K&L Gates advises healthcare and biotech clients on regulatory, transactional, and commercial matters across the product lifecycle, from R&D through to commercialization and cross-border transactions, headed by Andrew Ruskin in Washington, DC and Michael Hinckle in North Carolina.

Arnold & Porter advises life sciences clients on regulatory, transactional, IP, public policy, and litigation matters affecting the sector. The firm handles matters involving emerging scientific fields, including immuno-oncology, cell and gene therapy, and novel diagnostics. Daniel Kracov chairs the global life sciences practice and advises clients on FDA regulatory strategy, compliance, enforcement issues, clinical research matters, and government and internal investigations relating to product and compliance issues. Jeffrey Handwerker advises on pharmaceutical pricing and contracting, as well as coverage, reimbursement, and investigations and litigation affecting life sciences and healthcare companies. Mahnu Davar focuses on regulatory and compliance matters involving pharmaceutical, biologics, and medical device products, and co-chairs the firm's life sciences and healthcare regulatory team with Allison Shuren. Kristin Hicks advises on compliance issues including anti-kickback matters involving specialty pharmacy arrangements, PBM and GPO relationships, wholesaler agreements, and patient assistance programs. Abeba Habtemariam advises pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturers on regulatory, compliance, and legislative matters. All lawyers mentioned above are based in Washington, DC.

Cooley LLP maintains a strong presence in the life sciences and healthcare sector, with particular emphasis on transactional work for startups and late-stage companies, including those pursuing IPOs. The firm regularly advises on securities offerings, joint ventures, and M&A matters involving life sciences businesses. Reston-based Christian Plaza serves as co-chair of the firm’s life sciences and healthcare vertical, alongside Marc Recht in Boston, who advises life sciences companies on capital markets transactions, joint ventures, and corporate deals. The firm has newly appointed Kenneth Krisko in Reston as head of corporate partnering and licensing, who is involved in significant life sciences commercial agreements. The team has recently expanded its regulatory, IP litigation, and non-IP litigation capabilities in support of its life sciences and healthcare client base. This combination of transactional strength and expanded advisory platforms is shown in the firm’s continued activity across multiple areas of the sector.

Hogan Lovells US LLP maintains a broad life sciences and healthcare practice spanning IP licensing, regulatory, and transactional matters. The team advises on complex licensing and collaboration agreements involving IP at all stages of the product lifecycle, including work with emerging and cutting-edge companies. The practice has also developed a focus on energy demand issues affecting life sciences businesses. Leadership of the team includes Philadelphia-based Steve Abrams, co-head of the firm’s life sciences and healthcare industry sector, who advises on capital markets offerings, collaboration and licensing transactions, and M&A matters, and Washington, DC-based Lynn Mehler, fellow co-head of the life sciences sector and head of the pharmaceuticals and biotechnology regulatory practice. The practice’s regulatory capabilities are further reflected in the medical device and technology regulatory division, co-led by Jodi Scott and John Smith; Scott advises on FDA inspections and enforcement matters from Denver, while Smith focuses on bringing device-based technologies to market, including AI-based image analysis tools, from Washington, DC. Cullen Taylor co-leads the life sciences licensing and commercial transactions team from Northern Virginia, and in Washington, DC David Fox and Komal Karnik Nigam advise on new drug approvals, regulatory compliance, and product lifecycle exclusivity issues.

Latham & Watkins maintains a comprehensive healthcare and life sciences practice spanning corporate transactions, commercial arrangements, regulatory advisory work, and litigation. The firm advises on M&A and capital markets transactions, as well as strategic alliances and joint ventures, alongside regulatory matters involving government approvals and oversight and disputes ranging from IP litigation to white-collar investigations and defense. Leadership of the practice includes Shayne Kennedy, global healthcare and life sciences industry chair, who advises on public and private securities offerings for issuers and underwriters in biotechnology, medical devices, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare from California, and John Manthei, global healthcare and life sciences practice chair, who regularly counsels clients across the medical device, pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and dietary supplement industries from Washington, DC. Arlene Lee Chow and Terra Reynolds also serve as global healthcare and life sciences industry chairs, working from New York and Chicago respectively. In Washington, DC, regulatory depth is reflected in the work of Ben Haas and William A. McConagha on FDA-related matters across the product lifecycle, while Elizabeth M. Richards focuses on FDA regulatory strategy, compliance, enforcement, and technology-driven life sciences matters. Peter N. Handrinos covers life sciences M&A and public offerings, working from Boston and New York, and Julie Scallen and Cheston Larson advise on corporate transactions from Boston and San Diego respectively. Kate Hillier bolsters the team's expertise from Silicon Valley as a 'brilliant, creative, business savvy, and fabulous' partner.

