Life Sciences and Healthcare Companies
Arnold & Porter routinely handles complex securities matters for life sciences, healthcare, biotech, and pharmaceutical companies and the individuals at the helm, spanning internal and government investigations, litigation, compliance, and corporate governance.
We are well-versed on the issues life sciences and healthcare companies face that often make them a focus of securities regulators and plaintiffs' firms, including potential ABAC issues involving public health administrators in foreign countries, accounting issues as companies transition to direct distribution models, allegations involving disclosures relating to clinical trials and regulatory approvals, claims of insider trading in advance of positive or negative developments with respect to a new drug candidate, and cybersecurity issues involving the protection of sensitive health data. Our attorneys have significant experience handling these and many other securities issues that arise in SEC, DOJ, FDA, state Attorneys General, and state regulator investigations, as well as in various types of litigation. We frequently partner with our colleagues in the firm's renowned Life Sciences & Healthcare Regulatory practice to give our clients a comprehensive, 360-degree perspective.
-
Financial Reporting and Other Disclosures: Our attorneys have extensive experience representing life sciences and healthcare companies in internal and government investigations, securities litigation involving claims of financial reporting and disclosure issues under the federal securities laws.
-
Insider Trading: Our knowledge of the federal securities laws, relevant case law and industry-specific issues enables us to defend life sciences and healthcare companies in insider trading investigations as well as counsel on policies and procedures designed to prevent violations from occurring.
-
Anti-Bribery/Anti-Corruption: With extensive experience around the globe, our attorneys represent life sciences, healthcare and other companies by anticipating and strategically responding to investigations and enforcement actions under the FCPA, UK Bribery Act, and other anti-bribery laws and regulations.
Experience Highlights
-
Alexion Pharmaceuticals in defense against a breach of contract suit in Delaware Chancery Court filed by the former shareholders of Syntimmune, an early-stage therapeutics company acquired by Alexion.
-
Former executive of a biotechnology company in an investigation by SEC and DOJ, a civil investigation by the New York State AG, and in a parallel securities litigation in in connection with the company’s vaccine manufacturing.
-
Global pharmaceutical public company in an SEC investigation involving disclosure and related issues.
-
Sandoz, Inc. in a lawsuit filed on behalf of the former shareholders of Oriel Therapeutics, Inc. in connection with a merger agreement pursuant to which Oriel became a wholly-owned subsidiary of Sandoz. Successfully secured dismissal of fraud and other claims at the motion to dismiss stage and achieved a favorable settlement.
-
KloudScript, a specialty pharmacy network company, in a shareholder derivative action based on dilutive self-dealing stock transactions.
-
Multinational life sciences company in conducting an internal investigation related to potential accounting violations and “channel stuffing” reported by a whistleblower.
-
Extended Nursing Personnel CHHA, a New York State licensed special needs certified home health agency, as well as its owners, in a broken deal lawsuit in New York State Supreme Court, arising from a proposed M&A transaction between two home healthcare companies.
-
SPAC Sponsor in response to SEC investigations regarding accounting improprieties and several litigations in connection with de-SPACed entity 180 Life Sciences Corp.
-
Coherus BioSciences in the strategic acquisition of Surface Oncology and in connection with threatened shareholder litigation concerning merger disclosures.
Key Contacts
See All Related ProfessionalsRelated Services
Recognition
-
U.S. News & World Report and Best Lawyers"Best Law Firms" for Bet-the-Company Litigation – San Francisco (2025)
"Best Law Firms" for Securities Litigation—Washington, D.C., National (2024)
“Best Law Firms" for Securities Regulation—Washington, D.C., National (2024)
"Best Law Firms" for Criminal Defense: White Collar — Washington, D.C., National, New York, Boston, Chicago, New Jersey (2025) -
LMG Life Sciences GuideNon-IP Litigation & Enforcement: White-Collar/Government Investigations (2023)