William A. McConagha > Latham & Watkins LLP > Houston, United States > Lawyer Profile

Latham & Watkins LLP
811 MAIN STREET, SUITE 3700
HOUSTON, TX 77002
TEXAS
United States

Position

Bill McConagha, a former Associate Chief Counsel and Assistant Commissioner at the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), is a nationally recognized life sciences attorney who advises clients on a range of complex issues spanning the FDA-regulated product life cycle, from premarket development and clinical trials, through product launch, post-market safety reporting, and manufacturing requirements, including cGMP.

Bill draws on extensive federal government experience to represent companies across the FDA’s regulatory spectrum, including companies that manufacture or market pharmaceuticals, medical devices, biologics, foods, tobacco, and cosmetics. He helps clients navigate:

    • FDA compliance, including preparing for and managing FDA inspections, responding to FDA 483s and warning letters, and complying with post-market safety requirements
    • FDA regulatory issues, including pre- and post-market requirements and related commercial activities such as product importation and supply chain oversight
    • FDA-related diligence and regulatory counsel, including negotiating representations and warranties, in corporate transactions
    • Internal investigations involving clinical trial oversight, post-market safety reporting, and risk management

A recognized industry leader, he worked at FDA for 17 years in various high-level roles and served as a Health Policy Advisor on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP).

During his tenure in public service, he received the following awards: Secretary’s Award for Distinguished Service, Department of Health and Human Services; Excellence in Legal Services, Office of the General Counsel, Department of Health and Human Services; Commissioner’s Special Recognition Award, FDA; Commissioner’s Special Citation, FDA; and the Director’s Award for Outstanding Service, FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations.

Lawyer Rankings

United States > Healthcare > Life sciences

(Leading partners)

William McConagha – Latham & Watkins LLP

Latham & Watkins LLP works with a number of major players in the life sciences industry on transactions in the sector, handling both M&A and IPOs, in addition to assisting with business combinations and licensing deals. In addition to transactional expertise, the practice is adept at overseeing patent protection strategies and litigation for pharma, biotech and medical devices companies. In Washington DC, John Manthei chairs the firm’s global life sciences group, specializing in the FDA regulatory process alongside vice chair Ben Haas, while also advising on the marketing of drugs and representing clients in Administrative Procedures Act litigation. Further litigation expertise comes in the shape of New York’s Arlene Chow and Chicago-based Terra Reynolds, with the former handling patent disputes concerning small molecule drugs and biologics, and the latter focusing on white collar defence and government investigations. In Silicon Valley, Shayne Kennedy is noted for his capital markets practice, advising on public and private securities offerings by life sciences clients. Boston’s Julie Scallen oversees both M&A and private equity transactions, and Elizabeth Richards, William McConagha and Jennifer Bragg, based in the capital, assist with FDA and DEA product testing and approval procedures. Judith Hasko has left the firm.