Cooley Extends Healthcare Regulatory Expertise in Europe
2nd June 2021
Elisabethann Wright has joined Cooley in Brussels as a partner in the firm’s growing business litigation and healthcare regulatory practice groups. Wright arrives from Hogan Lovells, where she co-led its European Union life sciences regulatory practice. She has more than 35 years of experience in private practice and international governmental organizations, including as a référandaire (law clerk) at the European Court of Justice and a senior legal officer at the European Free Trade Association Surveillance Authority.
“Elisabethann is a rare talent among lawyers specializing in EU law and the regulation of pharmaceuticals and medical devices,” said Kay Chandler, chair of Cooley’s life sciences industry practice. “She brings to our team market-leading legislative knowledge, technical skill and commercial acumen that enhance our support for life sciences and innovative healthcare clients as they continue to develop and commercialize regulated products across the globe. Her expertise also will further cement Cooley’s position as the leading law firm for working with cutting-edge European life sciences and healthcare companies.”
Wright helps clients place and keep their pharmaceutical, medical device and food products on the European Union market through strategic advice, advocacy before institutions and agencies, and litigation before EU courts. Her experience spans the full products regulatory life cycle, including EU drug approval and CE marking of medical devices, marketing and promotion matters, and compliance programs. Wright has also advised and published extensively on digital health matters, including issues related to collecting and processing personal health data under the General Data Protection Regulation regime.
Additionally, Wright has substantial experience in litigation before the European Court of Justice, the General Court of the European Union and the EFTA Court, including challenges on behalf of industry clients to decisions of EU institutions and the validity of EU legislation. She is recognized as a top practitioner in the field by Chambers Europe and Legal 500, among others.
“Cooley is well known and highly respected worldwide for its elite and full‐service life sciences platform, and I am looking forward to playing a part in the firm’s international regulatory expansion,” said Wright. “I’m eager to work alongside such a talented, distinguished and collaborative team.”
Wright is the latest in a string of Cooley hires to fortify the firm’s global life sciences capabilities, including senior US Food and Drug Administration alum Sonia Nath in Washington, DC, and industry veteran Gina Cavalier in Los Angeles, both of whom have recently joined the firm’s business litigation and healthcare regulatory practice groups. Cooley’s top-tier life sciences and healthcare corporate, regulatory and litigation lawyers have extensive global and US experience counseling on a vast scope of complex healthcare deals, regulatory issues and investigations. The firm has represented leading global life sciences companies for 40+ years and advises all players in the ecosystem, including payors, providers, companies, health IT teams and investors. Cooley is regularly recognized as a market leader in the field and has been the #1 firm in issuer-side life sciences IPOs since 2000 and the #1 firm for European foreign private issuer IPOs since 2016. Most recently, Cooley was the #1 firm for European life sciences FPI IPOs for Q1 2021, according to Deal Point Data.
For more information, please read the press release.
