The life sciences and health care industry is seeing an increased and more complex regulation of its activities and services. Payment of considerable research and development costs often presumes effectively obtaining and executing the rights related to the products and services being developed. New technologies allow the development of completely new products and services while increasing the risk that the existing business foundation is being disrupted. These and other factors pose great demands on the adaptability of the industry.

Bech-Bruun's life sciences team is composed in such a way that it allows us to offer our clients legal and strategic expert advice in the areas where the life sciences industry and investors need it. 

Our size and industry experience allows us to provide legal advice for many Danish and non-Danish pharmaceutical and biotech enterprises, medical device companies and venture funds and others who want to invest in or acquire life sciences enterprises. We also advise CMOs, CROs and a vast number of pharmacies and chains of pharmacies.

Our advisory services include:

  • Market Access
  • Enforcement of intellectual property rights, for instance patents, and supplementary protection certificates
  • Marketing/Compliance
  • Data Protection
  • Clinical testing, including GCP
  • Development and manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, including GMP
  • Distribution of pharmaceuticals, including GDP
  • Industry interaction with authorities, the Medicine Council, Amgros and health care professionals
  • License, research and development agreements
  • Regulatory issues concerning pharmaceuticals, medical devices, cosmetics and foods
  • Product liability
  • Procurement law
  • Raising capital and IPOs
  • Danish and EU competition law
  • International taxation.

Life Sciences are our great passion. Our passion, expertise, availability and number of dedicated life sciences lawyers ensure our clients a technological, legal and commercial understanding that is unique in the Danish law industry.

We know the industry, including the political and administrative decision level, which allows us to optimise your positioning and ensure you the best possible solution for a technological, legal or commercial issue.

We are there for you, for your business and the other stakeholders with whom you need to interact.

As a natural element in our advisory services for Life Sciences enterprises we draw on the experts in other Bech-Bruun practice groups, for instance our colleagues in Data Protection, EU & Competition, Intellectual Property, M&A and Corporate Matters, Labour and Employment Law, and our experts in the areas of tax, product liability and capital and securities market.

 


Life Science

Intellectual Property

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Ranked: Band 1

What the team is known for
Bech-Bruun is a full-service law firm assisting clients with the full gamut of IP strategy, registration, protection and enforcement. The team frequently handles contentious and non-contentious copyright, trade mark, and design rights matters. It also acts on patent disputes in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors. Bech-Bruun has additional expertise in the commercialisation of IP, including distribution, licensing and franchise agreements. The firm is also experienced in mandates involving international elements.

Strengths
"Bech-Bruun provides broad coverage and in-depth knowledge. The team pre-aligns to our demands and always delivers to full satisfaction."

"The lawyers are always available and flexible, and they are good at being commercial."

"The team delivers understandable and straight-to-the-point legal advice even on complex matters."

Work highlights
Bech-Bruun represented Edwards Lifesciences in patent infringement proceedings against the distributors of a type of heart valve, as well as against competitor company Meril.

Notable practitioners
Claus Barrett Christiansen acts for clients on trade mark and design infringement disputes and issues of marketing law.

"Claus is an experienced lawyer who perfectly understands trade mark law and always knows what to do. He's easy to work with, has great legal knowledge and is very thorough in his advice."

"He is an excellent lawyer in terms of client service and the quality of legal work provided."

"Claus Barrett Christiansen demonstrates great client service and commercial awareness, and deals with complex aspects."

"He is easy to deal with and very calm. He is a very experienced litigator."

Dan Bjerg Geary advises on the IP aspects of franchise, distribution and licensing agreements. He has additional experience in disputes arising from the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets as well as patent and copyright infringements.

"Dan is very strong and has a commercial mindset."

"Dan is always available for his clients. He answers within short notice, and is one of the most skilled franchise lawyers in the Danish market. Most remarkable is his ability to combine legal insight with great commercial understanding."

"He is very good in technical matters."

"Dan Bjerg Geary is always accessible and easy to contact."

Klaus Madsen is an expert in patent disputes and also assists clients with disputes concerning the misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract issues. He often represents pharmaceutical companies.

"He's very strategic in his thinking and is able to simplify a case."

"Klaus is fantastic. He is very good with strategy and always hits the mark. He is very bright and open to respond any questions."

Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn assists pharmaceutical companies with IP issues such as patent infringement and regulatory matters. He also acts in disputes pertaining to marketing and advertising issues.

"Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn is an excellent and fully trusted adviser."

"He deals with cross-border aspects very well. He gets to the point easily and understands complexity. He's aware of the commercial elements of matters, focusing on the aspects that are important for clients."

Jeppe Brinck-Jensen is proficient in a broad range of contentious IP mandates, ranging from patent and SPC disputes to trade secret cases. His clients primarily belong to the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.

"Jeppe Brinck-Jensen is highly skilled in the legal discipline as well as commercial focus and customer centricity. He delivers to-the-point advice with an incredible ability to carve out less important parts and go straight to the heart of the matter."

"Jeppe is really good at analysing complex situations and finding optimal solutions. He's fast at understanding technical aspects and translating them into legal advice."

Chambers and Partners Europe 2023, Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

Chambers_Partners_logo

What the team is known for
Bech-Bruun is a full-service law firm assisting clients with the full gamut of IP strategy, registration, protection and enforcement. The team frequently handles contentious and non-contentious copyright, trade mark, and design rights matters. It also acts on patent disputes in the pharmaceutical and technology sectors. Bech-Bruun has additional expertise in the commercialisation of IP, including distribution, licensing and franchise agreements. The firm is also experienced in mandates involving international elements.

Notable practitioners
Claus Barrett Christiansen Claus Barrett Christiansen acts for clients on trade mark and design infringement disputes and issues of marketing law.

