Life Sciences

Ireland is home to an unrivalled number of the world's leading life science and medical technology companies operating in areas such as Pharmaceuticals, Biotechnology, Medical Devices and Diagnostics across the R&D, production and distribution sectors. This includes global pharmaceutical companies and thirteen of the top fifteen medical technology companies.

We have been at the centre of developments in this sector since the 1970s, with a team dedicated to the area. Our clients range from large and medium sized companies to emerging companies. We also regularly advise private equity and venture capital funds investing in the life sciences industry.  

Our lawyers are widely recognised for providing innovative solutions, pioneering structures and having unparalleled market insight and relationships. These are the reasons why such a significant number of companies look to A&L Goodbody for the extensive range of specialist legal advice. 

Our advice includes:

  • Corporate and M&A - including joint ventures, private equity, restructuring and reorganisations
  • Commercial contracts and agreements - including licensing, collaborative research and development, distribution agreements
  • Patent litigation
  • Regulation 
  • Pricing, refusal to supply, parallel trade, generic pricing, new pricing, and products going off patent
  • Other specialists areas include EU, Competition & Procurement, Dispute Resolution, Tax, Employment and Commercial Property

Experience

  • Exponent Private Equity

    on its acquisition of Chanelle Pharma the largest indigenous pharma company in Ireland and the largest manufacturer of human and veterinary generic pharmaceuticals.

  • Endo Pharmaceuticals

    on its successful exit from a US Chapter 11 restructuring and on its pending $6.7bn merger of equals with Mallinckrodt.

  • Numerous multinational life sciences companies

    on all employment law aspects of their Irish operations, including various high-profile plant closures / collective redundancies.

  • ICON

    on its $12bn acquisition of PRA Health Sciences.

  • Many US multinationals

    in the pharma, biotech and medical devices sectors in patent / SPC infringement proceedings before the Irish Courts as part of multi-jurisdictional actions.

  • An international manufacturer

    in an investigation into breaches of labelling, packaging and marketing regulations, including a judicial review and a CJEU referral.