‘The best in the Chilean market’, Carey‘s life sciences practice has extensive experience in advising clients from the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, medical devices and food industries. Representative expertise includes advising on the incorporation of pharmaceutical companies in Chile before the sanitary authorities; and the sanitary registration and modification of pharmaceuticals, biotechnological products, cosmetics, and medical devices. Additional areas of strength cover product labelling, clinical trials, advertising, data privacy, patent defence work, compliance, and administrative procedures. The practice is co-led by Guillermo Carey, who routinely advises pharmaceutical laboratories on regulatory matters; pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, cosmetics and agribusiness sector expert Ignacio Gillmore; and counsel Fernando García, who consistently acts for life sciences companies. The impressive associate pool includes recently promoted director José Ignacio Mercado (pharmaceutical, cosmetics, food and medical devices regulations); José Santos Ossa, who focuses on life sciences, biotechnology and public law; food and beverages regulatory specialist Cristina Busquets; and Camila Suárez, who is also active in life sciences and regulatory work.
Life sciences in Chile
Carey
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The best in the Chilean market.‘
‘Carey has one, if not the most, experienced life sciences team in Chile.‘
‘Carey’s team has a solid understanding of the industry and clients’ needs, and it is a real pleasure to work with them on regional projects for our pharma clients.‘
‘Good communication with clients and technical knowledge.‘
‘Knowledge of real cases and the criteria of the authorities.‘
‘The team has solid knowledge of this field and is always looking for options to the challenges posed. I also like its podcast and report that summarises any legislative changes.‘
‘Ignacio Gillmore is very easy to communicate with. An excellent pharma lawyer, who has strong knowledge of the industry, and always brings new ideas in, so as to provide his clients with solutions to problems or complexities that arise daily.‘
‘Great support from the pharma team, particularly associate José Santos Ossa.‘
Key clients
Janssen
Abbvie
Novartis
Nestlé
The Not Company
Biogen
Bristol Myers Squibb
Merck
Astellas
Vertex
CIF Chile
Sinovac
Novo Nordisk
Ewos
Roche
Work highlights
- Assisted Sinovac with the regulatory aspects of vaccine production in Chile.
- Ongoing assistance to Adimech in relation to regulatory, tax, corporate and antitrust matters.
- Assisted NotCo with several regulatory matters surrounding the import, commercialisation and advertising of food products, as well as administrative procedures.
Jara Del Favero Abogados
Acting for multinational pharmaceutical, veterinary, cosmetic, food and agro-industrial companies, the recent track record of Jara Del Favero Abogados' eight-strong pharmaceutical and life sciences department includes advising on data privacy, regulatory issues, antitrust and the labelling of food and pharmaceutical products. The team also assists high-profile clients (such as AstraZeneca) on a daily basis with regulatory matters, tenders and clinical trials (among other matters). The practice is co-led by Manuel Jiménez Pfingsthorn, whose broad practice includes acting for agro-industry companies (vineyards and seeds), laboratories and drugs companies; and Andrea Abascal Marin (a partner since 2020 ), who is highly regarded for her regulatory experience in markets such as pharmaceutical laboratories, cosmetics, food, medical devices, biotechnology, and agricultural and livestock services. Abascal is also sought out for her advice on promotional materials, tenders and clinical trials. At associate level, Manuel Bernet Paez, Rocío Vergara Aguilar and Josefina Meszaros Elgueta are all active in regulatory work.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘This law firm is outstanding in its response times and for giving visibility to the client of the options available. Its communication tools are also a great strength.‘
‘Compared to other law firms with which we have worked, the evaluation of Jara del Favero is very positive. The firm stands out for being a full service practice, which has allowed us to enjoy comprehensive legal advice.‘
‘Their lawyers stand out for their efficiency, and for providing answers and concrete solutions to the various problems we have had, always keeping the viability of the business as their goal. ‘
‘Among the novelties that the firm has incorporated is the existence of a collection plan that focuses on start-ups – this caught our attention. Such plans allow the client to be given security, in the sense of being certain of how much he is going to pay, and also allows the creation of a relationship of trust and transparency with the firm.‘
