Olswang boosts Life Sciences offering with new corporate partner

This article was produced by Olswang LLP, which joined CMS on 1 May 2017.

International law firm Olswang has announced that Niall McAlister joined the firm on 29 September as a corporate partner in its London office. Niall will further strengthen the firm's top tier Life Sciences sector group.

Previously the co-chair of the international life sciences practice at US law firm Edwards Wildman, Niall is an experienced transactional lawyer with over 15 years' expertise of UK and international transactions in the life sciences sector. In recent years he has advised a range of clients including the Wellcome Trust, Takeda, Astellas Venture Managers, Medtronic, Baxter, Pfizer and the BIA. Recent transactions include advising the owners of Antitope Limited on its sale to PolyTherics Limited, representing Epidarex Capital on the spin-out from the University of Edinburgh and Series A financing of Edinburgh Molecular Imaging Limited, and advising Michelson Diagnostics Limited on its Series A2 round, led by Octopus.

Niall commented: "I am excited to be joining one of the UK's leading life sciences teams. Olswang's deep expertise in intellectual property, data protection and technology, its market-leading corporate and venture capital teams, together with its rapidly expanding European capability is a really potent mix. At a time when the convergence of technology and healthcare delivery is rapidly gathering pace, it is crucial to have this expertise and to be able to deliver it in a clear and focused way."

Stephen Reese, Head of Life Sciences and Partner at Olswang said, "Our successful Life Sciences practice has been growing rapidly in the last few years. As a result, we have been looking carefully for additional well-known and experienced corporate partners in the sector who can further develop our strength in one of the key sector focuses for our Corporate Group. Niall was an obvious choice given his experience, and we are excited that he has joined us. Likewise, he was drawn to Olswang because of our reputation in the sector and our unique IP and regulatory law offering."