Gowling WLG's head of life sciences, Patrick Duxbury, has been named 'Financial & Corporate Lawyer of the Year: Licensing & Collaboration' in the LMG European Life Sciences Awards 2020, announced today.

The LMG Life Sciences Awards are presented to firms, individuals and companies behind the most innovative and challenging Life Sciences work of the past year, as well as those driving the international market.

Patrick's achievement highlights his expertise and strong reputation in the life sciences sector. In the past year, he has led on a number of high-profile deals, which include advising long-standing client AstraZeneca on a landmark collaboration agreement for the development and distribution of the University of Oxford's potential COVID-19 vaccine. He also led on a $6.9 billion cancer drug collaboration agreement for AstraZeneca with Daiichi Sankyo Company, Limited and a US$1 billion dollar drug research collaboration and licensing agreement for Sosei Heptares with Genentech.

Originally, a microbiologist and geneticist before requalifying as a lawyer in 1993, Patrick specialises in all aspects of transactional work in the life sciences sector. He is a 'leading individual' in Legal 500 2020, named a Who's Who Legal Award winner in 2019 and is both a well-known speaker in life sciences and teaches on the BIO Advanced Business Development Course in both the US and Europe.

Gowling WLG's global Life Sciences team combines extensive sector expertise with full-service capability. With a reputation for being "excellent for corporate and investment transactions" and "complex licence, research and collaboration agreements" (Chambers UK 2019), its clients range from global pharmaceutical companies and leading research and academic bodies, to small private companies and start-up businesses.