Disputes arising in the life sciences sectors (biotech, pharmaceutical, biologics, in vitro diagnostics, etc.) have become one of the largest growth areas in international arbitration.
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In 2013, WIPO reported that 15% of the arbitration and mediation cases filed with the WIPO Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution were related to life sciences disputes.
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In 2018, the ICDR reported that pharmaceutical/biotech disputes were in its top caseload category, which was followed by a 27% increase in 2019.
- In 2022, the ICDR reported that life sciences arbitrations had the largest claim amount by industry at $466 million, a 36% increase over 2021.
The increase in international arbitrations in the life sciences sector is in large part due to the growing number of approved products across all sub-sectors and the sector's globalization.
As more entities turn to arbitration to resolve transnational life sciences disputes, it is increasingly important for counsel and arbitrators to be well-versed in relevant technology, international commercial arbitration practice, and patent law.
Our attorneys have unparalleled expertise in life sciences, international arbitration, and patent law, allowing us to effectively meet our clients' needs. For example, our attorneys:
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hold undergraduate and doctoral degrees in chemistry, molecular biology and biology
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have hands-on research experience in organic chemistry, recombinant DNA, molecular biology, protein chemistry, structure-function studies, and in vitro diagnostics;
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are registered to practice before the United States Patent & Trademark Office;
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have successfully represented clients in patent litigation and appeals (including several landmark cases) involving, inter alia, recombinant DNA, chemical products/processes, in vitro diagnostics, and biologics;
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counsel clients on issues of patentability, patent invalidity, licensing, technology / know-how transfer, and joint research agreements; and
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regularly serve as counsel in international life science arbitrations, including cases involving molecular biology, in vitro diagnostics, and chemical products / processes.
In addition to serving as counsel, our experience makes our attorneys particularly well suited to serve as arbitrators in life sciences arbitrations.
Let Our Experience and Expertise Work For You
Our clients turn to us for their most challenging cases. Don't let our size fool you – we are regularly retained as lead counsel in bet-the-company cases and recently obtained a $475,000,000 arbitration award for one of our clients. We work hard to maintain our reputation for consistently developing and presenting creative legal strategies that allow our clients to succeed in high-stakes domestic and international disputes.
Contact us for a free consultation and let us explain how we can help you successfully resolve your dispute in a more timely and cost-effective manner.