Life sciences is a highly specialised area and maximising the potential of new and existing technologies demands input from specialist legal advisers.

Shepherd and Wedderburn has extensive experience and expertise in advising pharmaceutical, healthcare and biotech companies with a wide range of technologies including pharmaceutical products, diagnostic tests and medical and dental devices at all stages of development.

We offer a full range of legal services providing vital support to businesses in the life sciences sectors. Our clients represent all aspects of the life sciences community from entrepreneurs to university spin-offs to stock exchange listed, multi-national corporations operating in a range of areas from drug discovery and clinical research to contract manufacturing and product development.
 
"the technical expertise of the partners at Shepherd and Wedderburn is equal to that of any London firm, without the cost."
Legal 500, 2009

Our expertise covers a range of areas relevant to the sector such as:

• Company formation and management
• Fundraising and financing
• Protection of intellectual assets
• Technology transfer
• Research and development
• Collaborations and joint ventures  
• Competition law implications of commercial deals (such as technology transfer and collaborations) 
• Sale, purchase and manufacturing agreements
• Due diligence
• Employment and secondment issues
• Acquisitions and disposals (including merger control law) 
• Distribution and agency relationships  
• Property transactions
• Clinical trials

Some of our recent clients include:

Axis-Shield plc - a LSE listed in-vitro diagnostics developer and manufacturer. Instructions include acting for it in relation to its £2.57 million divestment of its auto immune business to Euro-Diagnostica, including on IP aspects of the divestment and in the sale of the business and assets of its subsidiary, Plasmatec Laboratory Products Limited to Lab 21 Limited.
 
Biocompatibles International plc - a leading medical technology company, listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, and operating principally in the field of drug-device combination products.  Instructions include advising in relation to the acquisition of cancer diagnostic assets and related IP of Astron Clinica Limited (in administration), a reorganisation of reserves, including a £49 million court approved cancellation of share premium account, to enable the company to pay its first dividend, and IP licensing. 
 
Centeo Biosciences Limited - advised in relation to its formation, subsequent rounds of funding and commercial agreements to assist the launch and development of its life sciences products globally.

MedImmune - acting as primary advisor for all legal work relating to worldwide clinical trial activities outside of the Americas for this global leading biotechnology company specialising in antibody technology which is itself the subsidiary of one of the world’s largest innovative pharmaceutical companies.

ProStrakan Group plc - a growing international specialty pharmaceutical company listed on the LSE Main Market.   Acted for the company on various fundraisings and M&A transactions (including the company's £180m merger with Proskelia BV) as well as its subsequent £187m London main market IPO raising £40 million through a global offering. 
 
Scottish Enterprise  - ongoing work in relation to a $80 million Translational Medicine Research Collaboration with Wyeth.  
 
Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service - a specialist provider of transfusion medicine in Scotland. Instructions include advising on the spin out of Alba Bioscience, a major bio-manufacturing organisation, including advice on identification of required IP and cell lines, technology transfer and supply agreements.
 
Wyeth - a leading pharmaceutical and healthcare product company. Instructions include advising on an R&D agreement with a structure to protect IP in the event of insolvency.