The Legal 500 > Europe, Middle East & Africa > Spain > Industry focus: Healthcare and life sciences

Clifford Chance specialises in advising the pharmaceutical industry on legal and regulatory requirements and on all stages of the medicinal product cycle, and also has experience in joint ventures in the life sciences industry. The practice is led by intellectual property expert Miquel Montañá and litigation and multi-jurisdictional dispute specialist Josep Montefusco. The team is representing Alfasigma España in a contentious administrative appeal against the decision of the Spanish health authorities to exclude a product from the public health system's financing. In another highlight, the department is advising Novartis Pharma AG and Novartis Farmacéutica on public procurement matters relating to the supply of the drug Glivec.

The ‘experienced and responsive’ team at Gómez-Acebo & Pombo provides ‘comprehensive regulatory, reimbursement, public procurement and data privacy advice in the health and life sciences industry’. The practice has ‘an excellent understanding of the pharmaceutical sector’ delivering ‘concise, considered strategic advice with sound judgement’. Eduardo Castillo, who is ‘an excellent patent litigator’, leads the team with senior associate Irene Fernández Puyol, who specialises in regulatory work and is ‘extremely responsive and always to the point’. Also notable is senior associate Alvaro de Castro, who is ‘a real asset to the team’.  The firm recently advised Albany Molecular Research on its acquisition by the Carlyle Group and GTCR. In another highlight, the department is representing pharmaceutical group Mundipharma in a multi-jurisdictional patent litigation against a number of global generic drug companies, including Cinfa and Sandoz, relating to its product Targin.

Uría Menéndez’s expertise lies in regulatory and competition matters, with particular experience acting for biopharmaceuticals and multinational pharmaceutical companies. Practice head Teresa Paz-Ares focuses on corporate, commercial and M&A in the healthcare sector. Notable in her team is José Massaguer, who specialises in innovation and intellectual property. The department is advising Roche on the divestment of a medicines manufacturing business in Spain and Portugal, transferring all assets and liabilities to Recipharm Group. In another highlight, the firm is representing five multinational pharmaceutical companies in infringement proceedings initiated by the Spanish antitrust authority, concerning allegedly anti-competitive agreements with Spanish distributors.

The team at Baker McKenzie combines experience in M&A and commercial life sciences, with a particular expertise in regulatory and compliance matters. The practice is led by regulatory expert Montserrat Llopart and Cecilia Pastor, who specialises in M&A and pharmaceutical law. The group is advising Oryzon Genomics on the early termination of the licence agreement with Hoffman Roche for the drug Ory-1001, and is representing Chiesi España in various legal proceedings before the Supreme Court and the National High Court, relating to price reference orders that lowered the price of Curosurf. Other key clients for the firm include Laboratorios Uriach, Italfarmaco and Medtronic.

The ‘fast and helpful’ group at Bird & Bird works across the sector including in intellectual property, regulatory and product liability. The firm has particular expertise in litigation relating to pharmaceutical and life science patents. Leading the team is Raquel Ballesteros, who is a litigation and public procurement expert, and Manuel Lobato, who is a specialist in intellectual property and pharmaceutical law. In a recent highlight, the department represented Sanofi Aventis in a special appeal challenging the tender documents called by the health service of Catalonia for the supply of the hexavalent vaccine. The firm also acted for Insud Pharma in litigation relating to the infringement and validity of two patents.

The ‘great team’ at Eversheds Sutherland Nicea has ‘top knowledge of the sector and provides innovative ideas’. The practice is led by patent and product liability specialist Francisco J. (Kiko) Carrión García de Parada, who has ‘experience in pharmaceutical-related dispute resolutions’; administrative law and litigation expert Alberto Dorego, who is ‘reliable and dedicated’; and the ‘outstanding’ José Mariano Cruz, who focuses on intellectual property related matters. Key clients include Pfizer, GlaxoSmithKline and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics.

The ‘excellent and proactive’ team at J&A Garrigues SLP stands out for its ‘technical skills and great knowledge of the pharmaceutical sector’, particularly in multi-disciplinary matters. The practice is known for its ‘teamwork, ambition and high standards’, and is led by regulatory and M&A expert José Fernández-Rañada and Carolina Pina, who focuses on intellectual property issues. In recent highlights, the department is advising Casta Salud on the acquisition of Sando Gestión Social, and representing the Talladium Group in a patent infringement lawsuit brought by Universal Ball Head.

Life sciences specialist Ignasi Costas leads the practice at RCD, which advises across the sector. The firm is known for innovative work, with a particular expertise in drafting biotechnology agreements as well as handling regulatory issues relating to data protection. The multi-disciplinary team includes Judith Saladrigas, who was recently promoted to partner.

DLA Piper LLP's multi-disciplinary team focuses on the life sciences and the pharmaceutical industries, specialising in work with a cross-border element. Diego Ramos, who has particular expertise in scientific research and the medical field, leads the practice with experienced counsel Paula González de Castejón, who is a key name for intellectual property and technology. The department is advising West Pharma on the privacy implications relating to its research activities in Spain, and is also assisting Insud Pharma with developing its internal protocols to comply with pharmaceutical regulations. Other key clients for the firm include Abbott, GE Healthcare and Pfizer.

The multi-disciplinary practice at Hogan Lovells International LLP is led by regulatory expert Santiago Garrido; Ana Castedo, who specialises in intellectual property disputes; Carolina Revenga, whose expertise lies in litigation and product liability; and Alex Dolmans, who focuses on corporate and M&A work in the sector. The team has a particular speciality in product liability, patent and trade mark infringement in the life sciences field. The department successfully represented DePuy International in an appeal against a court decision that found the client liable for compensation for alleged damage resulting from the use of its ASR XL Acetabular metal-on-metal hip replacement system. In another highlight, the firm advised LabCorp on the local aspects of its $1.2bn acquisition of Chiltern International Group, a leading provider of clinical trial solutions.

Pérez-Llorca specialises in the regulatory and administrative aspects of the health sector. In addition, the firm has experience in intellectual property disputes and competition-related advice. Health regulatory and litigation specialist Juan Manuel Rodríguez Cárcamo leads the practice and his work focuses on the pharmaceutical industry. In recent highlights, the practice is advising Mylan on the change in prescription of its medicine Bucometasana, and is also defending the Valencian Board of Official Pharmaceutical Colleges in proceedings arising from various instructions related to pre-filled syringes.

Ramón y Cajal Abogados has experience advising on regulatory, corporate and commercial issues arising from the life sciences and pharmaceutical industries. Science and technology expert Jose Ignacio Vega leads the practice, and can call on the expertise of Norman Heckh, who is particularly focused on cross-border work with healthcare companies. In the technology field, the department is advising Siemens Healthcare on data protection issues related to the processing of information coming from public administrations. Other work includes acting for neurobiology company Neuron in insolvency proceedings before the Commercial Court of Granada.