Erik advises clients on a range of non-contentious matters where intellectual property is at the heart of the transaction. His experience includes drafting and negotiating complex IP licences and options, R&D collaboration agreements, sponsored research agreements, strategic alliances, contract development and manufacturing arrangements and litigation settlement agreements.

In addition, Erik works on general commercial matters including the supply of goods and services, distribution arrangements and consultancy agreements. Erik advises regularly on the formation of spin-outs from universities and research institutes and provides IP support on corporate transactions.

Erik’s work spans a number of industries, with a particular focus on the life sciences sector where his clients range from newly established biotechs, multi-national pharmaceutical companies and medical device manufacturers to investment funds and world-class academic institutions. Erik’s commitment to providing pragmatic commercial advice to players in the life sciences ecosystem is complemented by his background in biochemistry and biophysics.

Some of Erik’s work highlights include:

• Advising a world-leading UK research university on the licensing of its COVID-19 vaccine to a global biopharma company for further development, manufacture and commercialisation.
• Acting for a Spanish pharmaceutical company in out-licensing its small cell lung cancer therapy for commercialisation in Japan by a globally-recognised pharmaceutical company.
• Advising a multinational biopharmaceutical company on the acquisition of data and samples from one of the largest tumor evolution studies for lung cancer.
• Advising a renowned UK university on a long-term strategic alliance with a global institute aiming to use advanced technology to solve humanity’s most challenging problems, including commitments of over £100m for collaborative research programmes.
• Acting for academic and research institutions, investors and founders on the establishment of a number of spin-outs leveraging cutting-edge technologies, including AI-powered drug discovery, advanced RNA medicines and cell and gene therapies.

During his time at Bristows, Erik has gained valuable experience working alongside in-house counsel as part of client secondments to a global biopharmaceutical company, a world-leading genomics research institute and the technology transfer office of a renowned London university.