Dechert Promotes Life Sciences Innovation and Start-Ups Through Several Initiatives

Paris – As a recognised leader in life sciences, global law firm Dechert’s Paris office is offering up its skills to support innovation and start-ups in the sector. Dechert partners are participating in the France BioTech 4th European Biotech & Medtech Investor Day, and also launching a pro bono law clinic initiative for female-run start-ups, will offer interdisciplinary advice with high added value to young businesses.

Dechert partners with the 4th European Biotech & Medtech Investor Day to connect French companies and American investors in Boston on June 4th

France Biotech have organised their 4th European Biotech & Medtech Investor Day to coincide with the BIO International Convention industry annual meeting, which this year takes place in Boston. This initiative aims to reinforce the links between French companies and American investors and to underline the solidity of French innovation in the healthcare ecosystem.

Equipped with its renowned expertise in the healthtech field, Dechert will be a member of the delegation led by France Biotech and will support selected promising companies in the health sector.

Alain Decombe, managing partner of Dechert Paris, Marie Fillon, Isabelle Marguet and Anne-Charlotte Rivière, national partners of the intellectual property and corporate departments, will be present to discuss with these businesses how to develop within a secure legal framework.

Decombe said: “The primary purpose of Dechert’s Life Sciences platform in Paris is to supply quality and value-added assistance to companies in the sector which are facing complex legal and regulatory problems. By participating in the 4th European Biotech & Medtech Investor Day, we would like to express our support for these innovative businesses and the association France Biotech which defends their interests."

A pro bono legal clinic in Paris to support female-led biotech businesses

Dechert is partnering with W.I.T.H. (Women Innovating Together in Healthcare) to launch the first legal clinic aimed at young medtech and biotech businesses run by women.

The project is based on an observation: in order to establish themselves in this competitive and regulated field, they must avoid many pitfalls, the first and foremost being legal considerations and the filing of patents.

Dechert is committing to 3 action points:

• Writing a guide in the form of a “what to do/ what not to do” on the key points project leaders need to be particularly vigilant of.
• One-to-one meetings with project leaders to discuss their project and evaluate their specific needs.
• Customized legal advice for selected projects that fit the criteria.

Fillon, national partner and head of the Dechert Paris intellectual property practice said: “For these start-ups, it is essential to anticipate legal issues, notably those linked to intellectual property. They will have a significant impact during fundraising. At Dechert, it seems essential to us to support young life sciences businesses in these aspects. Our firm was named one in pro bono in the world in 2017 by The American Lawyer and this clinic is totally in our DNA.”

Interdisciplinary and high value-added expertise in life sciences

With a team of more than 35 lawyers specialising in life sciences in Paris and a further 160 worldwide, Dechert is one of the international leaders in the life sciences sector (Band 1 in the Chambers and Legal 500 rankings). The firm works with pharmaceutical, medtech and biotech companies, as well as investment funds (private equity funds and venture capital funds).

Dechert’s life sciences group, unique in the market, brings together the best experts in each key discipline: mergers & acquisitions, venture capital, capital markets, licencing, intellectual property, competition, regulatory and litigation. This range of clients and areas of expertise provides a unique understanding of the requirements and challenges of the sector. 

Dechert’s lawyers recently advised Astorg on its acquisition of a stake in Echosens SA, French hi-tech company specialising in non-invasive medical devices for the diagnosis of chronic liver diseases.

Demonstrating the place of the Paris office in the global practice, Mélanie Thill-Tayara, Dechert Paris partner, has been named global co-head of the life sciences practice. She takes on this role alongside two American partners, Andrea Reid (intellectual property) and David Rosenthal (corporate).

Dechert in the rankings: a leader in health law and innovation

• Dechert is ranked in Band 1 by Chambers for its healthcare expertise in France, where the publication notes that Dechert has a “highly regarded team offering a full service to clients in the life sciences sector”
• Dechert is ranked in Band 1 by The Legal 500 for its expertise in health in France, and is among the leading firms in the USA and UK.
• Dechert is also ranked in Band 1 by The Legal 500 for its expertise in venture and growth capital where they note: “Dechert LLP is particularly strong in the life sciences, pharmaceutical and technology sectors and guides clients through all the stages of investing, from investment to exit.” 

About Dechert

Dechert is a leading global law firm with 27 offices around the world. We advise on matters and transactions of the greatest complexity, bringing energy, creativity and efficient management of legal issues to deliver commercial and practical advice for clients.