Bird & Bird‘s international life sciences and healthcare group advises a sizeable number of the world’s largest pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical devices companies. The practice is jointly led by renowned IP litigators Giovanni Galimberti and Massimiliano Mostardini. Other highly regarded practitioners are Italy corporate head Alberto Salvadè, chemical sector specialist Antonella De Gregori, and public law leader Simone Caddedu. The team also features transactions expert Afra Casiraghi and Claudia Ricciardi, who acts for companies and research institutes, along with key counsel Mauro Turrini and senior associate Evelina Marchesoni.

BonelliErede‘s multidisciplinary healthcare and life sciences department houses both pharmaceutical and biomedical market specialists. The practice’s coverage includes advising on the initial product development stages, clinical trials, and managing relationships with the regulatory authorities to obtain commercial authorisations. Of counsel and team leader Vincenzo Salvatore is ‘the most experienced lawyer in Italy for pharmaceuticals work‘. Partner support is provided by Andrea Carta Mantiglia, Giovanni Guglielmetti, Claudio Tesauro and Sara Lembo. At associate level, Giuseppe Ragucci specialises in regulatory and compliance matters, while Elettra Gaspari‘s practice includes pharmaceutical and health law work.

DLA Piper‘s multidisciplinary life sciences practice in Italy is sought out for its advice on corporate, regulatory, IP, commercial, privacy, public procurement and PPP matters. The team also assists with litigation (particularly antitrust, product liability and insurance disputes), employment law, and white-collar crime and compliance issues. In the healthcare sector, the group is additionally active in real estate and finance work. Italy life sciences head Roberto Valenti is a ‘great lawyer‘ and IP specialist, who focuses on medical devices, and Marco de Morpurgo heads up the EU life sciences regulatory practice.

Hogan Lovells International LLP‘s ‘knowledgeable‘ cross-practice life sciences group houses several experts in corporate and commercial law, M&A, product liability and litigation, regulatory issues, IP matters and compliance-related work. Clients also benefit from the firm’s enviable relationships with the Italian health authorities’ key officers. Product liability, compliance and safety specialist Christian Di Mauro heads the team, which also features Italian IP leader Luigi Mansani. Counsel Giuseppe Aminzade was recruited during 2021 from Rucellai & Raffaelli to lead the firm’s Italy life sciences and healthcare regulatory department. Chiara Perolari is the key associate.

Portolano Cavallo‘s client base ranges from large pharmaceutical companies to start-ups and spinouts. The group advises on the transactional, contractual, IP, product liability, litigation, compliance and regulatory aspects of pharmaceuticals, medical devices and healthcare services. It also assists with matters in relation to cosmetics, food supplements and pet food. The department is co-led by Luca Gambini, an expert in life sciences-related commercial contracts, and 2021-elevated partner Elisa Stefanini, whose experience includes medicines and medical devices. Laura Liguori advises on consumer law, data protection, IT law, and internet and e-commerce matters.

Chiomenti‘s pharmaceuticals, healthcare and life sciences practice advises on medicinal product-related authorisations and licences, products’ clinical trials, and pharmaceutical market-related procedures. The group also leverages the firm’s credentials in IP, administrative law, M&A, antitrust, regulatory matters and litigation. Team head Luca Liistro assists with pharmaceutical, healthcare and life sciences sector-related M&A, corporate and commercial work, and Filippo Brunetti advises pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical device companies on establishing public-private cooperation groups, along with public health policy implementation. The practice of recently promoted of counsel Francesca Villa includes pharmaceutical and medtech M&A.

Dentons‘ life sciences and healthcare practice houses experts in public sector matters, and in corporate and real estate transactions. It also assists with cybersecurity, data protection and IP issues, as well as administrative, civil and criminal disputes. The team’s medical devices expertise further extends to product liability work. Group head Luca Pocobelli advises on transactions in the life sciences and healthcare sectors, and Sara Biglieri‘s disputes practice includes life sciences matters. Ilaria Gobbato is a public law expert, while managing counsel Antonio Legrottaglie focuses on life sciences sector-related transactions.

Led by experienced Milan-based Paola Sangiovanni, Gitti and Partners predominantly assists multinational medical device and pharmaceutical product manufacturers, along with healthcare sector start-ups, and Italian and foreign hospitals. The practice’s scope of expertise includes corporate and commercial law, M&A, regulatory issues, data protection compliance, and litigation. Sangiovanni is experienced in national and international contracts, stock acquisitions, and joint venture, licensing and high-tech services agreements. Elevated to partner during 2021, Flavio Monfrini‘s track record includes assisting with life sciences-related international transactions.