McDermott Will & Schulte fields a well-established life sciences practice advising on corporate, regulatory, IP, and litigation matters across the product lifecycle. The group handles complex domestic and cross-border transactions, patent disputes, and regulatory issues for clients ranging from early-stage companies to established global businesses. The firm demonstrates particular strength in transactional and corporate work, supported by a dedicated IP strategy, prosecution, and high-impact litigation team. Kristian Werling serves as global head of the health and life sciences practice from Chicago and represents private equity and strategic investors in a wide range of transactional matters within the sector. Washington, DC-based Michael Ryan co-heads the firm’s life sciences industry practice and advises manufacturers, healthcare providers, and drug and technology developers on sector-specific legal issues. Also in DC, James Ravitz, co-head of the life sciences industry practice and head of the FDA practice, advises on regulatory compliance, consumer protection investigations, government enforcement matters, and broader FDA regulatory issues affecting life sciences and healthcare clients.

Dechert maintains a broad life sciences practice encompassing IP licensing and litigation, antitrust, product liability, capital markets financing, M&A, and data privacy matters. The firm advises clients across the pharma, tech, life sciences, and biotech sectors, handling both contentious and non-contentious work. A particular area of focus is novel innovations and therapeutics, including disputes involving small and large molecule products. The practice regularly represents clients in complex patent litigation as well as related commercial and regulatory disputes. From New York, Katherine Helm, chair of the firm’s IP practice, represents key innovator pharma and biotech companies in high-value patent and patent-adjacent litigation matters, while David Rosenthal advises on corporate and securities matter within the sector.

DLA Piper LLP (US) offers a broad practice covering both contentious and non-contentious matters in the sector, including advice and representation in product liability, transactional, IP and regulatory matters. Global life sciences and healthcare co-chair Emilio Ragosa heads the team from Short Hills. Loren Brown co-ordinates mass tort and multidistrict litigation from New York, including product liability disputes involving allegations of contamination and personal injury, working with Boston-based Katie Insogna, who focuses on defense in product liability litigation for pharmaceutical, life science and medical device companies. In Philadelphia, IP advisor Raymond Miller covers patent prosecution and IP strategy, while Lauren Murdza acts for clients in life sciences transactions and license agreements. Based in Washington, DC, Vernessa Pollard chairs the FDA regulatory practice, advising medical device and technology clients on regulatory compliance during product development and promotion, while Andrew Gilbert advises on strategic matters and IP from New York.

Goodwin advises life sciences companies across the corporate lifecycle, providing guidance on fundraising, IP portfolio development, regulatory frameworks, and corporate transactions. The firm handles capital markets offerings, licensing and collaboration agreements, M&A transactions, and Hatch-Waxman litigation. Mitchell Bloom and Kingsley Taft serve as global co-chairs of the life sciences practice; both advise emerging through to mature companies on matters including venture financings, strategic alliances, IPOs, and broader corporate affairs. Marishka DeToy focuses on life sciences transactions and represents domestic and foreign issuers and underwriters in a range of offerings. Robert Puopolo regularly advises on IPOs and public offerings, while from Washington, DC Steven Tjoe works with in vitro diagnostic, laboratory developed test, digital health, and non-traditional medical device manufacturers. The recent arrival of Carl Morales from Fenwick & West LLP further strengthens the firm’s life sciences bench in New York. All lawyers mentioned above are based in Boston unless otherwise specified.