‘The great plus that Jara del Favero has over other firms is that it understands our business.‘
‘The lawyers’ attention is fast and modern. Always willing to answer all our questions and help us with every detail, and they handle digital media very well, so communication is very fluid.‘
‘Its response times to requirements are faster when compared to other firms, which allows for concrete answers in a shorter period of time. Its great difference also lies in the quality of its lawyers. Within the life sciences team, I would particularly highlight the excellent practice and experience of Andrea Abascal Marin.‘
‘Andrea Abascal Marin – quick responses, mastery of topics and transparency.‘
Key clients
Monsanto Chile – Bayer Chile
Pfizer Chile
Zoetis Chile
AstraZeneca
Abbott Laboratories de Chile
General Electric International
General Electric Health Care
Edgewell Personal Care
Grid Solutions Chile
AMF Logistic
Pharmaq Analytiq / Pharmaq Chile
HBC Latina
Empresas Demaria
Diamond Hemp
AGAD Chile
Medicina Técnica
Work highlights
- Advised General Electric International on public tenders for pharmaceuticals, medical devices and medical equipment.
- Assisted General Electric International with sanitary registrations and authorisations.
- Assistance to AstraZeneca (on a daily basis) regarding regulatory matters, tenders and clinical trials (among other matters).
Covarrubias
Dedicated to strategic IP work, Covarrubias' four-member practice has a strong market reputation for its experience in patent, trade mark and, internet domain work (among others). Its life sciences expertise covers a broad range of associated industries, including agriculture, biological, biochemical, biotechnology, neuroscience and pharmaceuticals, with the team highly active in regulatory matters relating to food, drugs, cosmetics and medical devices. The practice is co-led by founding partner Arturo Covarrubias, a specialist in industrial property and copyright-related protection strategies; and (non-legal) associate and biochemist Matías Valenzuela, who focuses on the protection of patents for inventions, particularly those related to the chemicals, pharmaceutical and biotechnological sectors.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘The team has solid training in different areas and a lot of empathy for clients.‘
‘The lawyers are able to identify strengths and weaknesses, and use them to increase the value of intangible assets in life sciences.‘
‘Empathy, speed and tremendous efficiency are the standout features.‘
Key clients
Virbac Centrovet
Crop Microclimate Management
Nuseed Americas
Novartis
Kaneko Seeds
Empresas CMPC
Work highlights
- Successfully acted for Virbac Centrovet in filing a nullity action against a granted patent.
- Successfully defended Crop Microclimate Management against Nutriprove’s patent nullity action.
- Successfully assisted Kaneko Seeds with registering a family of plant varieties.
Sargent & Krahn
The nine-member team at Sargent & Krahn (the associated IP arm of Cariola Díez Pérez-Cotapos) fields specialists in life sciences-related advisory, regulatory and contentious matters. The department is particularly experienced in advising on the management of data protection provisions, as well as clinical trial contracts, with additional areas of strength including bioequivalency and biosimilarity for chemical and biotech pharmaceutical products, along with related IP rights. The practice is jointly led by IP and competition law specialist Juan Pablo Egaña, who routinely advises on patents, trade secrets and technology transfers; and IP law and pharmaceutical regulation expert Cristian Barros M (elevated to the partnership in early 2021), whose recent track record includes being invited to present comments on the current Medicines II Law bill by the Health Committee of Chile’s Lower House of Congress. At associate level, Juan Francisco Peralta‘s experience includes legislative work and orphan drug matters, and industrial property law expert Alejandra Varela is also active in the life sciences area.
Practice head(s):
Testimonials
‘A firm with a strong tradition in IP and life sciences, and which is in constant evolution, as well as being professional and constantly up to date with technological matters.‘
‘Very efficient and experienced in IP filing, enforcement and transactional work, but also very up to date with legal and regulatory changes in these areas.‘
Work highlights
- Acted for Genentech in prosecuting an entire pharmaceutical composition application, including an appeal recourse before the Industrial Property Court.
