Most Highly Regarded Firms: Life Sciences 2011

• February 2011

• Life Sciences

After months of investigation in to the life sciences legal market, our research selects 453 highly accomplished practitioners, praised for their contentious, transactional and regulatory expertise.

Global Firms

Fifteen practitioners hail from Bird & Bird LLP. The “phenomenal” Trevor Cook is a “dean of the life sciences bar” and one of the most highly-nominated practitioners in our research in each edition. As president of the UK group of The International Association for the Protection of Industrial Property and secretary to the British Copyright Council Standing Committee on Copyright and Technology, Cook’s eminence on the life sciences scene is widely recognised. A talented quintet joins him in the London listings. Neil Jenkins is a “gold standard” practitioner with an “unwavering commercial focus”. Gerald Kamstra is “terrific” for commercial, contentious and regulatory matters, deploying a “keen eye for detail”. The “superb” Morag Macdonald is “a go-to name for pan-European patent actions”. Mark Hilton is a “very strong and sound practitioner” and Sally Shorthose is “excellent”. In Sweden Ragnar Lundgren is “sharp and effective”. Wolfgang von Meibom from the firm’s Düsseldorf office “certainly deserves to be on the list” and Felix Rödiger’s “first-rate” practice “goes from strength to strength”. In Hong Kong, the “very knowledgeable” Matthew Laight has earned himself a “great reputation”, and Alison Wong is “highly recommended”. Paris-based Alain Gorny is “outstanding”.

Fifteen lawyers are also included from Covington & Burling LLP where Richard Kingham has “an enviable regulatory practice”. Peter Safir is “world-class” and Peter Barton Hutt “knows all there is to know in the regulatory field”. Ethan Posner is “an important source for enforcement issues” and Ellen Flannery is an “astute practitioner”. Our list would be “simply incomplete without [the] extraordinary”, London-based, senior of counsel to the firm and former general counsel at GlaxoSmithKline, James Beery. Daniel Pavin is “top-notch” and “particularly strong on the transactional side”. Grant Castle, whose practice has an emphasis on pharmaceutical and medical device regulation, was repeatedly recommended to researchers for his “stand-out expertise”. In Belgium, three names prominently feature. Peter Bogaert is “outstanding” and one of the most highly-regarded practitioners in our research. Geneviève Michaux is “fabulous” and David Hull is “first tier”.

Fourteen practitioners feature from Hogan Lovells. Washington DC-based Jonathan Kahan is a “brilliant lawyer” with over 35 years’ experience tackling FDA issues. Howard Holstein focuses his practice on medical device law and is praised by contributors for his “extensive knowledge”. Andreas von Falck is hailed a “leading litigator” in Germany where Ina Brock is also held “in very high regard”, and described by a leading source as “one of the best products lawyers in Europe”. In the Netherlands, Bert Oosting is an “incredibly smart lawyer” whose lengthy client base includes Merck, Sanofi-aventis, Novartis and GlaxoSmithKline. In London, “vastly experienced” Nicholas Macfarlane is joined on the list by a talented team of four, including the “very active” Stephen Bennett.

North America

Twelve names are included from Sidley Austin LLP, six based in Chicago. Contributors “think the world of” Sara J Gourley, “would not hesitate to recommend” Jeffrey Rothstein and applaud the “very impressive” David T Pritikin. Based in the DC office, food and drug lawyer Scott Bass receives extensive praise for his “pragmatic and comprehensive advice”. Jeffrey P Kushan is “one of the finest for patent litigation”. Head of the New York IP group, focusing on complex chemical and pharmaceutical litigation, Thomas H Beck is a “star practitioner”. His noteworthy portfolio includes serving as lead counsel to Bristol-Myers Squibb in the Bristol v RPR litigation. In Beijing, Chen Yang is praised by multinational clients for her “thorough understanding of the local and international regulatory issues and corporate culture”.

Kaye Scholer LLP has eight partner inclusions, seven from the New York office where Leora Ben-Ami, who focuses on IP and patent litigation, is “an exceptional talent”. James Haley is consistently recommended and in the words of one very prominent source is “an absolute must for inclusion”. Special counsel Gerald Sobel “knows all there is to know” with over 40 years’ experience in the life sciences sector. Irell & Manella LLP’S Morgan Chu is “one of the best in Callifornia”.

Morrison & Foerster LLP has six listings, including “superstars” Gladys Monroy and Kate Murashige. The “sensational” Rachel Krevans “can formulate a winning strategy to topple the toughest of odds”. In London, Julian Paul Thurston is a “very talented practitioner” and receives a wealth of industry recognition.

Five names feature from Hyman Phelps & McNamara where James Phelps is “an industry great”, Paul Hyman is “a go-to name for regulatory issues” and the “very effective” Robert Dormer is “a pleasure to work with”.

FDA lawyer Nancy Buc from Buc & Beardsley LLP is singled out in DC, as sources attest – “she really knows her stuff”.

