Gemma is experienced in dealing with transactional and advisory matters across a range of sectors, most notably life sciences, but also technology, media and retail. Her work focuses on advising on commercial projects and negotiating and drafting a wide range of commercial agreements, particularly those concerned with developing and exploiting valuable IP, including licensing, R&D, manufacturing, commercialisation and distribution. She advises organisations of all sizes, from start-ups to large multinationals, as well as academic institutions and research centres, and many of the projects that Gemma works on have a cross-border element.

Some of Gemma’s work highlights include:

• Acting for a multinational biopharmaceutical company on an exclusive licence agreement with a Chinese biotechnology company for the global rights to a preclinical small molecule drug candidate targeting the KRAS G12D mutation, commonly found in pancreatic, colorectal and non-small cell lung cancer.
• Acting for a global wound care business on the acquisition of a UK company specialising in the design and manufacture of hydrogel products for advanced wound care.
• Advising a UK-based biomedical discovery institute on the translation of its dendritic cell research and the launch of their spin-out company to discover and develop treatments for cancers and autoimmune diseases.
• Acting for an Italian pharmaceutical company on the assumption of the European distribution rights for two on-market urology products from a multinational biopharmaceutical company.
• Providing ongoing IP advice to a multinational alcoholic beverage company in relation to their investment portfolio companies, from initial investment rounds to acquisition.

As well as her time in private practice, Gemma has also spent significant time working in-house at a number of life sciences and technology companies, giving her a sound understanding of the day-to-day requirements of, and challenges faced, by in-house counsel.