King & Spalding advises pharma, biotech, and medical device companies on complex and high-stakes regulatory and enforcement matters across the product lifecycle. Based in Washington, DC, the team’s work spans clinical trials and product approvals through to post-market compliance, government investigations, and litigation. Clients regularly rely on the firm in sensitive DOJ and DEA inquiries, as well as in navigating False Claims Act litigation. Nikki Reeves, who co-chairs the government matters and regulation practice, advises life sciences companies on pre- and post-market FDA regulatory compliance and enforcement issues. John Shakow focuses on regulatory, commercial, investigative, and litigation matters relating to pharma pricing and reporting. Mark Brown, chair of the FDA and life sciences team, advises on FDA regulatory issues arising in product liability disputes and related matters. Lisa Dwyer develops regulatory, legislative, and litigation strategies for companies marketing FDA-regulated products, while Brian Bohnenkamp assists manufacturers with compliance programs and risk assessments.

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe guides companies, investors and innovators through the full lifecycle of discovery, development, commercialisation and strategic growth. The firm's work spans pharma, biotech, medical devices, diagnostics, digital health and emerging biotech sectors. With a wide breadth of capabilities, the team provides an integrated litigation, IP, transactional and FDA offering to clients. In Washington, DC, global co-leader of the life sciences and healthtech sector Tony Chan focuses on representing private equity and strategic clients, while Thora Johnson is a trusted cyber, privacy and healthtech regulatory advisor. Fellow global co-chair Stephen Thau provides strategic advice to life sciences and tech companies from New York, while in Los Angeles David Gindler focuses on IP litigation and licensing.

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP has a global cross-border practice, with particular expertise in handling M&A and transactional matters, complex litigation, IP litigation and white-collar investigations. Co-chair of the healthcare and life sciences group Andrew Bab assists with private acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures, including cross-border transactions for both private equity and corporate clients. Fellow co-chair Mark Goodman frequently gives advice in high-risk matters involving the interplay of civil litigation, criminal liability and fiduciary obligations, while Maura Monaghan focuses on product liability, environmental, healthcare, criminal investigations and arbitration mandates. Based in Washington, DC, chair of the FDA regulatory practice Paul Rubin represents FDA-regulated drug, device and consumer product companies on a wide range of issues, ranging from strategic regulatory counseling to complex compliance and enforcement matters. All lawyers mentioned above are based in New York unless otherwise stated.

Fenwick & West LLP advises life sciences and healthtech companies at all stages of their lifecycle on IP, transactional, and litigation matters. The firm works with clients developing therapies, diagnostics, medical devices, digital health platforms, and AI-enabled drug discovery technologies. It is particularly known for advising emerging companies on sell-side M&A transactions. Stefano Quintini, industry co-lead for life sciences and healthtech, advises on collaborations and strategic transactions, working from Silicon Valley. Alongside Quintini and based in San Francisco, Matthew Rossiter represents clients in public and private financings, strategic collaborations, and other corporate transactions. Seattle-based Melanie Mayer, also an industry co-lead, focuses on IP litigation and dispute resolution, including patent infringement and licensing disputes, reflecting the firm’s combined strength in corporate and IP-related matters within the sector.

Foley Hoag LLP guides innovators through the full product and company lifecycle, combining corporate, IP, regulatory and disputes. Working in combination with the life sciences team, the transactional team structures high-value, often cross-border collaborations and financings, while the IP team protects and leverages market‑leading assets, managing global portfolios for clients across pharma, tech, digital health and biotech. Co-chair of the life sciences industry group Amy Baker-Mandragouras advises life sciences companies on IP strategy, portfolio management, and high-stakes transactions. Alongside her, co-chair Jeffrey Quillen serves a number of emerging biotech, software and information technology companies, negotiating and drafting agreements regarding IP rights, including patent license agreements. Both lawyers mentioned above are based in Boston.

Greenberg Traurig advises life sciences and medical tech clients on a range of transactional, regulatory, IP, and litigation matters. The firm regularly represents clients before administrative and regulatory agencies and frequently advises on FDA-related issues. Its work spans corporate transactions, regulatory compliance, and dispute resolution for companies operating in the healthcare and life sciences sectors. In Boston, David Dykeman, co-chair of the global life sciences and medical technology group, focuses on IP protection and related commercial strategy for medical device and life sciences clients. Atlanta-based Wayne Elowe, also co-chair of the group, advises multinational companies and investors on cross-border corporate and transactional matters in the life sciences and medical tech industries. In Washington, DC, Chia-Feng Lu represents tech companies in regulatory and legislative processes, while Melissa Hunter-Ensor, co-chair of the global patents and innovation strategies group and working from Boston, advises pharma, biotech, diagnostics, agricultural, and medical device companies on IP and commercial matters.

