Jonathan Burnham
HBC AvocatsPraised for its ‘remarkable knowledge’ of the biotech industry, HBC Avocats acts for a diverse client roster of life sciences-focused venture capital firms, biotech corporates, and clients active within the agricultural biotech space. Practice co-lead Jonathan Burnham is well known for his expansive knowledge of global licensing and collaboration agreements, and sublicence agreements. Co-head Erwan Cossé has broad experience in the full range of corporate matters within the health care and life sciences sector, often advising on investment agreements.
Legal 500 Editorial commentary
Testimonials
Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.
‘Jonathan Burnham is my go-to person to discuss tricky situations with ongoing licence or collaboration contracts.’
‘HBC Avocats is excellent in the field of business advice for biotechnology companies. The entire team is particularly experienced in this field and I can only recommend it. I have in mind several situations where the firm has been very creative and has helped to unblock complicated situations. Finally, the availability and commitment of the team is excellent.’
‘Remarkable knowledge of the world of biotechnology. The team is a force for bringing forward proposals for the structuring of partnership agreements and contracts. I highly recommend it.’
‘The service provided is of high quality: the great strength of HBC Avocats is its specialisation in the pharma-biotech field, and the team's career history in this field (not only in law firms, but also in industrial companies).’
‘Jonathan Burnham is both rigorous and quick in his analyses, but also creative in identifying possible solutions. He has a track record in startups and large companies in the field of life sciences, and therefore an inside opinion on the positions of each party. Fabrice Herbin is precise and quick in his analyses, and he has great drafting skills. He comes up with strong suggestions in negotiation positions (we can feel his experience in the field).’
‘What stands out is the great professionalism of the team, which understands the client's issues, does not hesitate to delve into key issues in the drafting of contracts, anticipates problems, and proposes solutions that should protect the client in the event of disagreement, or even litigation, with the other contracting party.’
‘Fabrice Herbin is very experienced in clinical development and manufacturing issues in the biotech and pharmaceutical fields. Doesn't give up and forces you to ask yourself the right questions. Jonathan Burnham always gives good advice, and approaches subjects from a strategic angle when necessary.’
‘Small, highly expert team specialising in contractual matters in the pharmaceutical and life sciences fields. Very good understanding of scientific issues and intellectual property. Very effective collaboration.’
Key clients
- Adcytherix
- Eukarÿs
- Umlaut.bio
- Inotrem
- Valneva
- Global Antibiotic Research and Development Partnership
- Memo Therapeutics
- Pierre Fabre
- Emergence Therapeutics
- Onward Therapeutics
- OSE Immunotherapeutics
- Theranexus
- Axplora
- Novasep
- Eligo Bioscience
- Vital Meat
- Streetlab
- Nuntius Therapeutics
- Inserm Transfert
- Biophytis
- Sanofi
- BliNK Biomedical
- InFlectis BioScience
- M CAPITAL
- IRDI CAPITAL INVESTISSEMENT
- OT4B
- WatchFrog
- Austral DX
- Axess Vision Technology
- Backbone
- Esprimed
- Geonomy
- Priothera
- Stimunity
Work highlights
- Advised Emergence Therapeutics, a French and German biotech company focused on the development of antibody-drug conjugate cancer drugs, on French law matters in connection with structuring and negotiating its sale to the US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly.
- Advised Adcytherix on structuring its incorporation, and on negotiating and drafting the investment agreements for its 30 M€ equity seed round backed by a syndicate of leading life science investors including Pontifax, Pureos Bioventures, RA Capital Management and Dawn Biopharma (a platform controlled by KKR).
- Advised GARDP on structuring, drafting and negotiating a collaboration agreement with the biopharmaceutical company Bugworks Research Inc.
Lawyers
Leading partners
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Practice head
The lawyer(s) leading their teams.
Jonathan Burnham, Erwan Cossé