Seven associates from Goodwin share their views on what it takes to become a successful life sciences lawyer.
Chambers Associate: Which practice areas fall within the life sciences sector?
Paresh Kumar, associate: Goodwin has a robust team of over 200 attorneys globally specializing in life sciences. Under the life science business unit, we have our corporate law, intellectual property, and healthcare and regulatory compliance practice groups, further bolstered by our litigation and specialist teams. We incorporate additional specialists in fields such as tax, antitrust, debt finance, insurance, among others, as per the requirements of the matter. Goodwin is home to some of the sharpest legal minds in the life science industry, each committed to providing tailored solutions to our clients’ unique challenges.
Stephanie Dusaban Gonzales, associate: One of the great things about Goodwin, is that we have a large and diverse practice. This includes general corporate to licensing and collaborations as well as more specialized groups such as regulatory, intellectual property, and tax. Overall, our life sciences sector encompasses a comprehensive number of practice areas to help our clients in their wide range of legal needs throughout their corporate lifecycle.
Heath Ingram, associate: There are number of practice areas that fall within the life sciences sector including, but not limited to Healthcare, FDA, IP, Licensing, Capital Markets, M&A, Corporate Governance, etc.
Joe Flynn, associate: The life sciences encompasses many of the traditional practice areas including corporate, intellectual property (both litigation and transactional), commercial, and capital markets, as well as a strong emphasis on other areas such as regulatory, data privacy, and healthcare law.. In addition, other practice areas are needed in support of the life sciences sector, such as employment law, litigation, finance, and bankruptcy, among others.
CA: Does Goodwin have a particular specialty in any of these?
Jessie Fishman, associate: Without question. As a diversified lifecycle practice, Goodwin’s Life Sciences group has a deep understanding of client needs, and with that, comes an ordinary course of specialization. Throughout the lifecycle of a company, or even just the lifecycle of a particular transaction, I work closely with colleagues on our corporate, regulatory, intellectual property, compensation and privacy teams to drive solutions for a particular client’s needs.
PK: Goodwin possesses both extensive and specialized expertise in the life sciences sector, a fact that motivated my decision to join the firm. Our life sciences business unit, along with several practice groups thereunder, have been the recipients of numerous industry awards and recognition for their excellence in the biotechnology sector over the past decade. Most recently in 2023, Goodwin was honored as the “Licensing & Collaboration Firm of the Year” (my practice group), and for the second year running, the “FDA Litigation & Enforcement Firm of the Year”. Each year, a multitude of life science attorneys at Goodwin are recognized for their exceptional expertise and dedication to their craft. The depth of experience our team demonstrates when addressing even the most niche issues continues to impress me.
Elizabeth Mulkey, associate: Absolutely. Goodwin’s life sciences team works cross-functionally to serve clients from early development of drugs, biologics, and medical devices through commercialization of approved products. As part of the life sciences regulatory team, I often work closely with colleagues on our corporate, healthcare regulatory, intellectual property, and privacy teams to help clients find creative solutions to issues that arise during product development. Goodwin’s comprehensive focus on the life sciences industry makes us uniquely suited to understanding the challenges our clients face throughout the life cycle of their regulated products.
SDG: Goodwin specializes in all areas of law to address the varied needs of our life sciences clients. We have legal experts in general corporate, licensing and collaborations, regulatory, intellectual property, and tax. We also have technical specialists in these particular areas, many of whom have advanced scientific degrees. Accordingly, Goodwin is able to serve our clients seamlessly to provide comprehensive advice to our clients.
Amarilice Young, associate: Absolutely, as a “life cycle” firm, Goodwin is distinct in that it is able to expertly advise early-stage companies (sometimes it is just one scientist in a basement!) all the way to “it” players in the industry with thousands of employees and a multi-national presence.
JFlynn: Goodwin’s life sciences practice is one of the core practice areas at the firm and truly provides specialties in all aspects of the license science sector. The breadth of the firm’s life sciences expertise truly allows us to best serve our clients in this space and assist in all areas of their business from general corporate matters, intellectual property matters, regulatory matters and the like. One of the many benefits of being a life sciences attorney at Goodwin is the strength of its practices and the resources and knowledge form which we are able to pull in order to provide our clients with top tier representation and advice.
CA: What do you enjoy least and most about your work?