Kirkland & Ellis LLP structures every kind of deal in the healthcare and life sciences industries, from large transactional mandates to day-to-day regulatory matters for clients in various areas, such as clinical research, sales and marketing, compliance and market exclusivities. Bringing a breadth of expertise to the New York-based team, Devora Allon has a particular focus on antitrust, product liability and other commercial disputes, while Jay Lefkowitz also specialises in antitrust and product liability, but concentrates on litigation against the FDA and False Claims Act matters. Alongside them, Jeanna Wacker covers patent litigation for clients in the pharma, biotech, chemical and medical device industries, representing both plaintiffs and defendants at all stages of litigation.

Morrison Foerster fields a cross-disciplinary life sciences team advising on IP, licensing and commercial agreements, startup ventures, and litigation matters. The firm is regularly instructed by emerging biotech companies and provides strategic patent counsel to support the development of new therapies and technologies. Daralyn Durie serves alongside Michael Ward as co-chairs of the life sciences group. Based in San Francisco, Durie litigates patent infringement trials for pharma clients, while Ward focuses on IP issues relating to plants and plant products, advising on plant and plant utility patents, licensing agreements for plant IP, and related litigation in US state and federal courts, working between San Francisco and Boston. Palo Alto-based Catherine Polizzi advises a range of clients from emerging startups to larger companies on protecting therapies, drugs, and technologies as they move from development to commercialization, and has also been involved in acquisitions within the life sciences sector.

Norton Rose Fulbright advises a broad range of clients in the life sciences sector, including pharma and medical device companies, bioscience and biotech businesses, retail pharmacies, wholesale distributors, food tech companies, and investors such as venture capital and private equity firms. The firm focuses on litigation affecting participants across the sector, but also handles regulatory and commercial matters. D’Lesli Davis, head of life sciences and healthcare, serves as lead trial counsel for pharma and medical device clients in mass tort cases, including multidistrict litigation and consolidated proceedings in state and federal courts. Jonathan Skidmore, global co-head of life sciences and healthcare, focuses on matters involving pharma products, medical products, and device liability, with substantial experience representing clients in complex mass tort litigation. Both lawyers mentioned above are based in Dallas.

Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP advises life sciences clients on a range of corporate, regulatory, and enforcement matters. The firm’s multidisciplinary team handles high-value M&A transactions, licensing and collaboration agreements, and intellectual property acquisition and enforcement. The practice also advises on FDA regulatory compliance, government and internal investigations, compliance program development, and tax structuring issues affecting life sciences businesses. Working from Boston, Maya Florence advises clients on regulatory compliance, government enforcement matters, and complex transactions in the sector, and also represents companies in litigation involving significant commercial and regulatory issues.

WilmerHale blends transactional, regulatory and litigation expertise to serve clients from various industries such as biotech, pharma, diagnostics and medical devices, as well as financial institutions, and leading academic institutions. The firm advises companies navigating complex scientific innovation and regulatory scrutiny, including emerging technologies such as gene therapies, biologics, and AI-driven discovery, development and diagnostic products. Judith Hasko serves as co-chair of the life sciences practice from Palo Alto, focusing on the structuring and negotiation of strategic, intellectual property and tech-based commercial transactions. Alongside her, co-chair Stuart Falber in Boston serves as counsel for a broad range of life sciences clients, including newly public and mature public companies.

Winston Taylor advises life sciences clients across IP, transactional, regulatory, and litigation matters spanning the product lifecycle. The firm represents clients in complex IP and product liability disputes, including cases involving scientific and technical subject matter. Its practice also encompasses corporate transactions, regulatory advisory work, investigations, and capital markets issues affecting companies operating in the sector. The team handles disputes relating to innovative products as they move from development through to commercialisation. Based in Washington, DC, T. Reed Stephens, co-chair of the healthcare and life sciences industry group, advises a range of healthcare clients including medical device manufacturers, health systems, and managed-care organisations. His work reflects the firm’s broader involvement in regulatory, litigation, and commercial matters affecting life sciences and healthcare businesses.

