Next Generation Partners

Rising Stars

Life sciences and healthcare: foreign firms in China

Hogan Lovells International LLP

Offering expertise on regulatory compliance, M&A deals in the life sciences space, sanctions and export controls, and the legal implications of clinical trials, Hogan Lovells International LLP provides a comprehensive service for clients in the Chinese market. The team is jointly led by Roy Zou, who is highly experienced in U.S. litigation matters involving Chinese companies or government agencies as respondents or defendants, and cross-border transactional and financing expert Lu Zhou. The regulatory compliance focussed Calvin Ding, who is experienced in both government sanctioned and internal compliance investigations, is also key, as is life sciences and healthcare sector antitrust expert Adrian Emch. Jessie Xie, who specialises in medical device and pharmaceutical clinical trials and product approval issues, is also well-recommended.

Responsables de la pratique:

Roy Zou; Lu Zhou


Autres avocats clés:

Calvin Ding; Adrian Emch; Jessie Xie


Principaux clients

Merck & Co. Inc.


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Merck & Co., Inc. in connection with cross border litigation concerning rights in the MERCK trademark and trade name.

Ropes & Gray LLP

Representing a number of global biopharmaceutical and medical device companies and consistently handling major deals in the Chinese healthcare and life sciences market, Ropes & Gray LLP deservedly retains its place at the apex of this market. Practice head and Asia regional managing partner Arthur Mok has a wealth of experience in the field and is particularly recommended for advice on acquisitions and commercial agreements in the immunology space. Regulatory, compliance and enforcement expert Katherine Wang and healthcare IP specialist Geoffrey Lin are also integral. Eric Wu, who has first-hand industry experience having worked in-house for Johnson & Johnson, is another name to note.

Responsables de la pratique:

Arthur Mok


Autres avocats clés:

Katherine Wang; Geoffrey Lin; Eric Wu


Principaux clients

Everest Medicines


LianBio


Pediatrix Therapeutics


Tianjin Adicon Limited


Luca Healthcare


Bain Capital Life Sciences/Bain Capital Private Equity


HUTCHMED


Zenas BioPharma


MediBoston


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising Everest Medicines on a commercial agreement with Accelerate Technologies for COVID-19 products and with Gilead Sciences for the development of cancer drug, Trodelvy.
  • Representing Pediatrix Therapeutics in a license agreement with Aclaris Therapeutics, Inc., a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on developing novel drug candidates for immuno-inflammatory diseases in Greater China.
  • Advised HUTCHMED on its license to Takeda to develop and commercialize Fruquintinib outside China for a total of US$ 1.13 billion, plus royalties and net sales.

Baker McKenzie FenXun

Baker McKenzie FenXun is recommended for its first-hand industry experience, with a number of team members holding PhDs in medical-related fields including molecular biology, biotechnology, pharmacology and nursing. The practice chiefly assists with compliance matters in the healthcare and life sciences space, as well as advising on acquisitions in China by international companies in the sector. The team is mainly Hong Kong based, with Isabella Liu, Tracy Wut, Derek Poon, Grace Tso and Mini vandePol the key names there. Dispute resolution matters are handled by Simon Hui in Shanghai, while Vivian Wu from the firm’s joint operation partner, FenXun Partners, works on healthcare sector trade compliance from Beijing.

Responsables de la pratique:

Isabella Liu; Tracy Wut; Simon Hui; Derek Poon; Grace Tso; Mini van de Pol; Vivian Wu


Les références

‘Baker McKenzie is a full-service law firm with multiple offices globally, including China. There is access to advice from offices in different markets for similar topics to ensure consistency at global and/or regional level.’

‘Vivian Wu has deep expertise in the pharmaceutical and medical device industries. She is able to quickly grasp the issues and provides practical advice for complex topics. She has high proficiency in the English language, both spoken and written, which makes it easy for non-Mandarin speaking clients to discuss the matters with her.’

