Janna advises on transactional matters for the life sciences and technology sectors and therefore – valuable and innovative intellectual property is central to the work that she does at Bristows. Her experience includes drafting, negotiating and advising on patent, know-how and copyright licences, research and development collaborations, university spin-out arrangements, database exploitation agreements and litigation settlements.

Often these matters involve cutting-edge developments in life sciences or healthcare, allowing Janna to employ her background in biochemistry and her previous career in science journalism. Matters that sit at the intersection between life sciences and technology also form a key part of her practice, such as agreements for the development of mobile apps and AI algorithms, that engage a cross section of legal questions. Janna also has experience working on data protection and pure IT matters.

Janna has worked with clients including large multinational biopharmaceutical companies, universities, scientist-founders and medical publishing organisations. She also has experience negotiating and advising on general commercial services and sale of goods agreements for a cross section of clients.

Some of Janna’s work highlights include:

• Acting for a medical publisher on the licencing of its drug database for development into a mobile app for use by healthcare professionals.
• Acting for a life sciences research charity on a patent and know-how licence for the development of its cutting-edge genetic analysis technology in the context of a spin-out arrangement with a US private equity fund.
• Advising a leading research university on the commercialisation of its data for the development of AI algorithms to aid diagnosis of lung disease.
• Providing detailed advice to a scientist-founder on the interpretation and application of the licence and option agreement with a global pharmaceutical company in respect of an investigational drug candidate for alzheimers.

While at Bristows, Janna has been seconded to a global video game and entertainment company and a multinational pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device company. These experiences have given Janna valuable understanding of the pressures and challenges faced day-to-day by clients.

Janna is a member of IPSoc.