- Assisted AFT Pharmaceuticals with an application (including an appeal recourse) before the Industrial Property Court.
- Acted for Janssen Pharmaceuticals in prosecuting an entire application (including a successful appeal recourse before the Industrial Property Court).
Albagli Zaliasnik
The six-member life science and patent practice at Albagli Zaliasnik is particularly well regarded for its expertise in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, food and beverage, agro-industrial and pesticide sectors; the team’s scope of work ranges from administrative and sanitary registrations, to litigation, patent-related filings and prosecution issues. Senior partner Ariela Agosin, who heads the firm’s competition law and regulation group, also maintains a strong IP practice; and IP director Eugenio Gormáz focuses on trade marks, copyright and patents. At senior associate level, Dafne Guerra handles pharmaceutical-related public law matters. Former partner Daniel Lopez recently left to become an international consultant at Pan American Health Organization in Washington DC.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Novo Nordisk
Abbott Laboratories
Genomma Labs
Lundbeck
Grunenthal
Sandoz
Farmacias Ahumada
FAV
Laboratorios Gador
Mega Labs
Work highlights
- Representing multinational pharmaceutical company, Mega Labs, in several investigations to determine its compliance levels.
- Successfully assisted pharmaceutical laboratory FAV with a patent infringement claim.
- Defended Abbott Laboratories against a lawsuit filed by Bayer over the rights to oral contraceptives.
Alessandri & Compañía Abogados
Alessandri & Compañía Abogados' practice is well known in the market for its IP portfolio work for food-processing company Agrosuper, as well as its ongoing representation of international chemical and pharmaceutical player Bayer-Monsanto; in addition to it strictly legal advisory, clients also benefit from the presence of engineers, chemists, biologists and architects at the firm. Heading up the practice, Santiago Ortúzar specialises in intellectual and industrial property, contractual matters, free competition defence, sanitary records and plant varieties; while the practice of technology and IP managing partner, Rodrigo Velasco A, includes assisting with licenses and contracts. Associate Rodrigo Valenzuela provides further IP support that covers both registrations and litigation work.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Bayer
Golden Omega
Agrosuper
Grifols
Laboratorios Farmacéutico Rovi
Joventis
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms Universität Bonn
Eden Research
Integramédica
Universidad de Chile
Work highlights
- Acted for Bayer in relation to an opposition claim filed on behalf of Asilfa.
- Acted for Bayer Crop Science in relation to an opposition claim filed on behalf of Agricola Nacional.
- Acted for Agrosuper in an international patent application for a heat tattooing machine for animal carcasses.
Baker McKenzie Chile
Baker McKenzie Chile's eight-strong team routinely acts on regulatory issues (licenses for manufacturing, sales, distribution and advertising of products); consumer protection law and product safety rules; antitrust and competition matters involving the pharmaceutical, cosmetics and medical device industries; and healthcare-related IP work. Other key areas include data protection, international and domestic commercial matters and contracts, and compliance and anti-corruption. Team leader Valentina Venturelli is an intellectual and industrial property specialist, who has notable expertise in regulatory work involving the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, medical device, foodstuff and veterinary sectors; and dedicated IP associate Carlos Lazcano focuses on life sciences-related disputes and brand surveillance work.
Practice head(s):
Key clients
Colgate-Palmolive Chile
Isdin
Deutsche Pharma
Alltech
Boston Scientific
Cela Cosmetics
Zespri
Work highlights
- Assists Cela Cosmetics on an ongoing basis, particularly in relation to cosmetic sanitary registrations.
- Assists Colgate-Palmolive Chile with corporate, labour, consumer protection, advertisement and regulatory matters.
- Assisted Deutsche Pharma with the registration and defence of its trade marks, in relation to medical devices, and pharmaceutical, veterinary and cosmetic products.