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Firms To Watch: Life sciences

BACS Abogados' civil, commercial and criminal disputes expert, Esteban Barra Olivares, is also a health law rights specialist, whose experience includes obtaining successful constitutional remedies in relation to highly-priced rare disease medicines; he is supported by associate driector of the firm's health practice María Victoria Miranda.

Life sciences in Chile

Carey

The seven-strong life sciences team (including two pharmacists) at Carey is routinely mandated to advise companies and corporations from the pharmaceutical, cosmetics, medical devices, in vitro diagnostics and food sectors. ‘Undoubtedly the best life sciences team in Chile', its experience covers pharmaceutical company incorporations, sanitary registrations, public law issues, administrative procedures, and product liability and data privacy issues. The practice also houses experts in advertising, regulatory matters, and clinical and scientific investigations. On the alimentary side, the team advises on infant milk formulas, nutritional foodstuffs, animal food products, and the import, labelling and commercialisation of alcoholic beverages in Chile. The group is jointly led by Guillermo Carey, a member of the Advisory Council of the Ministry of Science and Technology; and life sciences, biotechnology, and public law specialist Ignacio Gillmore (‘the best life sciences lawyer in Chile'). At counsel level, José Ignacio Mercado focuses on life sciences work; and within the associate ranks, ‘outstanding' Cristina Busquets predominantly assists with food and beverage-related matters, as well as animal-feed regulations; José Santos Ossa is a regulatory specialist; and Camila Suárez's practice covers pharma-related IP issues.

Practice head(s):

Guillermo Carey; Ignacio Gillmore


Testimonials

Carey has undoubtedly the best life sciences team in Chile.

Specialised knowledge in the pharmaceutical field and provides excellent service and innovative strategies.

The team has unique expertise in the food industry, which is very difficult to find in the Chilean legal market.

Ignacio Gillmore is undoubtedly the best life sciences lawyer in Chile.

Ignacio Gillmore’s legal and technical knowledge of this subject is outstanding compared to his peers. Ignacio always responds and is attentive to always providing the best service – he is clearly a benchmark lawyer in his country.

Ignacio Gillmore is an excellent lawyer and always available for emergencies.

Associate Cristina Busquets is outstanding – clients love working with her.

Cristina Busquets is always ready to give quick and quality advice on day-to-day matters. She has great knowledge regarding the food and pharmaceutical industries.’

Key clients

Merck


Bristol Myers Squibb


NotCo


Takeda


Biogen


Novartis


GlaxoSmithKline


Boehringer Ingelheim


Roche


Novo Nordisk


Work highlights


  • Assisted Boehringer Ingelheim, Roche and Novartis with a consultation (filed by a local distributor of pharmaceutical products) before the Antitrust Court for the review of pricing differences between public and private sale channels.
  • Assisted Novartis with an administrative sanitary proceeding ordered by the Public Health Institute, in relation to the distribution of a pharmaceutical product without market authorisation.
  • Assisted Takeda with an administrative sanitary sanctioning proceeding, which was ordered by the Public Health Institute for the alleged infringement of pharmacovigilance laws and regulations.

Albagli Zaliasnik

Albagli Zaliasnik's multidisciplinary life sciences practice routinely acts for major national and international pharmaceutical companies on both regulatory and patent infringement issues. The group’s offering covers the implementation of crime prevention programmes, antitrust expertise, and regular interactions with Chile’s health authorities. Its specialisms further include biotechnology, medical devices, cosmetics, and food-processing regulations and litigation, along with chemical law, R&D, clinical trials, and technology transfer and commercialisation issues. The principal advisers are litigation head and pharmaceutical regulatory specialist, Ariela Agosin; and IP group director Eugenio Gormáz, whose broad practice ranges from trade marks, patents and copyright, to advertising law, licenses, plant varieties, and denominations of origin and geographical indications. Key senior associate Dafne Guerra is ‘outstanding for her knowledge of the industry'.

Practice head(s):

Ariela Agosin; Eugenio Gormaz


Testimonials

Senior associate Dafne Guerra is outstanding for her knowledge of the industry.

Key clients

Mega Labs (Pharma Investi and Garden House Farmaceúticas)


Sandoz


Abbott Laboratories


Grunenthal Laboratories


Laboratorios Gador


Genomma Lab Chile


DKT Chile


Happ Labs


Asociación Industrial de Laboratorios Farmacéuticos


NotCo


Laboratorios Saval


Work highlights


  • Acting for Sandoz (a Novartis company) in a complex case involving a biosimilar pharmaceutical product (Etanercept).
  • Assisted Laboratorios Saval with a highly complex preliminary injunction case, regarding a claim brought by Bayer in relation to generic drug Rivaroxaban.
  • Currently representing the interests of Abbott Laboratories in a consultation procedure initiated by SOCOFAR before the Competition Court.

