Herbert Smith Freehills LLP assists clients on matters across the healthcare and life sciences spectrum, such as IP disputes, regulation and compliance issues, white-collar crime investigations, clinical trials, privacy issues and financings. Managing partner Laura Orlando leads the practice alongside assisting clients in IP-related healthcare and life sciences matters, with a particular focus on patent litigation in the pharmaceutical, biotech and chemical sectors. Within the team, Sara Balice assists clients in matters concerning patents, trademarks, copyright, design, unfair competition and trade secrets. In February 2023, Augusto Santoro joined the firm from Simmons & Simmons.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Really business oriented and proactive.’

  • ‘This is a firm that really does have outstanding commercial knowledge of the industry.'

  • 'They are genuine business partners with a very innovative approach to advising clients.’

  • ‘Laura Orlando is a guru in the pharmaceutical field. She is the go to person for all companies in this space and you can clearly tell it.'

  • 'It's an outstanding team of female lawyers!’

Key clients

  • Abbott
  • Abbvie
  • Achilles Vaccines
  • Biogen
  • Eli Lilly
  • Janssen
  • Lionhealth Srl
  • Lundbeck
  • Millennium Pharmaceuticals (Takeda)
  • Novaliq
  • Pharma Prime
  • Philips S.p.A.
  • Roche
  • Sanofi
  • The US Government
  • Veterna
  • Zambon

Lawyers

Leading associates
Leading associates with regular involvement in their team's key work, and recognition from peers or clients as being ones to watch.
Leading partners
The strongest partners in their field, leading on market-leading deals and endorsed by peers and clients alike.

Practice head

The lawyer(s) leading their teams.

Laura Orlando

Other key lawyers

Sara Balice