Morrison & Foerster's China Life Sciences practice group combines an unparalleled on-the-ground understanding of the market and regulatory regime in China with decades of international experience advising some of the world's leading participants in the life sciences and healthcare industries.
Our attorneys assist U.S., European, and Chinese and other Asian life sciences clients with their business operations and ventures around China and the region and support Chinese and Asian clients with their business requirements in the United States and Europe across a diverse spectrum of life sciences industries including:
- Pharmaceuticals
- Medical devices
- Healthcare
- Biotechnology
- Food technologies
The group draws upon a multidisciplinary team of attorneys with expertise in the key areas of intellectual property, technology transactions, regulatory compliance, business establishment, corporate finance and M&A. The core team comprises specialist partners located in each of our Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai offices who work with a team of more than 70 legal professionals including PRC trained lawyers, Hong Kong qualified solicitors and counsel from the United States, Europe, and other Asian jurisdictions. The key partners in the team head a group which is ranked in the first tier for technology work in both China and Hong Kong in the 2006-2011 editions of the Asia Pacific Legal 500, Chambers Global, and Chambers Asia directories.
Our local life sciences lawyers in China are supported by one of the world's premier biotechnology and life sciences patent groups based in the U.S. Our patent attorneys' scientific expertise and knowledge of the industry are instrumental to our corporate counseling and also provide critical litigation support. Additional regional expertise is provided by our Tokyo office which is, in conjunction with our affiliate Ito & Mitomi, one of the largest international law offices in Japan with over 110 resident U.S., Japanese, English, and Australian-qualified lawyers.
Lawyers in the China Life Sciences team regularly advise in connection with operational life sciences and healthcare matters, including research and development; collaboration; manufacturing; licensing and technology transfer; distribution; intellectual property strategy issues; litigation; government liaison and the provision of focused regulatory advice.
The team also provides advice on the establishment of life sciences businesses in China and works closely with venture capital and investment banking organizations in relation to investments and public offerings. Working closely with the firm's internationally recognized corporate and securities experts, the China Life Sciences team provides specialist knowledge and expertise in relation to key areas such as due diligence, verification, intellectual property risks, freedom-to-operate assessments; warranty negotiation, liaison with licensors; regulatory risk assessments and the evaluation of potential litigation.