Judith Hasko > Latham & Watkins LLP > Silicon Valley, United States > Lawyer Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP’s global practice is a key destination for life sciences and tech-related IP licensing matters. The solid team handles a broad range of highly complex IP transactions, from cross-licensing and joint development agreements to due diligence and expert review relating to the licensing of IP assets in public offerings and M&A. The practice is spearheaded by California’s Judith Hasko, an expert at negotiating, structuring, and executing cross-border strategic licensing alliances. She is supported by Christopher Hazuka who regularly advises both emerging and established life sciences companies in navigating complex transactions from the Bay Area and San Diego. The team has been strengthened by the recent addition of digital health and food technology expert Jengeun Jekkie Kim, who operates from the firm’s Bay Area office.

Latham & Watkins LLP provides a diverse offering to a number of clients, including biopharmaceutical and biotech start-up companies, and medical device manufacturers. The team advises on a wide range of matters, including white collar investigations, IP disputes, and corporate transactions. Based in California, Shayne Kennedy is particularly adept at advising on public and private securities offerings, and life sciences M&A, while Judith Hasko has a great deal of experience in the execution of strategic licensing alliances, often assisting life sciences companies with securing funding. Arlene Lee Chow works out of the New York office, and routinely acts for biotech and pharmaceutical companies in IP and patent cases. Chicago-based Terra Reynolds is noted for her expertise in government and internal investigations, while the Boston-based Julie Scallen focuses on joint ventures and venture capital transactions within the life sciences and med-tech industries. In Washington DC, John Manthei maintains an FDA regulatory practice with a distinct emphasis on the medical device and biotech industries; Ben Haas has extensive experience in assisting clients with FDA submissions and pre-clinical testing, and Elizabeth Richards often negotiates contracts with clinical trial sites.

Latham & Watkins LLP‘s team combines a strong transactional practice with a focus on complex litigation. John Manthei and Ben Haas co-head the healthcare team from the Washington DC office, while fellow co-head Judith Hasko takes the lead from her base in San Francisco. On the litigation side, Gwyn Williams and David Tolley, both located in Boston, defend major insurers in a series of underpayment claims cases, while Washington DC’s Daniel Meron focuses on False Claims Act matters. Its transactional offering was further strengthened in October 2022 with the arrival of co-chair Jason Caron and Kevin Miller, both formerly at McDermott Will & Emery LLP. Based in Washington DC, Caron leverages clinical and government experience to advise clients on complex healthcare regulatory, reimbursement, and policy matters, while Chicago-based Miller’s practice focuses on advising private equity sponsors and portfolio companies on investment-related transactional healthcare insurance matters.

Praised for its ‘excellent’ breadth and depth, Latham & Watkins LLP’s practice assists a diverse roster of financial investors, hospitals, and health systems with FCA and qui tam cases, compliance programs, and the negotiation of corporate integrity agreements. John Manthei and the ‘first class’ Ben Haas co-head the practice from Washington DC, while Judith Hasko co-leads the team from San Francisco. Also based in Washington, Stuart Kurlander often acts for providers before the CMS; and Eric Greig, noted for his ‘energy, commitment and intelligence‘, maintains a strong regulatory focus on issues regarding third party payors. In the San Diego office, Jason Ohta utilizes his experience in white-collar criminal defense to handle healthcare fraud cases. Terra Reynolds supports the team from Chicago, often litigating federal criminal cases.