Client and Industry Challenges
Few industries are evolving and changing as rapidly as that of the life sciences and few comprise as many diverse disciplines as that of the life sciences. The diversity of the industry derives not only from the varying areas of science being explored by various companies but also in the business models pursued by such companies to commercialize their scientific discoveries. Companies operating in this field require their legal counsel to possess extraordinary subject matter expertise, to adapt to changing circumstances and to understand the company’s unique goals.
Beyond its rapid evolution and diversity, the life science industry, together with the closely related medical technology industry, is subject to an immense amount of regulation and quality control that is struggling to keep pace with changes in technological capabilities and medical need. To be successful, companies operating in these industries must have a comprehensive understanding of not only their own technology and business but that of the industry landscape as a whole, including its trends, its regulatory framework, its risks and the competitive technologies that exist within it.
Companies who operate in this industry also face unique challenges relative to raising capital. Often, these ventures require a long-term investment and are believed to be riskier than investments in other industries. In addition, the nature of the business requires larger financial demands on research, development and FDA approval. Accordingly, management of life science companies must be in a position to rely on their counsel for sound advice relative to the capital raising process, for creative financing solutions, and for pragmatic and efficient legal solutions at a reasonable cost.
The goal of each attorney comprising Snell & Wilmer's life science and medical technology industry group is to help our life science and medical technology clients improve health and quality of life by identifying and implementing workable solutions to these legal and business challenges.
We understand the importance of having experienced legal counsel equipped to integrate rigorous scientific analysis with efficient advocacy where possible for our clients. Whatever stage a life science or medical technology company is in, or whatever legal issue it may have, Snell & Wilmer's team of 400 plus attorneys has the experience and the resources to provide you with effective and cost-efficient legal counsel.
Areas of Experience
- Strategic Partnerships and Joint Ventures
- Supply and Distribution
- University Start-Ups and Licensing
- Intellectual Property
- Corporate and Transactional
- Product Liability
- Regulatory and Compliance
Clients We Serve
Our life science and medical technology lawyers currently represent a diverse client base from the bioscience, pharmaceutical (both prescription and OTC), medical device and healthcare industries, ranging from large publicly-traded organizations to early and mid-stage start-up companies.
We have a proven track record representing manufacturers, distributors, inventors, researchers, venture capitalists, angel investors, engineers, product designers and vendors, in their intellectual property, transactional, litigation and various other legal matters.
Our clients' products and services span the fields of:
- Bioengineering and medical device development
- Biologics including genomics and proteomics-based therapies
- Bioinformatics
- Diagnostics
- Drug delivery and formulation chemistries
- Health information technologies and health economics
- Medical device
- Microbiology and virology
- Nanotechnology
- Pharmaceutical small molecule therapeutics
Key disease conditions and technologies for which we advise include:
- Allergy & Respiratory
- Biomarkers/Precision Medicine/Bioinformatics
- Cardiovascular and metabolic disease
- Diabetes & Diabetic retinopathy
- Endocrine Disease / Hormone Therapeutics
- Implantable Medical Devices
- General surgical including PTFE sutures, vessel guards, and patches; bioabsorbable devices for tissue reinforcement and reconstruction
- Interventional cardiology endoprotheses
- Cardiovascular patches, grafts, and stents
- Oncology
- Non-small cell lung cancer
- Neurosciences
- Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
- Anxiety and Depressive Disorders
- Inflammatory Disease
- Infectious Disease
- Antimicrobial susceptibility testing
- Imaging sciences
- Research tools, assays, kits and reagents
Why Clients Select Us
Understanding Your Business: Our guiding principle is to know our clients' businesses and problems and to use whatever legal resources are necessary or appropriate to solve those issues in the most efficient manner possible. Each member of our team is prepared to counsel and perform those tasks necessary to secure the best result for our clients. Given the extensive experience our attorneys have in assisting life science and medical technology companies, we understand the unique commercial, operational and legal challenges faced by our clients.
Commitment: We have a breadth of experience representing the interests of the life science and medical technology industries, and we help our clients grow their businesses, provide solutions to their business needs and help them solve complex problems by bringing business, law and science closer together. In addition, Snell & Wilmer supports local and national professional organizations that are focused on assisting and promoting the interests of the industry.
Collaboration: Snell & Wilmer is one of a small number of law firms in the southwest that has the experience and resources necessary to service life science and medical technology companies throughout their entire life cycle. Our life science and medical technology group is made up of lawyers from various disciplines, including corporate and securities, intellectual property, product liability litigation and health care. Clients operating in these industries require counsel with respect to all of these areas and often a single contract will require input from specialists in each of these areas. Snell & Wilmer lawyers regularly collaborate in order to produce the highest quality work product and to provide our clients with the most comprehensive and sound legal advice.
Specialized Knowledge: Our life sciences and medical technology lawyers include registered patent attorneys and former practicing engineers with degrees in the electrical, computer, chemical, mechanical, environmental, bioscience, systems software, civil and other engineering and scientific disciplines. Many are admitted to practice before the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and admitted to practice before and experienced in appeals to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which hears all appeals in patent litigation. Our lawyers meaningfully participate in a variety of professional organizations including various sections of the ABA, INTA, AIPLA and others, and teach at the university level as well.
Service to the Industry: Snell & Wilmer attorneys are dedicated to promoting the interests of their life science and medical technology clients, as shown by the following examples of involvement in the industry:
- Membership and active involvement in the AZ Medical Association liability reform committee, EMTLA committee and tort reform committees, CO Civil Justice League (CCJL), Defense Research Institute, CO Defense Lawyers Association, PLAC, AZ Association of Defense Counsel, American Academy of Healthcare Attorneys, International Association of Defense Counsel, and CO Bioscience Association - Public Policy Committee
- Board of Directors, Colorado BioScience Political Action Committee
- Board of Directors, Arizona BioIndustry Association (AzBio)
- Advisory Board, University of Arizona’s “TechLaunch Arizona”
- Co-Chair of CCJL’s Legal Advisory Board; Board Member of CCJL – one of our attorneys was named the CCJL Lawyer of the Year for 2005
- President of the Association of Defense Counsel and registered lobbyist for the organization;
- Legislative testimony on multiple occasions on proposed legislation, including: ER Tort reform Bill SB 1351 (AZ); contingency fee reform Senate Bill 27 (CO); opposition to raising the cap on non-economic damages in Senate Bill 25 (CO); support of food consumption liability House Bill 1150 (CO); support of judicial nominations and retention procedure in Senate Joint Resolution 56 (CO); support of product liability reform Senate Bill 120 (CO); support of punitive damages procedure House Bill 1186 (CO); support of statutory offers of settlement House Bill 1121 (CO); comments to Colorado Supreme Court on proposed changes to Colo. R. Evid. 701, 702 and 703; and before the CO Senate Transportation Committee regarding vehicle event data recorder bill
- Drafting legislation on, for example, scientific testimony, elder abuse standards, ER evidence, product liability reform and punitive damages procedure; and submission of amicus curiae briefs
