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Life sciences

As life sciences legal specialists with backgrounds in chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, physics and engineering, we understand what matters more than most.

"Bristows are very good at handling complex matters. They have a strong team with impressive junior solicitors coming through."

Chambers & Partners 2025

"The Bristows team are a team to be reckoned with in the fields of life sciences and healthcare. They combine excellent technical knowledge with legal nous to achieve the commercial objectives of their clients, guiding them efficiently and effectively to a valuable result."

Legal 500 2025

"Best in the business. The Bristows lawyers are clear, concise and articulate."

Chambers & Partners 2025

"My experience is of Bristows' patent litigators, who are excellent. As a team, they are particularly good at a deep understanding of the relevant technology, and applying that knowledge to tactical advantage in litigation"

Legal 500 2025

"Bristows has superb breadth and in-depth technological know-how. They are wonderful life sciences litigators and have been for decades."

Legal 500 2025

"Bristows is a very good firm, particularly in coordinating multi-jurisdictional litigation. They have a good network of colleagues across Europe."

Chambers and Partners Europe 2024

"The team at Bristows can always be relied on to provide balanced, pragmatic and business-savvy legal advice and solutions. We received strong support from partners and associates across a range of different business needs."

Chambers and Partners 2024

“One of the UK’s leading life sciences practices. Across the firm, there is tremendous strength in depth. Great understanding of the market through acting for a wide range of clients.”

Legal 500 2024

“They are really great, client-centric, and very knowledgeable about the industry. The Bristows team comes up with pragmatic solutions, and adds a personal touch to advice. They have a solid team across the board. I do not see them as just there to make a profit. They are efficient and true partners.”

Chambers and Partners Europe 2024

Bristows is recognised globally for its expertise within the life sciences legal sector.

Our dedicated team is driven by over 80 multidisciplinary lawyers with a focus on providing quality legal services to life sciences companies. Our wide range of legal expertise include intellectual property, regulatory matters, competition, transactional, dispute resolution and data protection. We are passionate about our clients’ technologies and curious about their businesses. We work together as a single team, as we believe that the strength of each practice complements the others to provide a fully integrated and comprehensive service.

With diverse technical backgrounds across biology, chemistry, biochemistry, molecular and cellular biology, microbiology, nanotechnology, genetics, neuroscience, physics and engineering, our specialists are equipped to understand and support cutting-edge innovations.

We pride ourselves on the breadth of our client base in the sector and actively engage with various stakeholders within the life sciences eco-system. We act for pharmaceutical companies, biotech and medtech companies, specialist investors, universities and research institutes, specialist service providers and government funded bodies.

We believe that these different perspectives help us to best advise our clients and give us true expertise in relation to the sector and where it is heading.

Expertise

Explore our insights and expertise in just some of the most innovative areas of technology which are changing the way we live and do business.

On the Pulse:

Views on matters shaping life sciences

 

Recordings

Recording: Session one
Claire Phipps-Jones, Louisa Jacobs and Jamie Hatzel explore the science behind ADCs and radiopharmaceuticals, and examine the legal considerations relevant to these technologies.

Recording: Session two
Louisa Jacobs, Erik Müürsepp and Katie Cambrook delve into the science behind oncolytic viruses and therapeutic cancer vaccines, exploring their mechanisms and applications, along with some legal considerations relevant to these technologies.

Publications

Key contacts

The depth of our expertise in the life sciences sector is matched by its breadth. We have specialists across all our practice groups, so we can support you whatever your legal requirements.

Recent rankings and awards

Life Sciences: Transactional – Band 2

Life Sciences: Regulatory – Band 2

Life Sciences: IP/Patent Litigation - Band 1

Life Sciences (Europe wide)

Life Sciences & Pharmaceutical Sector (International & Cross-Border) - Band 3

Life Sciences (Europe wide)

Life Sciences: Transactional - Band 2

Life Sciences and Healthcare - Tier 1

What others say