Baker Botts L.L.P. advises life sciences clients on the IP, litigation, and corporate transactional matters associated with bringing pharmaceutical products, medical devices, and research tools to market. The firm also supports clients on business development initiatives and corporate transactions within the sector, including identifying and evaluating potential investment targets, mergers, and acquisitions. Steve Lendaris, firmwide life sciences sector chair and based in New York, advises on a range of biotechnology-related IP matters, including evaluating third-party patents ahead of product launches and developing patent filing strategies for new therapeutic approaches.

Duane Morris LLP advises biotech, biopharma, and pharma companies on matters relating to the development and commercialization of therapeutics, including funding, research and development, clinical trials, and market entry. The firm also represents medical device manufacturers as well as companies in the agriculture and animal health sectors. Its life sciences and medical technologies industry group handles IP, regulatory, and transactional matters affecting product development and commercialization. Dana Ash is a team lead within the group, alongside Frederick Ball in Boston who advises developers, sponsors, manufacturers, CDMOs, contract service providers, food companies, and pharmacies operating in regulated sectors. Michael Harrington represents early and growth-stage companies in tech, life sciences, healthcare, and cleantech industries, while Vicki Norton in San Diego focuses on strategies to counter patent claims and conducts IP due diligence for transactions. Shannon Hampton Sutherland and Miami-based Driscoll Ugarte also serve as team leads within the group. All lawyers mentioned above are based in Philadelphia unless otherwise stated.

Freshfields advises life sciences clients across biopharma, medical devices, digital health, and health IT on strategic transactions and contentious matters. Kristen Riemenschneider heads the team from Washington DC. Adam Golden and Vinita Kailasanath have departed the firm.

Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher LLP fields a broad life sciences practice advising biotech, pharma, medical device, and diagnostics companies on transactional and IP matters. The firm handles mergers and acquisitions, capital markets transactions, debt financings, and private equity investments, alongside a strong focus on patent litigation. Ryan Murr, co-chair of the life sciences practice, advises public and private life sciences companies and investors on securities offerings and business combination transactions, working from San Francisco. Jane Love, also co-chair and based in New York, represents pharma and biotech companies in high-value patent litigation, including global disputes.

Leech Tishman offers guidance in healthcare transactions, regulatory compliance and strategy, crisis response, and disputes, with clients ranging from large publicly traded entities to cutting-edge early-stage startups driving complex multimillion-dollar deals. Harry Nelson serves as outside counsel to numerous large healthcare organisations and chairs the healthcare practice group. Working from Los Angeles, Chicago and Pittsburgh, he leads clients through risk identification, provides strategies and practical solutions for compliance, and regularly assists clients in managing crises in healthcare settings.

Mayer Brown

Mintz, Levin, Cohn, Ferris, Glovsky and Popeo, P.C. advises clients across the life sciences sector, including emerging biotech companies, global pharma businesses, investors, academic institutions, and government entities. The firm handles corporate transactions, IP matters, regulatory strategy, and litigation affecting companies operating in the sector. In Boston, William Hicks, co-chair of the life sciences practice, represents issuers, investors, and investment banks in IPOs, cross-over investments, alternative public offerings, reverse mergers, and Form 10 transactions. Los Angeles-based Siegmund Gutman chairs the life sciences litigation practice and focuses on disputes involving biologic drug patents, other life sciences innovations, and Hatch-Waxman matters.

O'Melveny advises life sciences firms on patent litigation matters, with a particular focus on disputes involving pharma, medical device, life sciences, and chemicals companies. The firm regularly represents clients in Hatch-Waxman litigation, BPCIA matters, and pre-suit investigations relating to complex scientific technologies. Lisa Pensabene, co-chair of the life sciences practice, acts as first-chair trial lawyer in patent litigation for pharmaceutical and chemical companies, including bench and jury trials and appellate arguments. Hassen Sayeed co-heads the life sciences IP litigation practice and represents pharmaceutical and biotechnology clients in patent infringement and enforcement litigation. Both lawyers mentioned above are based in New York.