Principaux clients

BeiGene. Inc.


Smith & Nephew


Boston Scientific Corporation


A global veterinary health organisation


Bain Capital


Johnson & Johnson


Sino Biopharmaceutical


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised BeiGene Inc. on various commercial and intellectual property matters to ensure compliance with the updated HKAPI Code of Practice and other applicable laws and regulations in Hong Kong and Macau.
  • Advised Smith & Nephew on promotion and marketing of their advanced wound-care products to ensure compliance with the relevant Hong Kong laws and with regulations applicable to different media.
  • Advised Boston Scientific Corporation in the acquisition of 65% in Acotec Scientific Holdings Limited through a voluntary conditional partial cash offer.

CMS

Under the joint leadership of managing partner Nicholas Beckett – who divides his time between the Beijing and Hong Kong offices – and Shanghai based life sciences sector IP specialist Nicolas Zhu, CMS acts for a range of well known pharmaceutical companies as well as educational institutions such as UCL. The firm provides corporate services to this client base, alongside regulatory compliance support and representation in disputes and arbitrations. Associates Roxie Meng, a foreign direct investment expert, and the M&A and commercial deals focussed Laila Lu are among the key names to note. Clients describe the firm as 'at the forefront of thought leadership, particularly at the intersection of health and technology'.

Responsables de la pratique:

Nick Beckett; Nicolas Zhu


Autres avocats clés:

Roxie Meng; Laila Lu


Les références

‘CMS has a formidable reputation in the health and life sciences space. Its lawyers have excellent industry and legal knowledge and are at the forefront of thought leadership, particularly at the intersection of health and technology. The team is highly engaged and responsive, and it is a pleasure to deal with them.’

‘Nick Beckett deserves a special mention as an outstanding lawyer and leader. He is highly collegiate, generous with his time, takes the time to deeply understand client concerns and works collaborative to resolve problems. He is an absolute pleasure to work with.’

 

Principaux clients

Takeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited


The Wellcome Trust


UCL


GlaxoSmithKline


Tasly Holding Group Co.,Ltd


Bayer


Medtronic


Eli Lilly


Novartis


Nestlé


Principaux dossiers


Cooley LLP

Cooley LLP is highly recommended for its overseeing of transactional work in the biopharmaceuticals space, regularly assisting Chinese companies in their operations and commercial deals abroad. Central to the team is Yuming Liu, who specialises in private financings, M&A, joint ventures, and corporate partnering and licensing in the life sciences, healthcare, and technology sectors. Christina Zhang is also integral; an expert in cross border financings who counts a number of innovative companies in the life sciences space among her clients. Further key names include Patrick Loofbourrow, who specialises in work for emerging companies in the medical field, and the public-private mergers-focused Ruomu Li, who joined from Morrison Foerster in December 2022.

Autres avocats clés:

Christina Zhang; Patrick Loofbourrow; Yiming Liu; Ruomu Li


Principaux clients

Asymchem Laboratories


Eight Roads Capital


Full-Life Technologies


IASO Biotherapeutics


Jacobio Pharmaceuticals


Lilly Asia Ventures


Lupeng Pharmaceutical


NeuExcell Therapeutics


Pulnovo Medical


Structure Therapeutics


Summit Healthcare Acquisition Corp.


TandemAi


Wondercel Therapeutics


Zai Lab Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Summit Healthcare Acquisition Corp. on its de-SPAC transaction with Yisehng Bio, which valued YS Biopharma at an implied enterprise value of US$849 million and delivered approximately US$36 million of gross proceeds.
  • Advised Zion Biopharma on Roche’s acquisition of the global rights to Zion’s ZN-A-1041.
  • Advised Zai Lab, a research-based biopharmaceutical company based in China and the U.S., on its deal to obtain from MediLink the exclusive and worldwide license to develop, manufacture and commercialize an antibody-drug conjugate compound targeting DLL3.