In New York, Fitzpatrick Cella Harper & Scinto’s Robert Baechtold is a “leading light” and features in our breakdown of the top 10 practitioners. Nicholas Canella has earned himself a “well-deserved, terrific reputation”.

At Shook Hardy & Bacon LLP “product liability guru” Harvey Kaplan leads the “highly-skilled team”. Head of pharmaceutical and life sciences division, Marie Woodbury is “extensively experienced in managing large, complex litigations” and in London, Sarah Croft is “absolutely superb”.

In Canada, five names are selected from Ogilvy Renault LLP including the “greatly recommended” Patrick Kierans. Montreal chair of the IP group Judith Robinson is a “trusted name” and advises a range of multinational pharmaceutical and bio-technology companies. Penny Bonner is “first-class”.

Gunars Gaikis from Smart & Biggar/Fetherstonhaugh is “top-flight for pharmaceutical patent litigation”. At Gowling Lafleur Henderson LLP, Anthony Creber is an “eminent industry figure” and Jane Steinberg is “a fine practitioner”.

Head of the intellectual property litigation group at Goodmans LLP, Harry Radomski is a “remarkable advocate”, who receives strong recognition for his work on behalf of generic clients. Andrew Brodkin receives widespread international commendation.

At Lang Michener LLP, Donald MacOdrum is recommended “without hesitation” by international and domestic clients and contemporaries alike.

Europe

London-based boutique Powell Gilbert features extremely prominently in our findings. The “phenomenal” Penny Gilbert is “absolutely fantastic”. Accompanied by the “superb” Tim Powell, the pair are two of the most highly-nominated practitioners in our international research. Sources praise the “highly responsive” team’s winning formula that combines a “terrific grasp of complex scientific issues”, “a depth of legal know-how”, “superior litigation skills” and “exemplary levels of client service”. Zoë Butler and Alex Wilson are “first-rate” and “incredibly consistent – a joy to work with”.

At Arnold & Porter LLP, the “peerless” Ian Dodds-Smith is a “name that needs no introduction”. As one of the most highly-respected individuals at the life sciences bar, contributors cite his “unsurpassable” regulatory and product liability prowess. The “very accomplished” Lincoln Tsang receives high praise and serves as non-executive member of the UK Health Protection Agency’s Regulatory Oversight Committee.

Simmons & Simmons’ Kevin Mooney is a “vastly knowledgeable”, and another “life sciences dean”. Rowan Freeland is “remarkably clever” and “a real force for patent litigation”.

At Bristows, Brian Cordery is “held in very high regard”. “Tremendously clever, thoroughly helpful and great to deal with”, clients and peers eagerly recommended him as someone that “really belongs on the list”. Sally Field is “great for litigation”, described as “sharp, clever and always thinking one step ahead”.

Linklaters LLP’s Ian Karet is a “superstar” and Nigel Jones is “very effective”. Recent addition to Field Fisher Waterhouse LLP, Mark Hodgson is a “leading name” in the sector.

Head of the life sciences practice at Herbert Smith LLP, Sophie Rich is “outstanding” and a “must for complex patent litigation”.

In France, name partner at Véron & Associés Pierre Véron has a “great reputation” and receives vast amounts of international recommendation. Isabelle Romet is a “top-flight” practitioner with “high-tech expertise”.

At Allen & Overy LLP, Pierre Lenoir is a “very well respected practitioner”.

Howrey LLP’s Marina Cousté is a “brilliant patent litigator” and managing partner of the Munich office Joachim Feldges “has an excellent track record”.

Reimann Osterrieth Köhler Haf’s Thomas Reimann is an “industry veteran” with “a fantastic reputation”.

Richard Ebbink, who focuses his practice on co-ordinating European patent litigation, is a “stand out name” from Brinkhof in the Netherlands. Peter Hendrick at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a “first-tier lawyer” whose clients include Abbott Laboratories, Johnson & Johnson, Wyeth and Hoffman la Roche.

At NautaDutilh NV, Carla Schoonderbeek is highly recommended for her wide-ranging regulatory expertise and at Hoyng Monegier LLP, Willem Hoyng is a “go-to name for litigation”.

Worldwide

In China, Chen Wenping at King & Wood earns “top marks”. Allen & Gledhill LLP’s Stanley Lai SC is a “very well known”, “highly respected” lawyer in Singapore. Rajah & Tann LLP’s Wee Hann Lim has a “depth and breadth of expert know-how” and is “great for cross-border work”.

In Taiwan, James Tsai and Angela Shen of A & Finet International Patent & Law Office are “reliable, responsive, cost-conscious and very experienced practitioners”.

At Anand & Anand in India, Pravin Anand is “absolutely superb” and a trusted source for major international clients and legal teams. At J Sagar Associates, Sajai Singh is a “marvellous, very user friendly lawyer and always a pleasure to work with”. Wayne Condon at Griffith Hack Lawyers in Australia is “exceptionally good”.

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