  • "Claus is an experienced lawyer who perfectly understands trade mark law and always knows what to do. He's easy to work with, has great legal knowledge and is very thorough in his advice."
  • He is an excellent lawyer in terms of client service and the quality of legal work provided."
  • "Claus Barrett Christiansen demonstrates great client service and commercial awareness, and deals with complex aspects."
  • "He is easy to deal with and very calm. He is a very experienced litigator."

Dan Bjerg Geary Dan Bjerg Geary advises on the IP aspects of franchise, distribution and licensing agreements. He has additional experience in disputes arising from the alleged misappropriation of trade secrets as well as patent and copyright infringements.

  • "Dan is very strong and has a commercial mindset."
  • "Dan is always available for his clients. He answers within short notice, and is one of the most skilled franchise lawyers in the Danish market. Most remarkable is his ability to combine legal insight with great commercial understanding."
  • "He is very good in technical matters."
  • "Dan Bjerg Geary is always accessible and easy to contact."

Klaus Madsen is an expert in patent disputes and also assists clients with disputes concerning the misappropriation of trade secrets and breach of contract issues. He often represents pharmaceutical companies.

  • "He's very strategic in his thinking and is able to simplify a case."
  • "Klaus is fantastic. He is very good with strategy and always hits the mark. He is very bright and open to respond any questions."

Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn assists pharmaceutical companies with IP issues such as patent infringement and regulatory matters. He also acts in disputes pertaining to marketing and advertising issues.

  • "Martin Dræbye Gantzhorn is an excellent and fully trusted adviser."
  • "He deals with cross-border aspects very well. He gets to the point easily and understands complexity. He's aware of the commercial elements of matters, focusing on the aspects that are important for clients."

Jeppe Brinck-Jensen is proficient in a broad range of contentious IP mandates, ranging from patent and SPC disputes to trade secret cases. His clients primarily belong to the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors.

  • "Jeppe Brinck-Jensen is highly skilled in the legal discipline as well as commercial focus and customer centricity. He delivers to-the-point advice with an incredible ability to carve out less important parts and go straight to the heart of the matter."
  • "Jeppe is really good at analysing complex situations and finding optimal solutions. He's fast at understanding technical aspects and translating them into legal advice."

Chambers and Partners Global 2023, Intellectual Property

Intellectual Property

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Ranked: Tier 1

The ‘impressive, wide-ranging team of IP experts‘ at Bech-Bruun continues to provide advice to domestic and international companies, including Sony, UEFA, and Samsung Bioepis on life sciences and patents work. Claus Barrett Christiansen and Mikkel Friis Rossa jointly lead the team, with Christiansen often advising clients on cases concerning dynamic blocking injunctions regarding trade mark infringement allegations. Klaus Ewald Madsen has a ‘wealth of experience‘ in acting for pharmaceuticals and medical device companies in cases concerning patent infringement issues and the launch of biosimilars, and Jeppe Brinck-Jensen excels in patent and trade secrets litigation. Rated by clients as being ‘among the top IP lawyers in Denmark‘, Dan Bjerg Geary primarily assists with patent and technology licensing work, and often advises on technology transfers and IP strategies. Associate Sisse Langberg Lassen supports the team from Aarhus with her expertise in handling multi-jurisdictional trade mark, design and environmental marketing litigation. 

'Really strong and specialised focus on bio and pharma patent litigation.’

‘Klaus Ewald Madsen and the team have a wealth of experience, are great team players, and are extremely easy to work with. Klaus is highly recommended for his experience, and his really good practical advice, especially in life sciences.’

‘Bech-Bruun’s IP department continues to be top of the game and delivers high-level advice on complex issues. It boasts an impressive, wide-ranging team of IP experts.’

‘Dan Bjerg Geary shows extraordinary understanding. He is attentive and alert, and has an impressive knowledge. Dan excels in litigation and delivers proactive and solution-oriented advice at a very high level.’

‘Dan Bjerg Geary provides outstanding service reflecting his in-depth experience and knowledge of the industry. Dan is among the top IP lawyers in Denmark.’

‘Martin Gantzhorn is exceptionally good and highly trusted. His key strength is the combination of a deep understanding of the regulation and practice applicable to the pharmaceutical industry combined with his excellent and persuasive communication skills.’

Legal 500, Intellectual Property, 2023

IP Stars

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Patent disputes
Ranked: Tier 1

Trade mark disputes
Ranked: Tier 1

Copyright & related rights
Ranked: Tier 2

Trade mark prosecution
Ranked: Tier 1

IP Stars, Rankings, 2023

WTR 1000

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“Bech-Bruun has the strongest, most professional, globally focused IP practice in the world,” enthuses one patron. “Its team is skilled, sophisticated and responsive; and while they have diverse specialisations in sub-areas of IP, they never lose the bigger picture.” Another interviewee comments: “Bech-Bruun is full of tough, experienced litigators with a can-do attitude and the will to fight cases through to the very end. They understand business priorities, have a commercial mindset and show in-depth knowledge of international policies and procedure.” An example of the high level at which it operates is Claus Barrett Christiansen’s recent work with Bang & Olufsen in designing a completely new global brand and design strategy. “Immensely qualified and well respected”, Barrett Christiansen “has an excellent sense of balancing a client’s legal and commercial interests and is definitely classed as one of the best lawyers in the country”. He has also been representing the Salling Group in a headline-grabbing case that is now pending at the Supreme Court concerning the interpretation of the Enforcement Directive when calculating damages from brand infringement and dilution. Also garnering glowing reviews is Inge Kirstine Skou, who has been advising Royal Unibrew on its trademark strategy and has “both broad and in-depth knowledge of branding issues”. Clients appreciate “her meticulousness and professionalism, as well as her pragmatic and dedicated approach”.

WTR 1000, 2021


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