Morrison Foerster

Morrison Foerster is recommended for experience in advising both multinational clients and PRC state owned enterprises in the healthcare and life sciences space. The firm has a strong record in advising on collaboration and licensing agreements for the commercial sale of medical drugs, as well as investment funds work for start-ups and private equity funds in the area of biomedicine. The team is led by Chuan Sun, who is located in Shanghai and offers expertise in both transactional work and legal advice pertaining to clinical trials, alongside the Hong Kong based duo of Thomas Chou and Gordon Milner. B. Chen Zhu and associate Sarah Wang are also key. Ruomu Li left the firm, joining Cooley LLP in December 2022.

Responsables de la pratique:

Chuan Sun; Thomas Chou; Gordon Milner


Autres avocats clés:

B. Chen Zhu; Sarah Wang


Les références

‘With significant and long-term industry experience in the field of life sciences and healthcare, as well as outstanding achievements in overseas private equity financing, the team is stable and provides continuous legal support to clients.’

‘Chuan Sun is a veteran in the industry and is personally on the front line to provide continuous and efficient legal services to clients.’

Principaux clients

Ally Bridge Group


CBC Group


Jamieson Laboratories Ltd


Hangzhou DAC Biotechnology Co., Ltd.


Celadon Partners


Jiangsu Hengrui Medicine Co., Ltd.


Chugai Pharmaceutical


Triastek


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Hangzhou DAC Biotechnology Co., Ltd. (“DAC Biotechnology”) on its collaboration and license agreement with Janssen Biotech, Inc., one of the Janssen Pharmaceutical Companies of Johnson & Johnson (“Janssen”) for the development and commercialization of antibody drug conjugate (ADC) products.
  • Represented Ally Bridge Group in various growth, late stage and public life sciences investments across the US and Europe worth approximately US$700 million, including the US$101 million Series B financing of Endeavor BioMedicines and the US$200 million Series C investment of Transcarent.
  • Advised Jamieson Laboratories and its parent company Jamieson Wellness Inc. on their partnership with leading international private equity firm DCP Capital, which included DCP’s purchase of a minority interest in Jamieson’s Chinese operations.

Sidley Austin LLP

Sidley Austin LLP provides a holistic life sciences offering, covering representation in major arbitrations, compliance and cybersecurity advice and assistance with innovative financings such as the royalty backed and hybrid financings the firm has overseen on behalf of RBF. Clients note the firm’s understanding of ‘China’s unique environment‘. The team is jointly led by Lei Li, a product registration, clinical trials, distribution and licensing expert, and Chen Yang, a China market entrance specialist who also has significant experience in assisting PRC government agencies with litigation in the US. Ruchun Ji, who works on cross-border licensing agreements and private equity transactions, is a further name to note.

Responsables de la pratique:

Lei Li; Chen Yang


Autres avocats clés:

Ruchun Ji


Les références

‘Sidley Austin’s life science team has many years of practical experience in China’s medical industry. Their legal support is not only professional, but also very pragmatic and considers China’s unique environment.’

‘Li Lei has rich experience in anti-monopoly, anti-commercial bribery and related investigations.’ 

Principaux clients

China Association of Enterprise with Foreign Investment R&D-Based Pharmaceutical Association Committee (RDPAC)


R-Bridge Healthcare Fund, managed by CBC Group


NeuroFront Therapeutics (Hong Kong) Limited


Rona Therapeutics, Inc.


I-Mab Biopharma Co., Ltd.


Keymed Biosciences


MicroPort NeuroTech


Genuine Biotech Limited


Qyuns Therapeutics Co., Ltd.


Akeso, Inc.