JFishman: I would say working closely with our clients to find creative solutions for their needs is top of the list. Our clients have such cutting edge science, that many times, we are working on something novel and trying to explain a very complex product or idea to a layperson. Another thing I really enjoy here, is the people, both within and outside of Goodwin. Our group has such a great sense of camaraderie and I think our client’s feel that when working with us. It makes for a great partnership.
PK: I most enjoy the opportunity to collaborate with my esteemed colleagues and to draw upon their wealth of knowledge and experience when solving clients’ problems. It is a great privilege to learn from the best of the best in the life sciences legal industry. I take great pleasure in being at the vanguard of transactions involving state-of-the-art scientific technologies. Undoubtedly, it is a distinct honor to operate at the intersection of science, business, and law, especially within Goodwin’s esteemed life sciences business unit. Nevertheless, effectively managing the substantial demand for our legal services presents its own set of challenges.
EM: I enjoy the variety of projects I get the chance to work on every day. In one day, I may review regulatory correspondence to advise a client on their corporate disclosure, counsel a client on how to manage issues that have come to their attention as part of a clinical trial, and advise on potential regulatory pathways for a product a client is developing. I typically work with multiple clients each day, rather than spending my day on one or two matters. I also enjoy helping clients find creative solutions to complex problems. The clients I work with are, across the board, sophisticated and knowledgeable professionals who are dedicated to helping patients, and I feel privileged to get to be part of their work. Sometimes our role as outside counsel involves managing crises or urgent issues, so there can be an element of unpredictability (but I think that’s part of what makes our job so interesting!)
SDG: There are two aspects I enjoy the most about work: the ability to problem solve and the people I work with. As a patent attorney, I love working with clients on the cutting edge of science and leveraging my scientific background to help provide strategic advice. This is for clients in terms of their patent portfolio and informing their overall business strategy. There are a lot of moving parts in a client’s business, and I enjoy participating by providing my expertise on the IP side as it relates to a client’s goal. I also love Goodwin’s collaborative environment and the people. I work with our legal experts in other practice areas to provide comprehensive legal advice to our clients. And while I enjoy the fast paced nature of the job, it can be stressful at times. Mostly because we want to make sure that we get it right for our clients and help them protect and meet the important deadlines to protect their valuable IP assets.
AY: One of the best parts of being a corporate associate in the life sciences group is that every day is different! In a single day I might help a founder on a thorny question about how her founder shares vest, draft a letter of intent for a client to acquire a new business, remind a company that its charter prohibits it from its proposed course of action (and research alternatives), tackle a dispute about participation in a Board meeting, collaborate with specialists about a tricky tax concern and coach a junior associate to lead their first call about a set of disclosure schedules.
One of the most challenging aspects of my job is helping my clients navigate issues that are fundamentally both “legal” and “business” in nature. For example, putting myself in my client’s shoes so that I can arm them all the information they need to assess their appetite for risk (whether in a multi-million dollar merger agreement or a small vendor dispute) is one of the hardest (and most rewarding!) parts of the job.
HI: I love helping life science and medical device companies develop their commercialization and market access strategies as they look post-FDA approval. In particular, I enjoy helping life science companies set the price of their products, build out patient assistance programs, negotiate agreements with various entities in the supply chain, and help strategize for long term commercial success. I do not enjoy navigating the endless public policy fights and misinformation around the source of high drug prices.
JFlynn: What I enjoy most about my work is the clients I get to work with on a day-to-day basis. These clients are focused on the greater good and are working tirelessly to solve problems facing people every single day. Knowing that the work I do, and the support I provide to these clients, can play a small role in these efforts is very rewarding. There is very little that I don’t enjoy about my job. While the hours can be long some days, this is to be expected and having the privilege of working with clients in the life sciences space definitely makes it all worth it.
CA: What are the differences between noncontentious and litigious life sciences work?
JFishman: Aside from the initial structuring and negotiating deal terms, most of the transactional work here is very contentious. This differs than litigious Life Sciences work where, for example, there may be intellectual property dispute over a patent.
PK: My career began in IP litigation and then transitioned to IP transactions following my first year. From my personal experience, I have found that litigation tends to offer a more predictable work schedule and a structured day-to-day routine. In contrast, transactional practice is less predictable and more unstructured, with a heightened emphasis on expediency. There are instances when negotiations can escalate (or fail) into contentious situations, especially when trying to resolve a dispute without litigation. Furthermore, the skill set required for drafting motions, briefs, discovery requests, and subpoenas differs significantly from that needed for writing contracts or patents. I would encourage junior lawyers to choose the path that aligns best with their natural talents and further develop their innate instincts.
