Life Sciences

For more than 30 years, attorneys in our Life Sciences practice group have played an instrumental role in the growth of many of the industry's leading life sciences companies. Our client base includes both public and private companies, based in the U.S. and abroad, and spans the breadth of the life science industry sectors from therapeutics to drug delivery and formulation to medical technology and devices. Key clients include: Gilead Sciences, Inc., Gen-Probe, Inc., Vical, Inc., and Volcano Therapeutics; view a more complete list of clients.

We deliver an unparalleled combination of innovative legal expertise, deep industry knowledge and practical understanding of our clients' business needs.

Because of our deep domain expertise we are often called upon to represent venture capital clients in their investments in life sciences companies, as well as the investment banks and lending institutions servicing those companies.

Key Facts

  • Since 2001, we have completed more than 200 life sciences public offerings, including 36 IPOs
  • We have closed more than 90 M&A deals for life sciences companies since 2000, with a total deal value in excess of $25 billion
  • In the last three years, our dedicated life science transactions team has completed more than 75 deals valued in excess of $28.5 billion.

Rankings and Accolades

  • Named "Law Firm of the Year" in Biotechnology by US News – Best Lawyers in 2011, the first year the category was awarded
  • Ranked #1 in issuer-side life sciences IPOs from 2000 to present (Source: IPO Vital Signs)
  • Consistently ranked #1 in the BioPharm Insight Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Licensing League Table Report in 2010 and 2011 YTD
  • Ranked #1 in 2010 and #2 in 2008 and 2009 in the U.S. for representation of venture-backed Biotech/Pharmaceuticals companies (Source: VentureSource)
  • Ranked #1 in Life Sciences by Chambers USA: America's Leading Lawyers for Business in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011
  • Ranked in top 10 nationally as underwriters' counsel for life sciences IPOs filed from 2004 to 2010 (Source: IPO Vital Signs)
  • Ranked #1 in the U.S. for Biotechnology Law by Best Lawyers in America, with 9 attorneys selected, more than any other firm, in 2009.
  • Thirteen Cooley transactions have been awarded or nominated for the Allicense "Breakthrough Deal of the Year" since 2000:
    • 2011: Regulus Therapeutics/Sanofi-aventis (nominated) & Rigel Pharmaceuticals/AstraZeneca (nominated)
    • 2010 Seattle Genetics/Millennium (nominated) & Amylin/Takeda (nominated)
    • 2009: Exelixis, Inc./Bristol-Meyers Squibb (also nominated: Medivation, Inc./Pfizer, Inc.)
    • 2007: Affymax/ Takeda
    • 2006: Nuvelo/ Bayer
    • 2003: Eli Lilly/Amylin (also nominated: GSK/Exelixis)
    • 2002: Eli Lilly/ISIS Pharmaceuticals (also nominated: BMS/Exelixis)
    • 2000: Innovex/CV Therapeutics

Life Science Industry Knowledge

Many of our attorneys have practical business experience, or have earned advanced degrees in relevant life science disciplines

  • 82 attorneys with undergraduate degrees in scientific or clinical fields, including Chemistry, Biology, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Medicine and Nursing
  • 36 attorneys with graduate degrees in scientific fields (M.S. and Ph.D.)

Our attorneys have deep expertise across all aspects of life sciences technologies:

  • Biologics
  • Biosimilars
  • Biotechnology
  • Chemicals
  • CLIA laboratories
  • Delivery devices
  • Diagnostic
  • Dietary supplements
  • Drug delivery
  • Drug discovery tools
  • Drug formulation
  • Laboratory instrumentation
  • Medical devices
  • Medical foods
  • MEMS technology
  • Nanotechnology
  • Oncology
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Proteomics
  • Screening assays
  • Surgical tools
  • Therapeutics
  • Vaccines

Related Practices

Related Industries

A Leader in PIPEs

Since 2008, Cooley has placed second on the PrivateRaise PIPE League Table for "most active issuer counsel in the U.S." Learn more.


Request a free copy of the IPO Handbook. Available in two versions—Emerging Companies and Life Sciences Companies, this introduction to IPOs  addresses the questions most often asked by companies contemplating public offerings.

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