Four Decades for Justice
Cravath represents some of the largest and most highly regarded companies in the healthcare and life sciences industries, providing counsel on a variety of corporate and litigation matters across the entire global innovation marketplace. We have played a leading role in critical and complex matters that have defined these industries, creating long‑standing client relationships and enhancing our ability to handle the unique matters in these sectors.
Our corporate lawyers have steered some of the largest and most significant U.S. and non‑U.S. transactions in the healthcare and life sciences industries. We have advised a full spectrum of companies, from biotechnology startups to established healthcare and life sciences companies, in connection with transactions ranging from complex collaboration agreements to a wide variety of acquisitions and divestitures of companies and businesses. Clients also rely on our financing expertise as well as our experience in navigating risks and strategies related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues.
Our litigators have an extensive understanding of substantive issues coupled with deep trial experience and have litigated numerous matters in the healthcare and life sciences areas. We have handled matters for pharmaceutical, healthcare services and medical device companies, including antitrust litigation and regulatory clearance, class actions, shareholder derivative and securities suits, breach of contract and licensing disputes and arbitrations. Our experience also extends to the field of biotechnology, with particular expertise navigating the biologics and biosimilars landscape.
Intellectual property issues are critical for many of our clients in these sectors. We have significant expertise across a broad range of intellectual property issues including strategic counseling, complex intellectual property litigation, review and analysis in developing and optimizing intellectual property rights, patents, licensing and portfolio development and exploitation.
Our corporate lawyers have steered some of the largest and most significant U.S. and non‑U.S. transactions in the healthcare and life sciences industries. We have advised a full spectrum of companies, from biotechnology startups to established healthcare and life sciences companies, in connection with transactions ranging from complex collaboration agreements to a wide variety of acquisitions and divestitures of companies and businesses. Clients also rely on our financing expertise as well as our experience in navigating risks and strategies related to environmental, social and governance (“ESG”) issues.
Our litigators have an extensive understanding of substantive issues coupled with deep trial experience and have litigated numerous matters in the healthcare and life sciences areas. We have handled matters for pharmaceutical, healthcare services and medical device companies, including antitrust litigation and regulatory clearance, class actions, shareholder derivative and securities suits, breach of contract and licensing disputes and arbitrations. Our experience also extends to the field of biotechnology, with particular expertise navigating the biologics and biosimilars landscape.
Intellectual property issues are critical for many of our clients in these sectors. We have significant expertise across a broad range of intellectual property issues including strategic counseling, complex intellectual property litigation, review and analysis in developing and optimizing intellectual property rights, patents, licensing and portfolio development and exploitation.
Deals & Cases
February 28, 2024
On February 28, 2024, Viatris Inc. (“Viatris”), a global healthcare company, and Idorsia Ltd (“Idorsia”) announced they have entered into agreements for a significant global research and development collaboration under which Viatris will receive exclusive global development and commercialization rights to two Phase 3 assets as well as the potential to add additional innovative assets in the future.
Deals & Cases
February 27, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the €1.2 billion senior notes offering of Fortive Corporation, a provider of essential technologies for connected workflow solutions across a range of attractive end‑markets. The transaction closed on February 13, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 22, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million registered senior notes offering of Cencora, Inc., a leading global pharmaceutical solutions organization centered on improving the lives of people and animals around the world. The transaction closed on February 7, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 12, 2024
On February 12, 2024, CymaBay Therapeutics (“CymaBay”) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (“Gilead”) announced a definitive agreement under which Gilead will acquire CymaBay for $32.50 per share in cash or a total equity value of $4.3 billion. The addition of CymaBay’s investigational lead product candidate, seladelpar for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis, complements Gilead’s existing liver portfolio and aligns with its longstanding commitment to bringing transformational medicines to patients. Cravath is representing CymaBay in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
February 05, 2024
Cravath represented Artivion, Inc. in connection with $350 million of credit facilities obtained from Ares Management Credit funds to comprehensively address its debt maturities. Artivion is a medical device company focused on developing simple, elegant solutions that address cardiac and vascular surgeons’ most difficult challenges in treating patients with aortic diseases. The facilities consisted of a $190 million secured term loan facility, a $100 million secured delayed draw term loan facility and a $60 million secured revolving credit facility. The transaction closed on January 18, 2024.
Activities & Publications
April 05, 2024
Cravath partner David J. Kappos and of counsel Christopher Davis participated in the 31st Annual Intellectual Property Law & Policy Conference, which was hosted by Fordham Law School from April 4‑5, 2024 in New York. Dave delivered a presentation entitled “The U.S. IP System Is Under Siege,” which reviewed the IP atmosphere in the U.S., including COVID vaccine IP waivers; COVID therapeutic and diagnostic waivers; accusations of “evergreening” and “patent thickets” in the biopharma area; and standard essential patent rate-setting by the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Chris spoke on a panel entitled “U.S. Copyright Developments,” which examined the future of fair use in light of Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith, the progress of the Copyright Claims Board and more.
Accolades
March 28, 2024
On March 26, 2024, Cravath partner David R. Marriott was named to Forbes’s 2024 list of “America’s Top 200 Lawyers.” The inaugural list recognized “the finest practitioners in the profession—lawyers with stellar track records in their specialties, those who have broken barriers to emerge as leaders in their fields, and attorneys most respected by peers and clients.” Dave’s accompanying profile highlighted his experience as a “courtroom heavyweight” and his representation of clients including AT&T, Avon Products, Bank of America, Bristol‑Myers Squibb, Colgate‑Palmolive and Delta Airlines. In particular, the publication noted Dave’s achievement of “setting precedent in antitrust and intellectual property law.”