EM: As a regulatory attorney, I am more frequently advising clients on non-litigious workstreams. To the extent there is another party involved, we are typically working toward a common goal, such as initiating a clinical trial evaluating multiple product candidates as part of a collaboration. In these scenarios, my role is (in part) to help the client be in the best position possible if there is a conflict down the road.
SDG: I consider noncontentious life sciences work more synonymous with transactional work. For example, trying to find a resolution whether it be terms of a license agreement or working with the patent office to get a patent allowed. I also consider the diligence work we do as part of various transactions and deals as noncontentious as we are trying to make sure everyone is on the same side and comfortable going into a transaction. This is different than litigious life sciences work where there are two opposing sides that are not aligned in the outcomes.
HI: Litigation in the life sciences space can manifest in many different ways. One way contentious litigation plays out for me in life sciences work is in the 340B Drug Pricing Program. This is a controversial program that requires drug manufactures to provide steep discounts for their products to certain types of hospitals and other healthcare providers. I am often helping drug manufactures and healthcare providers navigate developments in the 340B program and stay on top of recent litigation. My work with helping newly commercial drug manufacturers set the list price of their drug is an example of non-litigious work in my area of life sciences. Helping life science companies navigate and comply with FDA and CMS regulations is contentious.
JFlynn: The noncontentious life sciences work tends to be your transactional work such as equity financings, M&A transactions, and capital market transactions. Given that all parties are generally working towards a common end goal in support of the larger good, while negotiations can get heated at times, overall the process is typically friendly and not contentious. On the other hand, litigious life sciences work tends to be contentious with the parties having opposing interests and desiring different outcomes.
CA: Can you give us an idea of the clients you work with and why they need lawyers?
JFishman: I work with a wide variety of life sciences clients from early-stage to seasoned public companies. Each client has their own unique set of needs from their lawyers. Some need help with transaction structuring or financing, others need help with day-to-day operations.
PK: My professional engagements span a broad spectrum of biopharmaceutical companies, from nascent startups to established public entities. My role is critical to a biopharmaceutical company’s most valuable asset—its intellectual property—and transacting it in a manner that not only create value for our clients but also mitigate associated risks. These intellectual property transactions encompass a wide array of activities, including initial foundation licenses, ongoing scientific collaborations, and strategic management of relationships with service providers throughout the research, development, and commercialization phases. These efforts are integral to the company’s growth and long-term viability. Additionally, I contribute as an IP specialist in critical areas such as financings, IPOs, M&A deals, royalty financings, venture philanthropy and other corporate transactions.
EM: Our life sciences regulatory team works with a broad range of clients whose activities are regulated by FDA. In addition to drug, biologic, and medical device developers, we work with product manufacturers, contract research and development organizations, and investors across the life sciences space. The needs of early-stage companies (who may not yet have an in-house legal team) are different from the needs of companies that have commercialized multiple approved products, and our team has experience counseling companies throughout their life cycle.
SDG: I work with early-stage to public life sciences companies in a wide range of technical areas ranging from antibody therapies and gene therapies to agriculture and synthetic DNA tools. Patent attorneys are needed to understand both the legal aspects but also the scientific details of an invention. We also help understand the patent landscape around their products and help navigate potentially blocking IP. I am also involved as an IP expert to help with representing investors and clients in various transactions such as mergers and IPOs. Innovation in life sciences is driven by these companies and it’s rewarding to get to work and advise across this ecosystem.
AY: I work with early-stage companies who may not have any lawyers on the payroll (in this capacity, Goodwin serves in a general counsel-like role) and with large, mature corporations (in this capacity, Goodwin serves as an advisor alongside in-house counsel). In each case, I see my role not just as a “deal lawyer,” but as a thought partner and strategic ally who can speak to issues life sciences companies may face at any stage of their development.
HI: I most often work with newly commercial drug and device companies as they navigate the final stages of the FDA approval process and are preparing their market access strategy for after they obtain FDA approval. These companies need lawyers like me to provide strategic regulatory advice on how to best set up their business model and support functions to comply with federal and state regulations. Strong legal counsel is needed to ensure these companies are appropriately modeling out how various business decision can implicate regulations that could have an impact on the company’s ultimate gross-to-net revenue.
