Consistently ranked in the top tier of legal directories, we remain at the forefront of legal developments in the pharma industry. Clients come to us for advice on a wide spectrum of issues including intellectual property disputes – whether patents, trade marks or confidential information – and freedom to operate analysis, as well as disputes arising from collaborations and other contractual arrangements.

We advise on the complex regulatory and competition law issues associated with this sector, and provide market-leading life cycle management expertise and the coordination of disputes in multiple jurisdictions.

Our transactional lawyers advise on collaborations, M&A, divestments and the vast range of commercial arrangements associated with getting pharmaceutical products to the market.

Key contacts

Brian Cordery

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Sophie Lawrance

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Experience

Advising Johnson & Johnson (Janssen Sciences) in its defence of SPC revocation proceedings for an SPC covering the active ingredient in Prezista, Janssen’s blockbuster medication for the treatment of HIV-1. The case concerns the interpretation of Article 3(a) of the SPC Regulation and the appropriate test for determining whether a product is “protected” by a patent and therefore eligible for SPC protection. We are involved in proceedings before the CJEU and the co-ordination of litigation across a number of key European markets.

Over the last five years, we have advised AstraZeneca on a number of divestments of mature products and assets, including the sale of the European commercial rights to Seloken in a deal worth more than $300m and the sale of the US and European rights to Entocort for €380m and €215m respectively.  We have advised on the transfer of assets, licensing of trade marks, long term supply arrangements, regulatory, competition and merger control aspects of divestments.

Advising GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) on the restructuring of its distribution model for its UK product portfolio, moving from a direct-to-pharmacy model to a reduced wholesaler model.  Our advice included competition, regulatory and data privacy advice as well as helping to put in place the new commercial arrangements with GSK’s suppliers.

We are advising on the current investigations by the UK Competition and Markets Authority into the supply of generic pharmaceuticals.

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What others say

“Bristows has always been a first choice for life sciences clients.”

Juve UK 2023

“They are excellent, they have really good work and nice people there.”

Chambers and Partners 2023

“Their reputation is well deserved.”

Chambers and Partners 2023

“Bristows provides very strong and pragmatic advice founded on a deep understanding of the life sciences sector.”

Chambers and Partners 2023

“Bristows is known for its deep bench of high-calibre litigators with supreme expertise in contentious patent, trade mark, designs and copyright matters. The team is particularly sought after for biosimilars and telecommunications litigation, and is frequently instructed for standard-essential patent-related disputes. The Bristows IP team is also distinguished for its work on the commercialisation of IP at the vanguard of life sciences and technology, and is additionally recommended for its trade mark prosecution service.”

Chambers and Partners 2023

Recent rankings and awards

Life Sciences: Transactional - Band 2
Chambers and Partners UK 2023

Life Sciences: IP/Patent litigation  - Band 1
Chambers and Partners UK 2023

Life Sciences and Healthcare - Tier 1
Legal 500 2023

Life Sciences - Band 1
Chambers and Partners UK 2022

Life Sciences - Band 4
Chambers and Partners Europe 2022

Life Sciences - Band 4
Chambers and Partners Global 2022

Life Sciences & Pharmaceutical Sector (International & Cross-border) - Band 2
Chambers and Partners Global 2022

Best Life Sciences Law Firm - Europe
Global Health & Pharma - Healthcare and Pharmaceutical Awards 2021

Life Sciences
Leaders League UK 2020

Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology - Top tier
Legal 500 2019