Arnold & Porter Announces Expansion of Leading European Life Sciences Regulatory Practice with Opening of Amsterdam Office

AMSTERDAM, AUGUST 1, 2022 —Arnold & Porter announced today that it will be opening an office in Amsterdam with a particular focus on its European Life Sciences Regulatory practice area, and the strategic hire of two highly regarded practitioners in the area.

Richard M. Alexander, Chairman of Arnold & Porter, said: “We are pleased to announce the opening of our Amsterdam office. The office will enhance the Firm’s ability to serve its Life Sciences and Healthcare clients and further expand its European life sciences regulatory capabilities. Carla and Bart’s reputation and track record of success in handling sophisticated EU life sciences regulatory matters are a natural fit with our market-leading regulatory practices in London, Brussels, China, and the United States.”

Partner Carla Schoonderbeek has joined the firm today and will head up the office. Ms. Schoonderbeek is one of Europe’s leading legal advisors on European law and the regulation of medicinal products, including pharmaceuticals and biologics, as well as medical devices. She regularly advises on issues of EU marketing authorisations, regulatory exclusivities such as regulatory data protection, orphan designation and pediatric research rewards, EU Market Access and on issues surrounding clinical trials.

The independent law directories Chambers Europe and Legal 500 have noted that Ms. Schoonderbeek is: “one of the trailblazers in life sciences,” “absolutely first class” and “a star in the life science field and the best in the business.” She is also acclaimed for her knowledge of the European and Dutch systems.

Also joining the firm and the office is partner Bart Jong, a former judge in the District Court of Amsterdam in the Ministry of Justice, who specialises in European and Dutch regulatory matters concerning pharmaceuticals and biologics. Mr. Jong represents some of the largest companies operating in Europe on medicinal product development—from marketing authorisation procedures, manufacturing and distribution, regulatory exclusivities, enforcement, pharmacovigilance, and pricing and reimbursement. Mr. Jong has extensive experience in administrative law pertaining to procedures against administrative authorities such as the Dutch Ministry of Health, the Dutch Medicines Evaluation Board, and the Dutch Healthcare Authority as well as review of decisions of the European Medicines Agency and the European Commission.

In joining the firm, Ms. Schoonderbeek commented: “We are thrilled to join Arnold & Porter’s premier Life Sciences and Healthcare Regulatory practice. We have a long history of working with Arnold & Porter on behalf of many mutual clients. We look forward to collaborating across the firm’s integrated international platform to enhance further and expand its comprehensive life sciences offering to clients in Europe and beyond.”

About Arnold & Porter’s Amsterdam Office

The Amsterdam office is integral to Arnold & Porter’s European Life Sciences and Healthcare practice. The office serves clients with regulatory matters before the European Medicines Agency and the European Commission and will also assist in the co-ordination of the regulatory responses of clients across the EU where national law and procedures are the focus.

About Arnold & Porter's Life Sciences and Healthcare Regulatory Practice

Arnold & Porter's global Life Sciences and Healthcare Regulatory practice is unique—unlike other firms, which typically scatter these capabilities across various siloed practices—the firm maintains a fully integrated team focused on providing comprehensive assistance to clients in all areas of life sciences product and healthcare regulation. The firm’s top-tier practice has been widely recognized for its work on the most critical matters, receiving rankings from Chambers Global, Chambers USA, Chambers Greater China Region, Chambers Europe, Chambers UK, The Legal 500 US, The Legal 500 Asia-Pacific, The Legal 500 UK, and was named LMG's 2021 Life Cycle Firm of the Year. The team is comprised of an array of highly experienced lawyers and other professionals, many with senior government, in-house, and corporate professional experience, as well as attorneys who hold advanced degrees in diverse areas such as neurobiology, endocrinology, nursing, bioethics, biophysics, biochemistry, and biotechnology.

About Arnold & Porter

With nearly 1,000 lawyers practicing in 14 offices around the globe, Arnold & Porter serves clients across 40 distinct practice areas. The firm offers 100 years of renowned regulatory expertise, sophisticated litigation and transactional practices, and leading multidisciplinary offerings in the life sciences and financial services industries.