Principaux dossiers


  • Advising RDPAC on revising its Code of Practice, with the revised code being brought in during March 2023.
  • Represented I-Mab Biopharma Co., Ltd. (I-Mab) in a multi-year-long ICC arbitration against Tracon Pharmaceuticals concerning antibodies to be used in cancer treatment.
  • Advised R-Bridge Healthcare Fund (RBF), a fund managed by healthcare-dedicated asset management firm CBC Group, on two biopharma and healthcare financings, including one royalty-backed financing.

Bird & Bird

Bird & Bird, which has a strong track record for advising clients in the biotech space, is recommended for its expertise in advising on the digital aspects of the healthcare and life sciences sector, as well as providing employment and IP filings support. The team is led by Hong Kong based Alison Wong, who has experience in patent litigation, licensing matters and the legal implications of clinical trials. James Gong, who works at the firm’s Beijing office, provides expertise on Chinese data protection and security laws for medical industry clients.

Responsables de la pratique:

Alison Wong


Autres avocats clés:

James Gong


Les références

‘In the fields of anti-corruption compliance, digital compliance and personal privacy, and labour, the law firm has provided strong training guidance for the company.’

‘The work efficiency is high and the service price is reasonable. They have strong legal experience and business insight, and are capable of providing practical advice.’

Principaux clients

Edwards Lifesciences


Merck KGaA


Hong Kong Centre for Cerebro-cardiovascular Health


Engineering Limited (“HKCOCHE”)


ALK-Abelló A/S


Stryker Pacific Ltd.


Principaux dossiers


DLA Piper

DLA Piper offers particular strength in M&A and corporate work in the PRC life sciences market, with experience in providing assistance both for financial services investors and for research companies operating in China. The team is led jointly by regulatory and IP specialist Ting Xiao, located at the Shanghai office, and the Hong Kong-based Sammy Fang. Private equity investment and corporate finance specialist Qiang Li, also based in Shanghai, is also key, as is the Hong Kong-based Christine Liu, who focuses on internal compliance and conduct investigations.

Responsables de la pratique:

Sammy Fang; Ting Xiao


Autres avocats clés:

Qiang Li; Christine Liu


Principaux clients

Aesthetic Medical International Holding Group Limited


Arlington Capital Partners


Blue Ocean Structure Investment Company Ltd.


Charles River Laboratories


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented Blue Ocean Structure Investment Company Ltd., as majority shareholder of the New York-listed Global Cord Blood Corporation, in its attempt through proxy contest to control the board of directors of Global Cord.
  • Advised Arlington Capital Partners and Everest Clinical Research on its acquisition of U.S. based Brightech International.
  • Advised Xeltis AG, a medical device company based in the Netherlands, on its strategic cooperation agreement pertaining to an equity investment and a technology license with Hong Kong listed Grand Pharmaceutical Group Limited and its subsidiaries (Grand Pharma).

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP

Morgan Lewis & Bockius LLP is recommended for guiding clients through research, development, and regulatory approval. The firm is also strong in financing work, as well as structuring licensing and collaboration agreements in innovative areas such as cancer treatment. Todd Liao is the key name to note in Shanghai, with a strong record in acting for biotechnology and medical device companies from both the US and the PRC. Employment practice head Lesli Ligorner, also based in Shanghai, provides key input to the life sciences practice by offering misconduct and corruption investigations capability. Hong Kong based lawyers Maurice Hoo and Ning Zhang support.

Responsables de la pratique:

Todd Liao; Lesli Ligorner; Ning Zhang; Maurice Hoo


Les références


 

Principaux clients

Gilead Corp.


GIC


CMG-SDIC Capital


Frontage Holdings Corp.


Synaptic Medical Ltd.


IDG Capital


Hillhouse Capital


Matrix China


Sequoia Capital


Lake Bleu


B Capital


AffaMed Therapeutics


Merck


China Everbright


Eight Roads Fund


Shanghai Duoning


UIB Heathcare


Principaux dossiers


O'Melveny

O'Melveny specialises in bringing life sciences and biotech companies in China to the public markets in Hong Kong and the United States, assisting them with capital markets, M&A, FDI, IP, licensing, private equity and venture capital transactions. The firm acts for clients in this sector from across China’s major cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing. Practice head Ke Geng is an expert advisor on biotech and medical device IPOs, who also has direct industry knowledge through holding a biochemistry PhD.