JFlynn: Many of my clients are private biotech and pharma companies that are focused on bringing drugs or other technologies to market to treat a variety of diseases or satisfy certain unmet needs. These clients need lawyers in many aspects of their business. They need corporate attorneys to assist in forming their business, ensuring day-to-day governance matters are handled, reviewing commercial agreements, and assisting with raising capital to fund operations. These private companies also need to hire employees which requires the assistance of employment attorneys to ensure compliance with applicable state laws. Additionally, the most important asset of many of my clients tends to be their intellectual property so they need lawyers who can assist in filing, maintaining and protecting their intellectual property, especially in what tends to be very competitive spaces.
CA: How does the work differ from more traditional areas of law such as finance?
JFishman: I think the opportunity to be a Life Sciences lawyer at Goodwin allows us to be more well-rounded than other attorneys. We need to understand our client’s products and regulatory environment in addition to just servicing them as a just a finance attorney.
PK: IP transactions can serve as an alternative funding source, distinct from traditional financing models. This approach necessitates a comprehensive understanding of the life sciences industry, expertise in intellectual property and contract law, and the capacity to rapidly comprehend the scientific underpinnings of the technology in question.
EM: We serve our clients as advisors with subject matter expertise, and there are unique regulatory considerations for nearly all of the transactions and engagements our clients may enter into. As regulatory attorneys, we often interact directly with our clients’ clinical, quality, and regulatory leaders; our points of contact aren’t limited to the in-house legal team. Day-to-day regulatory counseling requires being able to issue spot the particular framework or legal obligations that may apply to a set of facts the client has provided, then help the client think through the best course of action (and whether other subject matter experts need to be consulted).
SDG: Patent law is a unique intersection of science and law. The work as a patent attorney is deeply intertwined with cutting edge science. A strong scientific backgrounds is necessary for understanding the technical details of a client’s invention and how patents held by third parties affect the ability of a client to market their products. Because the IP can be the strongest asset for a company, this results in interfacing with other practice groups that help commercialize the IP such as licensing and corporate.
AY: There are lots of differences from more traditional areas of the law. One of the differences that most excites me is that in my practice, I have the regular opportunity to work with brilliant scientists. I have found that scientists in particular deeply value expertise. To me, that means they look to their lawyers as valued thought partners who can help them navigate through key inflection points in their business – whether that is their first equity raise, a unique patent dispute or anything in between!
HI: My work is focused on providing regulatory advising to life science and medical device companies to help them get their products in the hands of patients. This is a very technical and specialized skill set different than general corporate law.
JFlynn: I think one of the biggest area of differentiation is that the life sciences sector tends to be a bit more dynamic than other areas of law. As many of our clients are developing novel therapeutics and medical devices, there is a greater level of uncertainty in this area as well as many matters of first impression. This often requires attorneys to blend practical skills with creative problem solving skills which is not always present in other areas of law.
CA: Where does the life sciences sector intercede with politics?
JFishman: Our industry is political because it impacts health on a macro scale as well as on a personal scale. Take for example, Roe v. Wade (or it being overturned recently), this directly impacts access to healthcare and other personal freedoms. Newsworthy topics such as, access to medicines, medicine pricing and FDA regulatory processes are regularly in the news, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic.
PK: The life sciences sector is intrinsically entwined with politics due to its direct impact on personal health and access to medical treatments. Regular news coverage in this field typically encompasses a range of topics, including (1) the escalating costs of medication, (2) issues surrounding access to essential and life-saving medicines such as gene therapy, (3) instances where faith and religion intersect with science and medicine, notably in discussions around the abortion pill (mifepristone), (4) the role of the FDA in the approval of safe and effective medicines, and (5) the economic mechanisms that drive scientific innovation (including constant regulatory changes). These multifaceted issues contribute to the dynamic and ever-evolving landscape of the life sciences industry.
EM: We work with clients in a heavily regulated industry, and government authorities are frequently developing and implementing legislation and policies that can impact our clients’ current activities and future plans. In particular, our clients are closely attuned to how FDA balances its objectives of promoting innovation while ensuring that products that are approved have sufficient clinical data to support approval. FDA’s guidance documents provide critical insight into how the agency interprets various statutes and regulations that affect the approval and marketing of medical products, and our team works hard to stay up-to-date on any legislation or guidance that may be relevant to our clients—being knowledgeable about evolving policy is key to being an effective regulatory advisor.
