FINANCE & TRANSACTIONAL FIRM ANALYSIS
Firm Briefings
in its global agreement with Pfizer for worldwide rights to sell a nonprescription version of AstraZeneca’s over the counter gastroespohageal drug Nexium, which is the most successful prescription brand in the world. “I have yet to work with a firm that has the same level of understanding of the industry that they have,” explains one in-house counsel on their experience working with Covington. “Their corporate attorneys knew more about the marketplace than anyone that I had ever spoken with.” Dechert Dechert’s financial and transactional group is a key component of the firm’s full-service capability in the industry. “A bit of a unique practice as they bring a lot of foreign companies into the US marketplace and help them develop once they are stateside,” explains one contemporary. The firm has done a lot of work for the Celgene Corporation, and has also represented Ferring Pharmaceuticals and biopharma company Inhibitex in domestic transactions. Partners James Marino and David Schulman have taken the lead for Celgene in a couple of their recent corporate matters. They represented Celgene in connection with its acquisition of a Massachusetts-based privately held biotechnology company, Avila Therapeutics, which is developing targeted covalent drugs that treat diseases through protein silencing. According to one rival, Schulman is “one of the smartest attorneys with a great eye for finding what works best for his client’s business needs.” Goodwin Procter “We have loved every minute of working with the attorneys over there,” explains one enthusiastic client about their experience working with the corporate team at Goodwin Procter. Another client adds, “Their attorneys don’t have to amass large teams to handle my needs. Each of them has a diverse skill set and were able to handle matters themselves, without costing us anything extra.” Due to the firm’s headquarters in Boston, the team at Goodwin works with a lot of startup and mid-market companies that originated from the innovation hub. Competitors marvel at the firm’s recent work with startup companies. “One of the best firms in the industry and can help companies work their way from the ground up.” This year, Goodwin represented Cambridge-based Moderna Therapeutics in allowing AstraZeneca the right to acquire (up to) 40 pioneering messenger RNA therapeutics pursuant to an exclusive option agreement. AstraZeneca paid an initial amount of $240 million, which is reportedly the largest ever in a preclinical pharmaceutical industry deal. Partner Kingsley Taft, national co-chair of Goodwin’s life sciences practice, worked on the landmark deal and is described by peers as ”a great corporate mind and he works with one of the most varied client lists out there.” Co-chairing the firm’s national practice alongside Taft is partner Mitchell Bloom. He is praised for “working effortlessly with his clients to reach their goals.” Bloom led the Goodwin team that advised Jounce Therap ]]X??[? H[?]X[???[???] ?
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