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Life Sciences

Our life sciences team is one of the largest and most active of any law firm: operating as a single resource across multiple jurisdictions, we combine subject matter experience with a deep knowledge of the sector. 

Businesses in the life sciences sector, such as pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, research and diagnostics companies, face important challenges. Taking therapies from the laboratory to the market requires awareness of multiple risks. Other pressures include desire for greater shareholder return, competition in key therapeutic areas, pricing pressures from healthcare payers, regulation beyond core issues, rising R&D costs, operations in emerging markets and aggressive enforcement. 

Our life sciences team combines sector-specific and multidisciplinary skills with in-country knowledge to address virtually any business legal requirement. We are already one of the most active law firms in Africa, and we are proud of our legal, scientific and medical knowledge and our awareness of today’s complex commercial, regulatory and enforcement environments. 

Local insight, global reach: with teams in 20 African countries, our people understand the business, political, legal, cultural and regulatory issues in the region, and bring those insights to bear on behalf of our clients. 

Our global Africa team itself comprises more than 200 lawyers in Johannesburg, Casablanca, London, New York, Paris, Dubai, Perth, Hong Kong and Beijing. 

Being part of one of the world's biggest business law firms means we can deliver a fully integrated cross-border business legal service: drawing on numerous legal disciplines to support clients in multijurisdictional issues, transactions and disputes and help them achieve their strategic goals. 

Our life sciences team includes award-winning lawyers practicing in compliance and investigations, IP strategy and enforcement, M&A, licensing and distribution, litigation and clinical trials advice. Our capability extends to all other areas required to address risk, including government affairs, environmental law, import/export, tax, real estate and employment law. Many lawyers in our team are former biotech and life sciences professionals, with PhDs and other advanced degrees. Others are former government officials and prosecutors. 

Please contact us to discuss how we can help you to achieve your objectives.

ESG implications of mine rehabilitation in Africa

In many African countries, mining is the backbone of their economies. Often, however, little consideration is given to environmental, social and governance (ESG) implications when a mining resource has been depleted or becomes uneconomical to mine. An appropriate legal framework that deals with mining rehabilitation is vital as part of sustainable mining.

Climate change measures and disputes

Africa is rich in natural resources, and several African economies are dependent on supplying or using fossil fuels, including South Africa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Tanzania and Mozambique, to name a few.