Electives
Life Sciences Regulatory
Covington is widely acknowledged to have one of the
world’s top life sciences practices globally. We advise
companies and trade associations, including many of
the major multinational pharmaceutical manufacturers,
biotechnology companies and producers of medical
devices, cosmetics, foods, food packaging, specialty
chemicals and consumer products. Our advice covers a
wide range of regulatory, transactional, and contentious
matters. We represent our clients before regulators,
policymakers and the national and European Courts.
The group has been heavily involved in most of the major
regulatory developments in recent years, including the
fight against COVID -19 and the use of AI in healthcare.
Life Sciences Transactional
Widely recognized as a global leader in strategic
transactions, Covington advises on many of the
industry’s largest and most innovative life sciences
transactions year after year. A hallmark of our
transactional practice is our extensive experience
structuring, negotiating, and drafting complex global
alliances, strategic collaborations, joint ventures,
licensing and other agreements that underpin the life
sciences and healthcare sectors. We work with pharma,
biotech, medtech, and digital health clients, ranging from
start-ups through to the largest multinationals, giving us
a deep understanding of the issues that arise in relation
to agreements at all stages and across all fields within life
sciences and healthcare.
Employment
Covington’s international employment practice helps
multinational employer clients manage HR- legal
compliance projects. Our work includes the preparation
of global policies and codes of business conduct,
expatriate secondments/global mobility, multi-country
project management, cross - border M&A, corporate
restructuring, and litigation. Current projects in which
we are involved include business and human rights-
related compliance initiatives, Employment Tribunal
litigation, and international workforce transactions.”
Trainees choose two elective seats from five areas. We make every eort to satisfy requests
and tailor the traineeship to specific interests.
Technology Regulatory
We advise clients on a variety of technology regulatory
issues. Our expertise spans such diverse topics as data
protection, cybersecurity, copyright and other IP,
e-commerce, the use of AI, platform regulation, Internet
of Things, digital health, social media, behavioural
advertising, geolocation tracking and biometrics, to
name just a few. The team in London works closely with
colleagues in our other oces to help clients roll out
innovative new products and services globally, as well as
supporting clients to manage regulatory investigations
and important litigation. We also work regularly with
our public policy and government aairs colleagues to
help clients shape technology, IP and related laws at the
European and national level.
Project Development and Finance
Our team advises companies, lenders and governments
on a wide variety of energy and infrastructure projects.
Our main focus in energy is on green energy rather
than fossil fuels We have substantial experience in
renewables and are rapidly gaining experience in battery
and hydrogen projects. We consider that the energy
transition is not only key to the future of the practice but
also to the life chances of people in developing countries.
Two thirds of people in Africa still do not have access
to power and one of the team’s pro bono initiatives was
commenting on mini-grid regulations before they were
brought into force in an African state; another consists
of teaching project finance techniques to young African
women involved in the energy sector. The team works
on projects anywhere in the world but with a particular
focus on the Middle East and Africa.
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