Responsables de la pratique:

Ke Geng


Les références

‘Significant and long-term industry experience in the field of life sciences and healthcare capital markets. The team is stable and provides continuous legal support to clients.’

‘Ke Geng is professional, efficient and experienced.’

Principaux clients

Luzhu Biotech


Acotec Scientific Holdings


Beauty Farm


Cryofocus Medtech (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.


OrbusNeich


Sipai Health Technology Co., Ltd.


3D Medicines Inc.


Gaush Meditech


Jenscare Scientific


Rainmed Medical


Belite Bio


Genecast Group Inc.


RemeGen Co., Ltd.


Shanghai NewMed Medical Co., Ltd


CICC


TransThera Sciences (Nanjing), Inc.


Scivita Medical


Pharmaron Beijing Co., Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised Luzhu Biotech on its Hong Kong IPO.
  • Advised Acotec Scientific Holdings Limited on a voluntary partial offer by Boston Scientific Group plc.
  • Advised RemeGen Co., Ltd. on listing its A-Shares on the Board of Shanghai Stock Exchange.

Paul Hastings LLP

Paul Hastings LLP offers significant strength in corporate transactional and investment funds work in the life sciences space, with the firm assisting both US and Shanghai based biotech and pharmaceutical companies in this capacity. The firm also offers expertise in carrying out compliance reviews to reduce anticorruption risks. The team is led jointly by investigations specialists Phoebe Yan and Shaun Wu, corporate and M&A lawyer Jia Yan and the Hong Kong based Sarah Zhu.

Responsables de la pratique:

Phoebe Yan; Sarah Zhu; Shaun Wu; Jia Yan


Principaux clients

Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.


GenScript Biotech Corporation


Probio Technology


Chindex Medical Limited


Bain Gamma


Mega Genomics Limited


Principaux dossiers


  • Represented GenScript Biotech, an industry-leading US-based biotechnology company focused on gene synthesis technology and its indirect wholly owned subsidiary Probio Technology, on a Series C financing.
  • Represented Bain Gamma to successfully close its Series A financing.
  • Advised Mega Genomics Limited, the largest consumer genetic testing platform in China, on its global offering and IPO on the Main Board of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati is well-known for its niche as a start-up capital markets firm, but it has particular strength in providing such services for life sciences and healthcare sector clients. The firm handles a high volume of fundraising and acquisitions work in the PRC market, both for innovative Chinese companies in the process of growth and foreign companies - such as Australian medical device manufacture Wallaby Medical - aiming to expand their presence and partnerships in China. Dan Ouyang and Can Yin are the key names to note in Beijing. Jie Zhu leads the Shanghai branch of the practice, while Winfield Lau and Weiheng Chen support from Hong Kong.

Responsables de la pratique:

Dan Ouyang; Weiheng Chen; Winfield Lau; Jie Zhu; Can Yin


Principaux clients

Citigroup Global Markets


China International Capital Corporation


Fenbi Ltd.


Lepu ScienTech Medical Technology


QuantaSing Group Limited


YishengBio Co., Ltd


TechStar Acquisition Corporation


Huafang Group Inc.


PU’ER LANCANG ANCIENT TEA CO., LTD.


Baijiayun Group Ltd


Principaux dossiers


  • Advised LEPU ScienTech Medical Technology (Shanghai) Co., Ltd. on its USD83.4 million Hong Kong IPO.
  • Advised YishengBio Co., Ltd on its USD230 million de-SPAC on Nasdaq.
  • Advised Wallaby Medical in the EUR500 million acquisition of phenox GmbH, including phenox’s femtos GmbH.