Guiding life sciences clients with global insight and cross-practice expertise

Developments in pharmaceuticals, biotech and MedTech are reshaping healthcare, offering new possibilities alongside complex legal and regulatory demands. Our work spans M&A and IP licensing, antitrust, litigation and international arbitration, data protection, product liability, and regulatory matters – supporting clients as they navigate this rapidly changing environment.

To deliver this, Freshfields provides a fully connected global team, helping clients with their most critical matters. We are deep-rooted in the industry with experience that informs everything we do. Many of our lawyers have scientific backgrounds and bring first-hand life sciences industry experience.

We have supported companies at various stages of growth, from early stage biotechs to large multinationals and investors.

Amid rapid global change, we are positioned to advise clients with new and ever-changing challenges.  AI is driving rapid change in the way the life sciences industry approaches research, development and regulatory challenges.  It is creating significant opportunities, alongside data and oversight concerns. Environmental considerations are prompting new reporting obligations. Competition authorities are becoming more rigorous in assessing life sciences and healthcare transactions. By tracking and anticipating these shifts globally, we help clients adapt to—and anticipate—change.

Our thinking
Blog
14 Feb 2025
SPC protection for second medical uses post-Brexit - UK Court of Appeal clarifies test
The Court of Appeal has clarified that Brexit has not changed the test to determine whether supplementary protection certificate (SPC)...
Blog
28 Jan 2025
10 Key MedTech Themes for 2025
Note: this article originally ran in MedCity News The MedTech industry is accelerating at an unprecedented pace. As AI reshapes the...
Blog
27 Jan 2025
Life sciences – what to watch in 2025
We asked more than 200 Freshfields lawyers – across geographies and practice areas: what are the 1-2 issues top of mind for you and your...
Blog
24 Jan 2025
Final agreement on the European Health Data Space: Cross-border access to EU health data
After long debates between the Commission, Parliament and the Council, the Council has adopted the regulation of the European Health Data...
Blog
21 Jan 2025
The first significant overhaul of the UK clinical trials regime in two decades begins to take shape
In brief: On 12 December 2024, draft legislation to amend the Medicines for Human Use (Clinical Trials) Regulations 2004 was laid before...
Blog
15 Jan 2025
FTC Issues Second Interim Report on PBMs focused on Pricing Practices for Specialty Generic Drugs
On January 14, 2025, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) unanimously agreed to publish its second interim staff report on pharmacy benefit...
Blog
13 Jan 2025
New Form, New Fees, and New Thresholds: FTC Announces HSR Act & Interlocking Directorate Thresholds and HSR Filing Fees for 2025
On January 10, 2025, the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced its annual updates to the Hart-Scott-Rodino (HSR) Act reportability...
Blog
20 Dec 2024
UK medical devices regulatory reform: where are we now and what’s next for 2025?
In summary: The UK MHRA’s plans for reforming the medical devices regulatory framework post-Brexit have begun to take more concrete...
Blog
13 Dec 2024
New General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) set to transform the EU product compliance framework
Today, on 13 December 2024, the new General Product Safety Regulation (GPSR) comes into force, introducing modernised safety standards...
Blog
10 Oct 2024
The EU Product Liability Directive: Key Implications for Software and AI
The European Union‘s updated Product Liability Directive (PLD), adopted by the European Council today and expected to come into effect in...
Blog
25 Sep 2024
New era for European compulsory licensing on the horizon?
On 26 June 2024, just days before the end of the Belgian presidency, the Council of the EU adopted its position on a proposed regulation...