Life SciencesOverviewThe intersection of science, business, and law can pose unique challenges for companies in the life science and chemical sectors. Succeeding in this rapidly changing, highly competitive industry is as much about strategy and execution as it is about innovation and development. Life science and chemical businesses, from startups to established companies, need a legal partner that can help them navigate these challenges, and take advantage of a vast array of opportunities. Michael Best’s multidisciplinary Life Sciences & Chemical industry team includes attorneys who practice in intellectual property, transactional, FDA regulatory, healthcare, litigation, and other areas of law. Many of our IP practitioners hold advanced degrees in disciplines including chemistry, chemical engineering, molecular biology, biochemistry, biomedical engineering, and materials science. Several also have practical work experience in these fields as scientists and engineers and in business settings. We provide the full spectrum of legal services to clients across the biotechnology, pharmaceutical, chemical, agricultural, and medical device industries, often working in cross-disciplinary teams to help our clients achieve their business goals.
Service Area
Intellectual Property
Michael Best’s nationally recognized IP practice helps clients develop, manage, monetize, protect, and enforce their technologies and brands worldwide. With more than 150 practitioners, including over 25 patent engineers, scientists, and registered agents, our IP group provides a full range of legal services including patent, trademark, trade secret, and copyright law, patentability analysis, prosecution, portfolio management, enforcement, clearance, defense, and litigation.
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Licensing
We help Life Sciences companies capitalize on crucial technology and IP assets through co-development and co-promotion strategic alliances, as well as research, licensing, and transfer of intellectual property. Our attorneys are experienced in negotiating all types of agreements, including consulting, clinical trials, sponsored research, and manufacturing, supply, and distribution contracts. They also conduct due diligence and help businesses establish overall licensing strategies.
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FDA Regulatory
Our broad-based FDA Regulatory team advises clients on the full gamut of matters related to the FDA and other product regulation agencies. We assist clients throughout the entire product life cycle, starting with premarket services including product classification, submissions, and validation programs. Once a product goes to market, we continue to counsel clients on matters relating to production, quality control, safety and risk mitigation, compliance and enforcement, and employee training. We also assist clients with issues involving the FTC, DEA, and USDA.
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Corporate & Transactions
Michael Best’s Corporate attorneys provide strategic legal counsel covering all phases of the business life cycle, from organization, financing, and operation through mergers, acquisitions, and divestitures. We guide clients on matters involving contract negotiations and deal structuring, securities and capital markets, corporate formation and governance, tax and succession planning, distribution and franchising, real estate, dispute resolution, and more.
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Startup & Venture Capital
We recognize that entrepreneurial companies need affordable and sophisticated legal support, capital, and additional resources to succeed and thrive. Our Venture Best® group helps companies and investors make connections, structure and close transactions, and maximize returns. We also counsel early-stage businesses on their financial, organizational, and regulatory needs as they grow. Many of the attorneys of our Venture Best® team have themselves been venture-backed entrepreneurs, as well as investors, giving us a valuable perspective.
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Privacy & Cybersecurity
As the amount of, and potential uses for, personal and consumer data increase exponentially, the gathering, storing, safe handling, and sharing of that data have become pressing concerns around the world. Our team can help you manage and leverage data while complying with complex regulatory schemes at the state, federal, and international levels.
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Labor & Employment
Michael Best’s distinguished Labor & Employment Relations practice group is one of the largest in the Midwest. We provide timely solutions, proactive advice, and goal-oriented advocacy to guide clients as they make employment decisions, set policies, and plan for the future. We offer a comprehensive range of services in labor, employment, and employee benefits law.
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Litigation
Michael Best’s robust Litigation practice group includes former federal prosecutors and others with significant jury and court trial experience. When necessary, we know how to take cases to trial and win. Our litigators also serve clients outside the courtroom, achieving successful results through arbitration and mediation. We provide battle-tested legal representation for nearly any type of dispute, including intellectual property enforcement, clearance, and defense; government investigations and white collar defense; and products liability defense.
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Healthcare
The healthcare industry faces an increasingly complex mix of changing technology, regulations, reimbursement, patient behavior, and market dynamics. Having practical, reliable, and experienced counsel is critical to implementing strategies, completing transactions on time and within budget, and maintaining compliance in operations.