Bofill Mir Abogados

The June 2023 arrival of Andrea Abascal and her team -and indeed, much of their client list- has established Bofill Mir Abogados as a significant player in the life sciences’ sector. A ‘very accurate professional with great communication skills‘ Abascal (who also heads up the firm’s public law and regulated markets practices) advises on the regulatory aspects of food, medical devices, pharmaceutical laboratories, cosmetics, biotechnology, and agricultural and livestock services. More broadly, the practice handles product registration and marketing authorisations, food product advertising and labelling, personal data protection and clinical studies, along with consumer rights’ protection, life sciences-related M&A, the design of pharmaceutical campaigns and compliance issues (among other matters). A strong second tier of advisors includes public law director Cristián Franetovic; and senior associates Pablo Nogueira (regulatory and administrative law; litigation), Jorge Tisné N (corporate and commercial law, data privacy and regulated markets) and Anamaría Verdugo (regulated markets and life sciences). On the IP-side of the practice the team can also call on Manuel Bernet P (also a June 2023 arrival from Jara Del Favero Abogados) whose experience includes advising pharma and technology companies on matters ranging from joint ventures and licensing to unfair competition.

Practice head(s):

Andrea Abascal


Testimonials

One of the few firms in Chile to have a specialised life sciences practice.

Practical in solving problems, and it has experience in both public and private sector work.

Kindness, ethics and availability.

The level of responsiveness is outstanding.

Andrea Abascal has a very business-oriented approach and provides an excellent level of service.

Andrea Abascal is a very accurate professional with great communication skills.

Key clients

Scienza Uruguay


Abbott Laboratories de Chile


Laboratorios Recalcine


Ethon Laboratories


UC Christus Salud


Advance Scientific de Chile


Zoetis de Chile


Pharmaq Analytiq


GE Healthcare International (Agencia En Chile)


AstraZeneca


Mercado Libre


Medicina Técnica


Diamond Hemp


Edgewell Personal Care Chile


Bayer


Laboratorio Chile – TEVA


Empresas Demaria


Asociación Gremial de Aseo y Desinfección de Chile


Monsanto


Grid Solutions


Baldo


AMF Logistics


General Electric International INC, Agencia en Chile


Ferrero


HBC Latina


Covarrubias

Housing a four-strong team with ‘extraordinary strategic vision’, Covarrubias is highly focused on IP and technology matters, including patents, trade marks, domain names, copyright, data protection and litigation. In relation to life sciences, the group’s expertise covers agriculture, biology, chemistry, biochemistry, biotechnology, forestry and genetics, as well as the microbiology, neuroscience and pharmaceuticals industries. It additionally advises domestic and international clients on regulatory matters involving the food, drugs, cosmetics and medical device sectors. Another area of strength is the filing, processing and obtaining of rights for protected plant varieties. The practice is jointly headed by founding partner and industrial property, life sciences and copyright protection strategy expert, Arturo Covarrubias; and (non-legal) senior associate and biochemist Matías Valenzuela, who possesses ‘advanced knowledge of IP, particularly patents’.

Practice head(s):

Arturo Covarrubias; Matías Valenzuela


Testimonials

The work delivered by this firm is highly specialised, in terms of both legal and technical knowledge – one of the few firms in the region that has its own qualified technical team for patents.

The members of Covarrubias have excellent business vision.

The advice provided is supervised by senior members of the firm who not only care about technical and immediate issues, but also consider the long-term consequences and future impact upon the exercise of rights.

Extraordinary strategic vision.

Arturo Covarrubias is a litigation specialist with proven experience in the field of life sciences – he also has excellent strategic vision.

Matías Valenzuela is a biochemist with excellent academic preparation and advanced knowledge of IP, particularly patents.

Key clients

Crop Microclimate Management


Virbac/Centrovet


Tersera Therapeutics


Novartis


Monsanto Technology


Shire Human Genetic Therapies


Abbot


Work highlights


  • Advised Monsanto Technology on its patent application to protect recombinant DNA constructs that confer herbicide and pesticide tolerance to plants.
  • Successfully acted for Virbac/Centrovet in filing a nullity action against a patent granted to Intervet International.
  • Assisted Shire Human Genetic Thereapies with its patent application, which sought to protect a stable pharmaceutical formulation for intrathecal administration.