Sidley Austin LLP advises clients across the life sciences sector, including biotech, biopharma, medical device, diagnostics, and pharma companies. The firm handles transactional, regulatory, compliance, and enforcement matters arising throughout the product lifecycle. Sharon Flanagan leads the firm’s global life sciences practice from San Francisco and represents companies in public and private M&A, joint ventures, minority and controlling investments, and securities offerings. Torrey Cope focuses on FDA regulatory matters from Washington, DC, advising pharma, biotech, and medical tech companies on regulatory strategy and product development issues.

Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP advises biotech, pharma, and medical device companies on a range of corporate, IP, regulatory, and litigation matters. The firm assists clients with mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances, licensing agreements, and collaborations aimed at expanding life sciences businesses. It also represents companies in disputes involving patents, trade secrets, trademarks, and commercial matters, alongside litigation relating to shareholder issues, product liability, antitrust, and government investigations. Recently hired from Latham & Watkins, Doug Lumish and Jeff Homrig co-head the firm’s IP, technology and science litigation practice. Based in San Francisco and Silicon Valley, Lumish handles patent, trade secret, contract, licensing, and fraud disputes involving technology and life sciences companies, while Homrig, working from Dallas and Houston, represents life sciences companies in complex patent and trade secret litigation, reflecting the firm’s focus on high-stakes IP disputes in the sector. Bolstering the team's expertise is the 'wonderful' Gabe Gross, who specialises in IP and commercial litigation matters and works between the San Francisco and Silicon Valley offices.

Akin advises clients in the medical device, diagnostics, pharma, biotech, AI, and food and dietary supplement sectors. The firm combines experience in FDA regulatory matters with CMS coverage and reimbursement issues, and has a focus on digital health and AI in healthcare. Based in Washington, DC, Nathan Brown leads the FDA practice while Kelly Cleary advises on healthcare regulatory, policy, and enforcement matters.

BakerHostetler advises clients on developments in genetics, research design, big data analytics, mobile health technologies, and cloud computing, covering litigation against government agencies and competitors, patent portfolio management, and negotiations of mergers and development contracts. Stephanie Lodise co-leads the IP life sciences and advanced materials team from Philadelphia. Based in Denver, Winston Kirton co-leads the FDA practice, while in Washington, DC Timothy Worrall advises on domestic and international patent portfolios.

Husch Blackwell LLP advises life sciences companies ranging from startups to established investors, including pharmaceutical businesses, medical device manufacturers, biotechnology programs, and digital health providers. The firm assists clients across the business lifecycle, including company formation, financing, research, clinical trials, and exit planning. Bryan Stewart heads the practice and advises on IP strategy and portfolio management for medical device and life sciences clients.

Loeb & Loeb LLP

Lowenstein Sandler LLP advises life sciences clients on product commercialization and corporate transactions. The team represents emerging, development-stage, and clinical-stage companies, as well as investors, investment banks, and global pharma, biotech, and medical device businesses. Its work includes product acquisitions and divestitures, strategic collaborations, M&A, private financings, and public offerings. In New Jersey, Michael Lerner chairs the life sciences practice and advises public and private healthcare companies and their investors, while Robert Paradiso chairs the life sciences and chemical patents practice and focuses on patent prosecution, litigation, freedom-to-operate issues, and technology transfer. New York-based James Shehan advises life sciences companies on regulatory and commercial matters relating to product development, compliance, and strategic transactions.

Reed Smith LLP advises life sciences clients on FDA regulatory matters and broader regulatory issues arising in complex transactions. The firm provides guidance on regulatory strategy and market entry for companies developing healthcare technologies. Scot Hasselman, co-chair of the life sciences health industry group and based in Washington, DC, advises healthcare companies and investors on regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters. In New York, Cori Annapolen Goldberg focuses on FDA regulatory issues affecting food, drug, dietary supplement, biologic, medical device, and HCT/P industries across the supply chain.

Sheppard advises pharma, biotech, and medical device companies on IP, corporate finance, and FDA regulatory matters across the product lifecycle. The firm works with clients developing technologies such as gene and cell therapies, CAR-T treatments, immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and other biologics. In New York, Jeffrey Fessler co-leads the life sciences team and focuses his practice on the biotechnology industry, while Scott Liebman also co-leads the team and heads the FDA regulatory and compliance practice, advising manufacturers on regulatory strategy. Fellow co-leader Lorna Tanner advises on IP protection and portfolio strategy from San Francisco.