Nektar Therapeutics in a multibillion-dollar transaction with Bristol-Myers Squibb. Joshua Hofheimer led the team in negotiating and drafting the collaboration agreement, along with Sam Zucker, who led the corporate team in the transaction.

Bay Area partners Jennifer Fitchen and Sharon Flanagan recently represented Roche in its high-profile $1.7 billion merger with Ignyta. Following a cash tender offer of all its outstanding shares, the merger was completed and Ignyta became a subsidiary of Roche. Fitchen serves as the global co-leader of the mergers and acquisitions practice.

In Chicago, Michael Gordon and Pran Jha frequently advise companies in the life sciences industry. Gordon recently advised Denmark-based Forward Pharma in an exclusive licensing agreement with Biogen, ultimately resolving the companies' longtime patent dispute. A client describes Jha as a "practical, results-oriented lawyer" after he represented the company in a complex licensing transaction.

WilmerHale offers a strong team of lawyers representing a diverse set of companies in the life sciences industry. Commenting on the firm's corporate practice, a peer says: "If you're going public, it's a firm you want to consider." In addition to handling numerous IPOs over the last year, the firm has also represented and advised an array of life sciences companies in venture financings, licensing and collaboration agreements, and mergers and acquisitions.

Life sciences group co-chair Stuart Falber handles transactions and corporate matters for clients ranging from startups to established public companies. His recent work displays his life cycle practice, which involved a Series C financing for a client, followed by an IPO a few months later. Falber also represented Braintree Laboratories as the target company in a significant acquisition by Sebela Pharmaceuticals.

Transactional group chair, Steven Singer is experienced in advising companies and underwriters in corporate matters. Recently Singer represented the underwriters in a significant IPO, which ended in proceeds exceeding the expectations of the company.

Lia Der Marderosian is the co-chair of the corporate practice group, and recently led a team in representing a company in an IPO that grossed over $100 million before expenses, underwriting discounts, and commissions. Der Marderosian also recently represented clinical-stage biotechnology company Visterra in its Series C financing round, while life sciences co-chair Belinda Juran represented the company in a research collaboration and exclusive licensing agreement with Vir Biotechnology.

Steven Barrett serves as co-chair of the technology transactions and licensing practice group. He led a team representing Spark Therapeutics in a licensing agreement with Novartis Pharmaceuticals to develop and commercialize an investigational gene therapy treatment outside of the US, where there was no existing therapy prior to this collaboration.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati has a dominant West Coast practice with deep expertise in the financial and corporate space. A competitor considers the firm's venture capital practice to be on "a level of [its] own." The firm also focuses on licensing agreements and collaborations as well as corporate transactions for life sciences companies. A client praises the group's capabilities, saying it offers "very deep experience [in the] biotech industry, and tremendous deal experience as well."

Co-leader of the technology transactions department Ian Edvalson frequently counsels companies on licensing agreements and strategic collaborative transactions. Edvalson's practice is particularly focused on the biopharmaceutical and biotechnology industries.

Kenneth Clark is a longstanding partner in the practice, with broad expertise in the financial area. "[He's been] doing this a long time," one peer says. Clark is experienced in handling licensing agreements and collaborations in addition to representing companies in financings and other corporate matters. San Francisco-based Robert Ishii is another deeply experienced member of the firm's financial and corporate team. According to a peer who frequently opposes Ishii, he is a "really strong" competitor, particularly in M&A.

Handling the firm's high volume of venture capital and corporate transactions are partners Dan Koeppen, Casey McGlynn, and Martin Walters, each especially experienced in IPOs and financings for emerging growth companies.