Michael Best’s Healthcare team works with clients to help you capitalize on opportunities, mitigate risk, and achieve business goals. Michael Best’s experienced, multidisciplinary team combines a deep understanding of the healthcare industry — including its unique regulations, organizational structures, and risk management challenges — with the ability to provide a full suite of legal services.
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Digital Health
Transformed by digitization and invention, the health industry has evolved to become one of the largest sectors of the economy. In this rapidly changing sector, the use of technology presents vast opportunities, paired with significant risk. Michael Best’s Digital Health team understands the heightened compliance burden and legal risk faced by healthcare entities. We help clients effectively navigate a complex regulatory environment and capitalize on the many opportunities available to entities in the digital health market. We provide a complete range of legal services and have deep knowledge of the unique issues affecting companies in the digital health space.
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Healthcare Innovation Group
A part of our consulting affiliate, Michael Best Strategies,® our Healthcare Innovation Group supports commercialization, deployment, and investment in health innovation. The Healthcare Innovation team works with both innovators and healthcare payors/providers to accelerate market entry for new healthcare solutions. The Healthcare Innovation team has direct experience in the healthcare sector as executives, entrepreneurs, analysts, researchers, MDs, and more, and we leverage a deep network of contacts across the healthcare delivery spectrum.
Through Strategies’ proprietary Market Validation Process, experienced healthcare sector professionals vet companies that are bringing innovations to the healthcare marketplace. This process analyzes each innovator’s product based on the key metrics important to buyers and investors. Our process is vetted and supported by key influencers in the healthcare ecosystem, including C‑Suite decision-makers at payor networks and health systems.
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Related People Preview Attorney's BiographyDaniel assists companies with privacy and cybersecurity matters, from proactive approaches to breach response. He began his career with Michael Best as a law clerk, joining the firm as an associate attorney after obtaining his law degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.  Preview Attorney's BiographyAlison is a Patent Agent who specializes in organic chemistry and general life sciences. She has particular experience in the areas of natural products synthesis, neurochemistry, small molecules, and pharmaceuticals. She assists with preparing and prosecuting patent applications for private companies, universities, and other clients. Alison A. Bayly, Ph.D.* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law.  Preview Attorney's BiographyAnthony is a Patent Scientist with Michael Best. His background encompasses the areas of biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, pharmacology, and cancer drug development. He brings more than eight years of biomedical research experience to his role assisting clients with patent preparation and prosecution for life sciences inventions. Anthony C. Brandt, Ph.D.* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law.  Preview Attorney's BiographyThomas focuses his patent practice in the protection and commercialization of chemical technologies. He leverages experience in private practice along with a prior role as a U.S. Patent Examiner to help clients obtain strong patent protection.
As a Patent Examiner at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, Thomas examined non-provisional U.S. and National Stage PCT applications related to technologies including compositions, coatings, batteries, solar cells, fertilizers, bone grafting ce ...  Preview Attorney's BiographyBill provides strategic patent counsel to clients in the chemical, pharmaceutical, and medical device areas. With a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry and more than 20 years of experience in pharmaceutical research, he brings a wealth of scientific expertise to his patent prosecution, counseling, and opinion practice.  Preview Attorney's BiographyAshley is an experienced patent agent and former biomedical researcher who uses her broad technical background to provide careful and detailed work in prosecuting and preparing patent applications. Ashley M. Cowie, Ph.D.* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law.  Preview Attorney's BiographyJulia brings an extensive technical background to her work in U.S. and global patent prosecution in the life sciences. She provides careful and detailed analysis in regard to patentability, patent filing, and complex arguments against patent application rejections related to prior art, enablement, written description, and patent-eligible subject matter. Julia M. Cox, Ph.D.* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law. Preview Attorney's BiographyChelsea is a Patent Scientist with Michael Best. Her background encompasses the areas of biochemistry, synthetic chemistry, drug development, organic chemistry, molecular biology, and pharmacology. She brings more than eight years of research experience to her role assisting clients with patent preparation and prosecution for life sciences innovations.Chelsea earned a Ph.D. in Organic Chemistry from Saint Louis University where her work involved the synthesis and biological evaluation of novel c ... Chelsea M. DeLeon, Ph.D.* *Names that appear with an asterisk indicate a Michael Best professional not admitted to practice law.
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