HI: There are many different ways the life sciences sector interceded with politics. The most common area that affects my practice is political fights around drug pricing. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act’s Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program has been a significant development in the life sciences sector that is frequently discussed on the campaign trail by both major political parties.
CA: Are there any political developments that have affected the sector recently? Are there any on the horizon?
PK: Alterations to healthcare-related laws, regulations, or policies invariably exert an impact on the life sciences sector, the extent of which varies depending on the specific issue at hand. Recent political activities of note include: (1) The Supreme Court decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, which returned the authority to regulate abortion back to individual states, (2) a federal challenge to the FDA’s authority to approve mifepristone (the abortion pill) which may have broader regulatory implications, (3) the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act and ensuing constitutional challenges pertaining to mandatory pricing negotiations, (4) issues surrounding access and insurance coverage of innovative gene-editing therapies that affect already vulnerable populations, and (5) heightened opposition to gender-affirming therapies in conservative states, particularly with respect to minors.
SDG: One political development that has been raised recently is the impact of regulatory laws on patent strategy. For example, the Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”), in part, is designed to reduce prescription drug prices. Though not its intent, the IRA has implications for patent strategy for our life sciences clients. As such patent law is not an insular sector but interfaces with many different areas.
HI: The recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 and its Medicare Drug Price Negotiation Program was the culmination of many years of political debate. The implementation of this program will also continue to be influenced by politics as well.
JFlynn: Perhaps the most important political development on the horizon is that this is an election year in the United States. Given the need of many of the private companies to raise capital in order to fund their various programs, election years tend to create a certain level of economic uncertainty which may present some issues and difficulties for these companies in raising the necessary capital. This is especially true given the current state of the markets. Political uncertainty and developments in other countries can also have an impact on clients in the US life sciences space. Increasing concerns with China, for example, have led to the proposed BIOSECURE Act being discussed in Congress which, if passed, is likely to have significant impact on those companies in the life sciences space that currently utilize the services of certain major Chinese biotech and genomics companies.
CA: What is the most interesting deal/case you have worked on?
PK: I’ve worked on a wide variety of interesting deals ranging from licensing breakthrough medical technologies out of academic labs, global vaccine supply contracts during the COVID-19 pandemic, and complex collaboration deals for next generation cell and gene therapies that have the potential to cure certain diseases.
AY: I worked on a fast-paced asset acquisition that involved four (four!) different sets of legal counsel, an intricately intertwined set of legal histories among the parties, a complex and unique set of definitive documents and an elaborate and involved diligence process. Needless to say, it was bespoke, hard work and fun to tackle with a grateful and inquisitive client and a motivated Goodwin team!
EM: Some of the most “interesting” issues I’ve worked on aren’t deals or cases that are publicly announced upon completion. I enjoy helping clients solve problems, which may mean conducting an internal compliance investigation, responding to issues raised during an FDA inspection, or helping resolve questions or concerns from FDA during product development.
SDG: The most interesting cases I work on are those with clients where l see them through their corporate lifecycle from start to finish. It is very rewarding to be counsel for a client at its beginning and then seeing them either go public or get acquired as they move forward to develop and commercialize life-saving technologies. The great thing about working at Goodwin, is that because we have a vast number of practice areas, we often get to see this happen.
DH: The most interesting deals are with clients that we’ve helped grow from formation onto a successful exit or success event, with the future potential to develop and commercialize life-saving technologies.
HI: I advised Biocon Biologics Ltd., in its agreement to acquire Viatris Inc.’s global biosimilars business for $3.335 billion.
JFlynn: All of my deals tend to be very interesting given the nature of life sciences work and the focus of our clients. Given the breadth of potential focus and activities in the life sciences sector, it allows most deals to be unique and interesting.
CA: What was your role on the latest deal/case you worked on?
JFishman: I was lead associate on a registered direct offering where we represented the placement agents in a financing transaction.
PK: As a Senior Associate, I collaborate closely with a Partner supervisor to oversee the daily operations for a given transaction. This multifaceted role demands a skill set that encompasses legal acumen, analytical prowess, project management expertise, and effective leadership. These competencies are essential for seamless coordination both within our core legal team and in our interactions with client teams. Additionally, I frequently take the lead or actively contribute to negotiations with the opposing party for each transaction. Some of my latest deals are listed on my Goodwin bio.
