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Life Sciences

Overview

The Life Sciences group at Nutter has a long track record working with clients in the life sciences sector to achieve their legal and business objectives. Our life science attorneys know how critical it is to understand a client’s business and the unique pressures driving it. Our biological and chemical experience runs deep— whether it’s immunology or small molecules or diagnostics—our lawyers tackle matters concerning complex intellectual property, licensing, and agreements; research and development funding; clinical trial strategy; and FDA safe harbor advice. Clients turn to us for legal counsel throughout all stages of their lifecycle, whether it is the opportunity to collaborate or partner with industry leaders, preparing for an initial public offering, or weighing whether to pursue a merger or acquisition. By applying our wealth of expertise and depth and breadth of knowledge in biology, chemistry, and related fields, we help transform the client’s ideas and goals into viable strategies and products.

What We Do
With a deep understanding of the life sciences industry and a business-savvy approach, our interdisciplinary team guides and advises clients to solutions regarding the issues and obstacles they face, including:

  • Intellectual property: patent applications and portfolio development, trademarks, trade secrets, licensing, and freedom to operate opinions
  • Licensing and agreements
  • Transactions: drafting and negotiating strategic M&A, licensing, partnering, and joint development agreements
  • Financing (equity and debt)
  • Corporate governance: advising boards of directors and committees
  • Compensation and employment: equity and bonus plans, employment agreements, non-compete agreements, and consulting agreements
  • Operational: sponsored research agreements, manufacturing, and development agreements
  • Cybersecurity: theft of customer information, data breach, device security, and IoT testing
  • Board and investor presentations
  • Litigation: product liability, intellectual property, government investigations, employment, and commercial and contract disputes
  • Real estate: laboratory/office/manufacturing leasing and management
  • Tax: structuring, grant programs, and deferred compensation

Who We Represent
Nutter represents an international roster of innovative clients involved in a range of sophisticated technologies, including:

  • Biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies located in and outside of the U.S.
  • Renowned medical institutions and research universities
  • Emerging growth companies
  • Entrepreneurs and founders
  • Venture capital and private equity firms

Who We Are
Our clients choose us for our legal credentials, but what they value most is Nutter’s passionate commitment to client service and to enhancing their business. With impressive legal and scientific credentials, our life science attorneys understand our clients’ needs and objectives and partner to help achieve successful outcomes and competitive advantage. We bring deep expertise in a broad range of fields, including:

  • Biology (cellular, molecular, and structural)
  • Biochemistry
  • Diagnostic methods and biomarkers
  • Electron microscopy
  • Gene expression regulation by siRNAs, antisense, microRNAs, and oligonucleotides
  • Immunology
  • Molecular modeling
  • Organic and inorganic chemistry
  • Pharmacology and pharmaceutical formulations
  • Proteases
  • Recombinases
  • Small molecule therapeutics
  • Structure-based drug design
  • Tissue engineering
  • X-ray crystallography

Clients can expect to work with a cross-functional Nutter team with expertise tailored to their requirements, who call on our knowledge of the industry, the players, and the law to accomplish their goals.

View Practice Team

Representative Matters

Representative Matters

  • Laboratory

    Nutter represented a laboratory in qui tam litigation alleging fraudulent billing practices, and secured a key court opinion favorable to the entire industry.

  • Obtained summary judgment of invalidity for medical device company accused of patent infringement

    Nutter advised a life sciences company that was accused by a competitor of patent infringement relating to an insertion method for a hemodialysis catheter. After briefing and a hearing, the court disposed of the case on summary judgment, finding the patent-in-suit obvious as a matter of law.

  • Global pharmaceutical company

    Nutter represented a global pharmaceutical company in the acquisition of a $200 million portfolio of therapeutic products.

  • IP strategy for all stages of biotech company

    Nutter created and carried out a successful IP strategy for a biotech company from its founding, through Series A-C, through its IPO and subsequent purchase for $600 million by a large pharma.

  • Clintara

    Nutter advised Clintara in the sale to strategic acquirer Bracket Global, LLC.

  • Admune Therapeutics LLC

    Nutter advised Admune Therapeutics LLC in its sale to Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research.

  • Represented large pharmaceutical company in a federal investigation involving allegations of off-label promotion

    Nutter acted as outside counsel for one of the world's largest health care companies in a six-year investigation into alleged off-label use of one of its leading products.

  • Conducted an internal investigation for the audit committee of a public biotechnology company

    Nutter conducted an internal investigation for an audit committee of a public biotechnology company concerning securities law compliance.

  • Served as corporate counsel to a global biopharmaceutical company and represented the company in mergers, product acquisitions, and two public offerings in excess of $340 million

    Nutter served as corporate counsel to a global biopharmaceutical company and represented the company in mergers, product acquisitions, and two public offerings in excess of $340 million. Our representation included securities, financing, and IP issues, as well as highly specialized counsel in the development of clinical trials programs and commercialization of products in the EU.

  • Advised a health care startup company on business structure, early-stage planning, and venture financing, and provide ongoing representation for the company, which operates specialized testing labs.

    Nutter advised a health care startup company on business structure, early stage planning, and venture financing. We provide ongoing representation for the company, which operates specialized testing labs. The company has grown over 40 percent per year over the last five years. We helped the company in securing two rounds of venture capital financing, navigating reimbursement procedures from insurance carriers, complying with complex health care regulations, drafting detailed licensing and research agreements, and preparing strategic collaboration agreements with doctors, hospitals, and medical groups.

  • Represented defendants in government enforcement actions and secured acquittal of major pharmaceutical company’s manager after a three-month federal trial on conspiracy and health care fraud charges

    Nutter represented the defendants in government enforcement actions. We secured acquittal of a major pharmaceutical company’s manager after a three-month federal trial, which received national attention, on conspiracy and health care fraud charges. In another instance, we defended an officer of a major health care company against a target letter from the government. Our attorneys convinced the government not to bring criminal charges, while other officers of the company who received target letters were criminally charged.

  • IP due diligence

    Nutter provided IP due diligence counseling for the lead investor syndicate of institutional investors for over $20 million Series B investment in a clinical diagnostic company.

  • IP due diligence

    Nutter provided IP due diligence counseling for the lead investor syndicate of investors for over $25 million Series C investment in a neuro stimulation company.

  • Senior executive of a major pharmaceutical company

    We represented a senior executive of one of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies in an investigation based on alleged adulteration of several products at a large manufacturing plant. After the company paid over $500 million to settle the matter, the Justice Department informed the company that it was considering "responsible corporate officer" charges against two executives who had oversight of the factory, including our client. After more than a year of intensive efforts on our part, the government decided to close its investigation.

  • Abveris

    Nutter advised Abveris (formally known as AbX Biologics, Inc.), a privately-held in vivo antibody discovery services company, in connection with its acquisition by Twist Bioscience Corporation (NASDAQ: TWST), a leading and rapidly growing synthetic biology and genomics company that has developed a disruptive DNA synthesis platform to industrialize the engineering of biology.

News & Insights

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Publications

Experience

  • Laboratory

    Nutter represented a laboratory in qui tam litigation alleging fraudulent billing practices, and secured a key court opinion favorable to the entire industry.

  • Obtained summary judgment of invalidity for medical device company accused of patent infringement

    Nutter advised a life sciences company that was accused by a competitor of patent infringement relating to an insertion method for a hemodialysis catheter. After briefing and a hearing, the court disposed of the case on summary judgment, finding the patent-in-suit obvious as a matter of law.

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