Providing ‘exceptional response times‘, Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe‘s full-spectrum life sciences coverage ranges from antitrust and competition, M&A and private equity matters to technology and venture capital issues. Other key areas of strength include pharmaceutical regulatory issues, litigation, compliance, and investigations and white-collar crime cases. The team also assists with financings and commercial agreements. The principal figures are EU and Italian competition law expert Pietro Merlino; Italian white-collar criminal defence leader Jean-Paule Castagno; and Attilio Mazzilli, who advises on pharmaceutical market-related transactions.

Osborne Clarke‘s practice acts for international life sciences sector companies, and has particular experience in advising generic drug producers on issues including substitution list inclusion and marketing authorisations . Other notable specialisms are public tenders and medtech issues. The team is led by Maria Grazia Medici, whose practice includes challenges to marketing authorisations, and Federico Ferrara‘s IP transactions practice includes licensing, partnering, and cooperative R&D and drug supply matters. At of counsel level, Carlos Suarez has substantial experience in acting for life sciences companies, while Sabrina Maiello, Marialaura Boni and Giulia Verusio are the senior associates to note.

Trevisan & Cuonzo fields a go-to practice for pharmaceuticals and biotech clients’ patent litigation involving blockbuster and other pharmaceutical drugs. The trade mark team is active in clearance and opposition work in the pharmaceutical sector, while the firm also has robust practices in life sciences-related regulatory and antitrust matters. Co-heading the team are renowned IP and life sciences specialist Gabriel Cuonzo; Daniela Ampollini, a well-known IP practitioner; patent expert Donatella Capelli; and recently promoted partner Luca Pellicciari, whose track record includes acting in pharmaceutical and biotech-related cases. Federica Bocedi and Lorenzo Battarino are experienced counsels.

Advising manufacturers, suppliers, regulators, and pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device companies, ADVANT Nctm‘s ‘highly competent‘ practice advises on a range of life sciences issues. Paolo Gallarati is an expert in corporate and commercial law, M&A, international business transactions and compliance, and Lorena Possagno is sought after by major clients such as Germany-based healthcare company Fresenius Group. Vito Bisceglie is a specialist in the healthcare, and health and social services sectors.

Gianni & Origoni‘s practice assists healthcare industry clients with structuring the acquisitions and sales of healthcare sector businesses, properties, products, platforms and technologies. Other areas of strength are licences, collaborations, antitrust issues, capital markets transactions, IP disputes, and IP portfolio-related due diligence investigations. Rosario Zaccà has extensive expertise in joint ventures and multi-jurisdictional transactions, and Eva Cruellas Sada is a competition specialist.

LCA Studio Legale‘s sizeable life sciences practice advises on M&A and commercial agreements, and IP and regulatory issues. It expanded during 2021 through the recruitment of partner Alberto Mocchi and of counsel Agostino Migone de Amicis Mocchi (from Franzosi Dal Negro Setti and Pavia e Ansaldo, respectively), which brought significant clinical trial and regulatory compliance experience to the firm’s life sciences offering. Andrea Carreri is also a key team member.

Legance - Avvocati Associati advises life sciences and healthcare clients, including hospitals, and pharmaceutical and biotechnology organisations. Key areas of expertise include R&D work, healthcare facilities and digital health, and pharmaceutical law and medical equipment. The team also advises on life sciences and healthcare-related national and cross-border M&A. Giovanni Nardulli is a renowned international transactions specialist, while Filippo Pacciani focuses on administrative law. Environmental law expert Antonella Capria recently joined from Gianni & Origoni.

Masotti Cassella‘s practice advises Italian and international medical device, biotech and pharmaceutical companies on their M&A, venture capital and private equity transactions. It also assists with licensing agreements, public bids and procurement law,  along with distribution, R&D, original equipment manufacturer and clinical trial agreements. The group additionally acts in litigation. Luca Masotti assists manufacturers and distributors of medical and surgical devices, while Anne Moutardier is an experienced associate.

Pavia e Ansaldo houses life sciences specialists in IP litigation, regulatory work, M&A, international healthcare, competition law and data protection. Clients also benefit from the firm’s strong relationships with Italy’s healthcare regulatory bodies. Industrial and IP practice leader Gian Paolo Di Santo acts for life sciences multinationals in IP litigation; Marco Giustiniani is experienced in administrative litigation involving public procurement bodies and the Italian Medicines Agency; and Filippo Fioretti assists with competition law aspects. Gabriele Girardello is a recently promoted IP partner.

Pedersoli Studio Legale‘s pharmaceutical, healthcare and medical industry experts advise on commercial and administrative law, public procurement, M&A, licences, spinoffs and joint ventures. The team also assists with regulatory, compliance and litigation issues, while its sector expertise further covers chemicals, biotechnology and medical devices. The department is co-led by administrative law practice head Sergio Fienga and Luca Saraceni, who advises healthcare and life sciences sector clients on M&A transactions.