Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP

Client Satisfaction

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP‘s practice is recommended for its strength in IP disputes, including infringement actions against generic drug manufacturers. The team is also noted for its experience in mandates involving the rules governing commercial relationships with hospitals and healthcare practitioners (HCP). Practice head Laura Orlando often appears before the Unified Patent Court (UPC) on behalf of global pharma companies; Orlando is well-known for her expertise in patent lifecycle management and data exclusivity. Sara Balice is a seasoned litigator with vast knowledge of cross-border SPC and patent cases, often assisting originator companies in cases against generic companies, while Enrico Maria Mancuso leads the firm’s corporate crime team, often advising on bid-rigging and internal investigations. Frederico Bracalente is a key name for white-collar and corporate crime work, with a strong focus on corruption and tax-related crime, and Martina Maffei is well-versed in both contentious and non-contentious IP work within the life sciences sector, often advising on marketing issues.

Legal 500 Editorial commentary

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

'I recommend this firm for the preparation and kindness, and the prompt availability of its members.'
'Laura Orlando. Really competent and prepared.'
'The team is incredibly available and the members cooperate with each other in order to give you advice.'
'Always try to find the best solution for your problems, taking into consideration the characteristics of the client.'

Key clients

Abbvie
Biogen
Eli Lilly
CSL Behring
Gilead
Janssen
Lionhealth
Lundbeck
Millennium Pharmaceuticals
Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.
Roche
Sanofi
Veterna
Santen Pharmaceutical Co
Elekta S.p.A.
Philips S.p.A.
Abbott S.r.l.
Abbott Medical Italia S.r.l.
Abbott Rapid Diagnostics S.r.l.
Zambon S.p.A.

Work highlights

Assisting Elekta S.p.A., the Italian subsidiary of a global innovator of equipment and software for radiotherapy, charged with criminal association allegedly aimed at committing several bid-rigging offences in criminal proceedings pending before the Court of Monza.
Assisting Sanofi with filing 4 infringement actions related to its patent EP2493466, which protects a new antitumor use of the active ingredient cabazitaxel for the treatment of prostate cancer.
Representing Millennium and Janssen in two proceedings before the Court of Milan on the same patents protecting Velcade against three other generic companies, namely Dr. Reddy's, Zentiva and Hikma