Pinsent Masons appoints leading Life Sciences IP partner in London

Gina, who joins from Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, is a highly regarded transactional IP specialist in the life sciences sector. She will join the firm’s pan-European Life Sciences transactional team, led by Allistair Booth. She has significant experience in major licensing deals, international corporate M&As, restructurings and joint ventures, as well as R&D collaborations and other sector specific commercial agreements.

With a degree in biological sciences, Gina has scientific knowledge as well as legal expertise, being both UK and US qualified (as an Attorney-at-law (Illinois) and a U.S. patent attorney). She has experience in market leading US law firms alongside in-house experience, including a recent long-term secondment with an international pharmaceutical company.

Clare Tunstall Head of IP & Life Sciences at Pinsent Masons said:

“Gina has a stellar reputation across the market and is a fantastic addition to our pan-European team. She is brilliant at leveraging her US and European transactional experience, alongside her deep scientific knowledge and patent/IP expertise, to build strong trusted advisor relationships with her clients. Her recruitment into our team will enable us to expand and deepen our transactional work, meaning we can better support our clients across a range of domestic and international projects.”

Gina also teaches several segments at University College London’s (UCL) annual course IP Transactions: Law and Practice and is a regular speaker at industry events, including the Licensing Executives Society (LES). She has also become a leading advisor in the digital health sector, an important and growing part of life sciences, and will add to the firm’s capabilities in this area.

Commenting on her appointment Gina said:

“Pinsent Masons offers something unique in the legal market - depth of legal and technical knowledge across multiple jurisdictions combined with a commercial approach to resolving clients’ challenges, whether that be a biotech startup or a big pharmaceutical. I’m privileged to be able to join a team that has a proven track record in helping clients with some of their most strategic transactions. With the spotlight still firmly focused on the life sciences industry, it’s going to be a busy period ahead of us and we’re ready for the challenge.”

Gina’s hire follows the recent appointment of life sciences partner Machteld Hiemstra in Amsterdam.