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Photo, Phelim J. O'Doherty

Phelim J. O'Doherty

Partner
Baker & McKenzie LLP

Biography

Phelim O’Doherty is London based corporate partner focused on the life sciences and technology sectors. Phelim heads our London Life Sciences Group and is part of our EMEA Life Sciences Steering Group. Phelim joined Baker McKenzie in 2008, having trained at a UK firm focused on the healthcare sector, and was made partner in 2019.

Practice Focus

Phelim has significant experience advising clients on a wide variety of matters, including private M&A, joint ventures, restructurings and licensing transactions. Phelim has specific expertise in complex cross-border M&A transactions and carve-outs, and he regularly advises clients on M&A auction processes, both buy and sell side.

Representative Legal Matters

Pharma/OTC/Medical Devices

  • Haleon: Advising in relation to sale of their £500m ex-US NRT business to Dr Reddy’s and various other brand disposals.
  • GSK: Advising in connection with various transactions including: (i) their consumer healthcare joint venture with Pfizer in 2019 and subsequent listing of combined business from GSK to form Haleon; (ii) on the sale of a Brazilian manufacturing plant to Haleon; (iii) the disposal of a Chinese vaccines manufacturing site to Parr BioPharma; and (iv) the divestment of a urology business, including a Chinese manufacturing site to TradeStar.
  • Astellas: Advising on various matters including (i) the acquisition of Quethera, a clinical stage gene-therapy company spun out of Cambridge University; (ii) on an investment into AviadoBio, a biotech focused on gene therapy to treat neurodegenerative diseases; and (iii) the acquisition of Nanna Therapeutics, a clinical stage UK biotech leveraging AI to target age related diseases.
  • Novo Nordisk: Advising on $800m acquisition of an early-stage company spun out of Bristol University.
  • Sandoz: Advising in relation to the sale of their Chinese business to Aspen in return for European rights to certain products as well as various other disposals/licensing transactions.
  • AbbVie: Advising on the sale of a UK biologics plant in the cell and gene therapy space to Pharmaron.
  • Walgreen Boots Alliance: Advising on (i) the disposal of a UK manufacturing business; and (ii) the sale of its Russian pharmaceutical wholesale business.
  • Orpea: Advising on a number of matters including on the acquisition of a UK addictions business.
  • Medtronic: Advising in relation to multi-jurisdictional divestments.  

Tech / Digital Health

  • eMed: Advising on the acquisition of Babylon's UK business via a pre-pack procedure.
  • Lyra: Advising on the acquisition of ICAS, a business that specialises in mental health solutions for employers from Rox Equity Partners. 
  • Accenture: Advising in connection with over 20 acquisitions and disposals including the complex carve-out and sale of Duck Creek, a SaaS business. 
  • Astellas: Advising on acquisition of Nanna Therapeutics, a clinical stage UK biotech leveraging AI to target age related diseases.

Professional Associations and Memberships


Admissions

  • England & Wales~United Kingdom (2008)

Education

  • University College London (LLM) (2004)
  • NUI Galway (BCL) (2003)

Languages

  • English
  • French
Baker & McKenzie LLP, an English partnership, is a member of Baker & McKenzie International, a Swiss Verein.