Accolades
March 14, 2024
On March 13, 2024, Benchmark Litigation honored Cravath partner David R. Marriott as its “Trial Lawyer of the Year” at the publication’s twelfth annual U.S. Awards, which were held in New York City. The awards recognize “the country’s most distinguished litigators and their firms for their exemplary work over the past twelve months.”
Accolades
March 14, 2024
On March 13, 2024, Benchmark Litigation named Cravath partner Daniel Slifkin to its “Hall of Fame” at the publication’s twelfth annual U.S. Awards, which were held in New York City. The awards recognize “the country’s most distinguished litigators and their firms for their exemplary work over the past twelve months.”
Activities & Publications
March 05, 2024
On March 5, 2024, Cravath partner David J. Kappos participated in “Preserving U.S. Leadership in Biopharmaceutical Innovation,” an event hosted by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation in Washington, D.C. Dave and other experts spoke alongside the Honorable Paul R. Michel, former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, about why the U.S. may have lost its lead in advanced technology industries, including telecommunications equipment, and how policymakers can support cutting‑edge innovation and avoid repeating the same mistakes in the biopharmaceutical sector.
Deals & Cases
February 28, 2024
On February 28, 2024, Viatris Inc. (“Viatris”), a global healthcare company, and Idorsia Ltd (“Idorsia”) announced they have entered into agreements for a significant global research and development collaboration under which Viatris will receive exclusive global development and commercialization rights to two Phase 3 assets as well as the potential to add additional innovative assets in the future.
Deals & Cases
February 27, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the €1.2 billion senior notes offering of Fortive Corporation, a provider of essential technologies for connected workflow solutions across a range of attractive end‑markets. The transaction closed on February 13, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 22, 2024
Cravath represented the underwriters in connection with the $500 million registered senior notes offering of Cencora, Inc., a leading global pharmaceutical solutions organization centered on improving the lives of people and animals around the world. The transaction closed on February 7, 2024.
Deals & Cases
February 12, 2024
On February 12, 2024, CymaBay Therapeutics (“CymaBay”) and Gilead Sciences, Inc. (“Gilead”) announced a definitive agreement under which Gilead will acquire CymaBay for $32.50 per share in cash or a total equity value of $4.3 billion. The addition of CymaBay’s investigational lead product candidate, seladelpar for the treatment of primary biliary cholangitis, complements Gilead’s existing liver portfolio and aligns with its longstanding commitment to bringing transformational medicines to patients. Cravath is representing CymaBay in connection with the transaction.
Deals & Cases
February 05, 2024
Cravath represented Artivion, Inc. in connection with $350 million of credit facilities obtained from Ares Management Credit funds to comprehensively address its debt maturities. Artivion is a medical device company focused on developing simple, elegant solutions that address cardiac and vascular surgeons’ most difficult challenges in treating patients with aortic diseases. The facilities consisted of a $190 million secured term loan facility, a $100 million secured delayed draw term loan facility and a $60 million secured revolving credit facility. The transaction closed on January 18, 2024.
Activities & Publications
April 05, 2024
Cravath partner David J. Kappos and of counsel Christopher Davis participated in the 31st Annual Intellectual Property Law & Policy Conference, which was hosted by Fordham Law School from April 4‑5, 2024 in New York. Dave delivered a presentation entitled “The U.S. IP System Is Under Siege,” which reviewed the IP atmosphere in the U.S., including COVID vaccine IP waivers; COVID therapeutic and diagnostic waivers; accusations of “evergreening” and “patent thickets” in the biopharma area; and standard essential patent rate-setting by the European Union Intellectual Property Office. Chris spoke on a panel entitled “U.S. Copyright Developments,” which examined the future of fair use in light of Andy Warhol Foundation v. Goldsmith, the progress of the Copyright Claims Board and more.
Accolades
March 28, 2024
On March 26, 2024, Cravath partner David R. Marriott was named to Forbes’s 2024 list of “America’s Top 200 Lawyers.” The inaugural list recognized “the finest practitioners in the profession—lawyers with stellar track records in their specialties, those who have broken barriers to emerge as leaders in their fields, and attorneys most respected by peers and clients.” Dave’s accompanying profile highlighted his experience as a “courtroom heavyweight” and his representation of clients including AT&T, Avon Products, Bank of America, Bristol‑Myers Squibb, Colgate‑Palmolive and Delta Airlines. In particular, the publication noted Dave’s achievement of “setting precedent in antitrust and intellectual property law.”
Accolades
March 14, 2024
On March 13, 2024, Benchmark Litigation honored Cravath partner David R. Marriott as its “Trial Lawyer of the Year” at the publication’s twelfth annual U.S. Awards, which were held in New York City. The awards recognize “the country’s most distinguished litigators and their firms for their exemplary work over the past twelve months.”
Accolades
March 14, 2024
On March 13, 2024, Benchmark Litigation named Cravath partner Daniel Slifkin to its “Hall of Fame” at the publication’s twelfth annual U.S. Awards, which were held in New York City. The awards recognize “the country’s most distinguished litigators and their firms for their exemplary work over the past twelve months.”
Activities & Publications
March 05, 2024
On March 5, 2024, Cravath partner David J. Kappos participated in “Preserving U.S. Leadership in Biopharmaceutical Innovation,” an event hosted by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation in Washington, D.C. Dave and other experts spoke alongside the Honorable Paul R. Michel, former Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, about why the U.S. may have lost its lead in advanced technology industries, including telecommunications equipment, and how policymakers can support cutting‑edge innovation and avoid repeating the same mistakes in the biopharmaceutical sector.
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