Latham & Watkins LLP’s client base ranges from globally recognized life sciences businesses to biopharma and biotech start-ups. The busy practice is active across a range of life sciences industry sectors, from pharmaceuticals and biotechnology to cosmeceuticals and food tech. The team’s key areas of activity include complex corporate transactions such as M&A, with experts including Julie Scallen. Also on the transactional side, Shayne Kennedy focuses on capital markets along with Matthew Bush and Nathan Ajiashvili, while Cheston Larson advises on financing. Through its development of licensing structures and facilitation of commercial transactions, the team has been active in the funding of drug development and commercialization. The firm also handles litigation matters such as IP disputes, counting on experts such as Arlene Chow, as well as regulatory and legislative strategies; Ben Haas is a key figure in the latter. Among the practice’s key figures are also John Manthei and Elizabeth M. Richards, both experts in FDA regulatory matters, and Terra Reynolds, in white-collar defense and investigations. In 2024, litigation and regulatory specialists Jennifer L. Bragg and William McConagha joined the practice from Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, and in April 2025, Kate Hillier  joined from Cooley LLP.
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Accolades

Client satisfaction

Testimonials

Collated independently by Legal 500 research team.

  • ‘Very strong knowledge in technology-driven life sciences, including unique aspects of such a regulated industry (FDA, etc.). Particularly strong knowledge and experience in public securities offerings in the life sciences.’

  • ‘After my 35 years in the medical device industry and 3 IPOs, I believe Shayne Kennedy has more relevant experience than any other lawyer at any firm.’

Key clients

  • 4D Molecular Therapeutics
  • AbbVie
  • Actelion
  • Aiolos Bio
  • Alkermes
  • Arcutis Biotherapeutics
  • Artelon
  • Ascendis Pharma
  • Avidity Biosciences
  • BioXcel Therapeutics

Work highlights

  • Advised CARGO Therapeutics in its IPO of 18,750,000 Shares of Common Stock listed on Nasdaq.
  • Advised CG Oncology in its IPO of 20,000,000 Shares of Common Stock listed on Nasdaq.
  • Advised Cerevel Therapeutics, a biotechnology and pharmaceuticals company focused on the development of novel therapies for mental and neurological illnesses, in its acquisition by AbbVie Inc. for US$8.7 billion, including an FTC Second Request clearance.

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Practice head

Shayne Kennedy; John Manthei; Arlene Chow; Terra Reynolds

Other key lawyers

Ben Haas; Julie Scallen; Cheston Larson; Elizabeth Richards; Matthew Bush; Nathan Ajiashvili; William McConagha; Jennifer Bragg; Kate Hillier