EM: My work varies from day to day, and my role changes depending on the type of project I’m working on for a client. When clients have regulatory questions about a proposed initiative, or concerns about something that has happened at the company, my role is typically to review and apply the relevant regulatory framework to the facts at hand, either through a call or through written correspondence to the client, and recommend potential courses of action. When I am working for a client that is looking to acquire or invest in a life sciences company, my role is typically to conduct diligence on the company, which may involve review of regulatory correspondence, clinical and preclinical materials, and operational and quality documentation, and identify key issues (along with reviewing transactional documents or any company filings being made in connection with the deal).
SDG: In my latest deal, I was senior associate leading the diligence of a potential asset for acquisition. This involved analysis of the potential asset and understanding the third party patent landscape and providing recommendations for carrying the potential asset forward.
AY: As a senior associate, I like to think of myself as the deal “quarterback.” My role is to negotiate and draft the definitive documents, collaborate with Goodwin specialists, issue spot and anticipate client needs, delegate tasks to more junior members of the Goodwin team and (sometimes!) to keep spirits up when we are working hard late at night!
HI: I led the legal analysis of all of the commercial, supply chain, and other agreements a drug manufacturer had in place to sell its drug products throughout the drug delivery ecosystem.
JFlynn: On my latest deal, I served as the primary attorney in negotiating a substantial $80+ million Series A financing on behalf of a lead investor and syndicate base in a biotech company. This involved negotiating principal financing documents, overseeing our internal team on various matters (including diligence efforts), significant client interaction and management, and ensuring the transaction closed smoothly as planned.
CA: How important is a scientific background to your work?
JFishman: While certainly helpful, it probably isn’t necessary as a corporate lawyer to have a scientific background. Being able to understand the science and what your client does comes as part of the learning and education process here. We have helpful educational opportunities here to get those without science backgrounds, up to speed as quickly as possible and have a basic understanding of the biotech or biopharma world.
PK: The ability to swiftly grasp scientific concepts and maintain fluency within the life sciences industry is a fundamental competency for Goodwin’s life science IP transactions practice. Possessing a scientific background and industry expertise equips professionals to readily comprehend client concerns and offer sound guidance. A substantial number of attorneys on Goodwin’s life science IP team, including myself, hold doctoral-level science degrees in addition to a Juris Doctor. While being a registered patent attorney with the United States Patent Office (which necessitates passing the patent bar exam) is advantageous for our IP transactions practice, it is only required for our patent prosecution practice. However, a scientific background is not essential for in other life sciences practice areas (like our corporate practice), provided the individual can quickly learn about the relevant scientific technology and possesses a general understanding of the life science industry.
EM: Having a scientific background is helpful to working in life sciences, and our client base expects us to be conversant in the concepts and terminology of their industry. However, not having a background in science isn’t disqualifying, as long as you are committed to learning about the industry and asking the right questions to understand the disease states, patient needs, and key scientific concepts that guide the work our clients do.
SDG: A scientific background is essential for patent law. Patents are based on scientific discoveries and being able to understand the science and legal implications is important. Goodwin recognizes this and specifically recruits for this. I have a PhD in biomedical sciences from University of California San Diego, and most of my colleagues in our patent practice have advanced degrees as well. We want to ensure we’re bringing a deep scientific understanding to our legal excellence so that we can best understand and advise our clients.
AY: As a corporate associate in the life sciences group having a keen interest in what our clients do is essential to expertly advise start-up companies all the way to large, well-known public companies.
HI: A scientific background is helpful to my work, but not necessary. It is more important for my area of life sciences law to understand the commercial healthcare ecosystem as a whole which is highly regulated and complex.
JFlynn: While a scientific background can prove beneficial in the life sciences vector, it is not as important to my work as one may think. As long as you take the time to truly understand your client’s business, goals and what they are trying to accomplish, you can truly be a successful life sciences attorney even without a scientific background. As someone without any scientific degree or background myself, I never feel hindered or unable to adequately advise and support my clients. In addition, working for such a great firm as Goodwin with strengths in all areas of life sciences, I have colleagues (including those with significant scientific backgrounds) and other resources on which I can rely to ensure my clients are receiving exceptional legal representation.
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Last updated: May 2024