HFN is one of Israel's leading law firms in the life sciences sector. The firm represents both local and foreign clients whose businesses span the full spectrum of the industry, including pharmaceutical companies, medical device and equipment companies, food supplement manufacturers and healthcare providers as well as technology incubators, venture capital and private equity funds. HFN also represents service providers to the industry as well as medical and research institutions.
The firm represents all types of companies in the life sciences sector from small startup companies, from the stage of their inception and leading to IPO or M&A transactions, as well as large international pharmaceutical or medical device/equipment companies, advising on all aspects of their commercial, regulatory and transactional activities. HFN's adept corporate skills are coupled with a deep understanding of all the commercial and regulatory aspects of such companies' businesses.
In particular, HFN's life sciences team is experienced in advising on a variety of agreements, such as: M&A transactions, strategic transactions between companies pertaining to the development and marketing of products, investment agreements in multiple rounds of financing (by incubators, VC Funds, Private Equity Funds or Strategic Investors), Joint Venture Agreements, License Agreements (both inbound and outbound), collaboration agreements, development agreements, manufacturing agreements, distribution agreements and clinical trial agreements.
The huge resources required to finance innovative projects in the life sciences field require most young companies to enter into strategic transactions with large multinational players. Such transactions involve investments of millions of dollars which are required to complete the research and development of the innovated products, and to exploite the marketing and commercialization rights relating to such products. Basically, complex agreements which involve corporate, tax, intellectual property, regulatory, antitrust etc., require a deep understanding of all aspects of the business. HFN has been involved in the vast majority of such deals that have taken place in this field in Israel.
HFN regularly represents its life sciences clients before regulatory authorities. Over the years, HFN has established a good working relationship with the Ministry of Health and other governmental authorities.
HFN acts for clients in litigation in the life sciences field, including patent related litigation and disputes relating to the importation of drugs. HFN advised the pharmaceutical division of the Israeli Chamber of Commerce in litigation before the Israeli Supreme Court regarding price control of imported drugs (parallel importation) and acted for Pharma USA and Pharma Israel against the Ministry of Health in two major cases before the Israeli Supreme Court in its capacity as High Court of Justice). These cases involved petitions against the parallel importation of pharmaceuticals and prices of pharmaceuticals and health care funds. HFN has also acted in a number of class actions regarding drug recalls or failure to supply sufficient information claims.