Life Sciences
From molecule to market — with fewer detours
From pre-clinical to post-market, streamline your product journey and secure your competitive edge with legal solutions built for innovation.
When you work in life sciences, whether advancing a new biologic, developing digital diagnostics, scaling a medical device, or securing drug approvals, legal decisions shape outcomes at every stage. A single misstep can delay a launch, jeopardise patents, or undermine investor confidence.
That's why you need credible legal experts who bring more than just knowledge of the law. You need an integrated team that understands the science, the commercial drivers, and the regulatory frameworks that underpin your entire product lifecycle.
Push boundaries without cutting corners
When you’re navigating everything from cross-border drug approvals to IP disputes and licensing deals, you can’t afford legal advice that lags behind. Our reputable lawyers work at the pace of your science, and here’s how we do things differently:
Science-minded, sector focused: From patent cliffs and shifting regulations to market uncertainty, we don’t just understand the pressures you face; we’ve lived it. Many of our lawyers hold advanced degrees and hands-on industry experience in life sciences, biotech, and related scientific fields — giving you advice that’s grounded in technical understanding, not just legal theory. That means faster issue-spotting, sharper risk assessments, and strategic guidance that aligns with your scientific and commercial priorities.
Global reach and perspective: With more than 150 professionals around the world, our Life Sciences Group delivers sophisticated cross-jurisdictional advice that combines deep local knowledge with broad global perspective. Wherever you operate, or wherever you would like to, we help you protect what’s yours, optimise your market advantage, and stay ahead of potential risks.
Full-service support: Every day, life sciences companies face a diverse range of legal demands. That’s why we bring together professionals from across disciplines, including IP, regulatory, corporate, employment, and litigation to deliver seamless legal services that support every facet of your business. Whatever your goals or pain points, we assemble the right team to help move you and your organisation forward.
Industry influence: When it comes to emerging issues impacting the future of life sciences, we’re not just part of the conversation; we’re helping to shape it. Gowling WLG is deeply involved with leading industry bodies, including the Association of the British Pharmaceutical Industry, BIOTECanada, and the UK BioIndustry Association. Through these roles, as well as our ongoing thought leadership activities, we ensure you receive insights that are timely, useful, and future-focused on the horizon.
“In a sector as complex and fast-moving as life sciences, experience isn’t just valuable it’s essential. We’ve stood alongside clients through some of their most challenging moments, and that hard-earned perspective means we can offer the clear, steady guidance you need when it matters most.”
— Patrick Duxbury, Leader of Life Sciences (UK)
Full lifecycle solutions
Our legal experts work as an extension of your team, helping you navigate every phase of your company and product journey with clarity, confidence, and focus. Explore our tailored services:
Regulatory strategy & compliance
Navigate Health Canada, FDA, EMA, and other regulatory regimes with advice grounded in science and policy. We support clients from pre-clinical strategy and clinical trial applications to product approvals, advertising, labelling, and post-market surveillance.
Intellectual property protection & enforcement
Product development & clinical trials
Market access, pricing & reimbursement
Licensing, collaborations & commercial agreements
Manufacturing, supply chain & distribution
Privacy, AI & digital health compliance
Litigation & dispute resolution
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