COVID-19 Coronavirus: Life Sciences

Dispute boards, a dispute resolution mechanism historically found in construction contracts, can allow life sciences companies partnering in the fight against COVID-19 to resolve disputes arising under their agreements in a novel manner and with greater speed.

Read our guidance: Dispute Boards: A Novel Dispute-Resolution Technique for Life Sciences Companies Fighting COVID-19 (Global) - June 2, 2020

With hand sanitiser gel stocks under pressure worldwide, increasing numbers of businesses are considering how they could begin direct production of their own to ensure that they have sufficient stock for their own use. If your business plans to manufacture its own sanitisers following the WHO Guide, using ethanol or isopropyl as the active ingredient, and gets its active ingredient from approved sources, approval may now not be needed to do so.

Read our guidance: In the COVID-19 crisis, our operations in the UK, France and Germany can’t buy hand sanitiser. Can we make our own? (UK and Europe) - April 1, 2020

With protective face masks becoming a scarce resource during the COVID-19 pandemic and authorities stepping up public requisitions and export controls on these products, businesses who require this equipment for global manufacturing operations may have concerns about supply reliability over the coming months. While there is no current indication a public requisition is likely to be launched in the UK, existing emergency powers legislation could enable confiscation measures to be taken swiftly.

Read our guidance: We need respiratory face masks for our business operations in the UK and France. Can the UK or French Governments requisition them? (UK and Europe) - March 24, 2020