Sargent & Krahn

The IP branch of full-service firm Cariola Díez Pérez-CotaposSargent & Krahn houses specialists in bioequivalency and biosimilarity issues involving chemical and biotech pharmaceutical products (as well as their intersection with IP rights). The team also acts for several veterinarian and winery companies, as well as businesses involved in the manufacture and sale of natural and organic food supplements for human and animal consumption. Its experience additionally covers advice to pioneering clients in Chile that produce and market cannabis-based products for medicinal purposes. Leading the group, Juan Pablo Egaña is an IP and competition law expert who assists with patent applications before the administrative authorities and the enforcement of industrial property rights before the courts; while Cristian Barros M (a partner since early 2021), is an IP law and pharmaceutical regulation specialist. Notables associates include Juan Francisco Peralta, who is particularly active in relation to orphan drug issues and legislative matters, and Alejandra Varela whose recent workload includes several pharmaceutical patent appeals.

Practice head(s):

Juan Pablo Egaña


Testimonials

Very good relationships with its client.

Excellent willingness to seek solutions to complex situations.

A lot of knowledge in this area, which means the proposals it makes are very suitable for clients.

Key clients

Cámara de la Innovación Farmacéutica


Universidad Católica de Chile


Johnson & Johnson


Sanofi Aventis


Dow Agrochemicals


Novartis


Universidad Andres Bello


Incyte Corporation


Merck Sharp & Dohme


Pfizer


Knop Laboratorios


Viña San Pedro Tarapacá


Intervet International


Work highlights


  • Successfully prosecuted Janssen Sciences in a patent application for a pharmaceutical use and compound.
  • Acted for H Lundbeck in successfully prosecuting a patent application that covers a polymorph from filing to grant.
  • Assisted Genentech with a patent application that claims a humanised antibody.

Alessandri & Compañía Abogados

In addition to experienced lawyers, Alessandri & Compañía Abogados’ practice comprises qualified engineers, chemists, biologists and architects. Providing ‘recommendations that have a solid base’, the practice is particularly noted for patent and innovation-related matters. Co-head of the firm’s intellectual and industrial property group, Santiago Ortúzar, routinely designs strategies for the global protection and licensing of the patents of Chilean companies, universities and inventors; while Rodrigo Velasco A is the firm’s ​​technology and IP managing partner. Former associate Rodrigo Valenzuela F  departed the firm in June 2022.

Practice head(s):

Santiago Ortúzar


Testimonials

The attention received is excellent – the concern and delivery make clients feel that there is a sense of urgency.

Confidence that is appreciated, with recommendations that have a solid base – not bland advice that transfers responsibility to the client.

A team with deep knowledge and very flexible to adapt to the needs of customers.

Key clients

Bayer


Golden Omega


Agrosuper


Grifols


Laboratorios Farmacéutico Rovi


Joventis


Universidad de Chile


Eden Research


Integramedica (Bupa)


Work highlights


  • Assisted Eden Research with the patent application for an agrochemical-related formulation.
  • Advised Grifols on a technology matter involving the preparation of a human transgenic albumin solution.
  • Assisted Laboratorios Farmaceuticos ROVI with a pharmaceutical application for a sustained release composition for intramuscular injection.

Baker McKenzie Chile

The eight-member group at Baker McKenzie Chile acts for a raft of international clients from the healthcare and life sciences industries, while the Santiago office’s market presence notably benefitting from membership of Baker McKenzie’s extensive global network. The practice’s scope of expertise ranges from regulatory, consumer safety and competition, to IP, data protection, and commercial contractual matters. It is also active in life sciences-related tax, compliance, M&A and dispute resolution work. The practice is led by intellectual and industrial property expert Valentina Venturelli, whose practice includes the import, distribution and commercialisation of products, sanitary regulation, clinical trials, and scientific research. Fernando Castro provides further partner-level support, while associates Carlos Lazcano, Maria Elena Dörr and Martín Muller are also key team members.

Practice head(s):

Valentina Venturelli


Key clients

Colgate-Palmolive Chile


Boston Scientific


Mondelez


Abbott Laboratories


Work highlights


  • Assisting Mondelez with corporate, labour, consumer protection, advertising and regulatory affairs.
  • Assisted Deutsche Pharma with the registration and defence of its trade marks in Chile.
  • Assisted Ferring Pharmaceuticals with the registration and defence of its trade marks in Chile.