Withers expands life sciences team with Boston launch

Law firm Withers has expanded its US tech practice with the hire of a new team of life sciences and venture capital-focused lawyers in Boston.

The new team includes partners John Serio, Richard Emmons and Christopher Cowles, joining from Burns & Levinson, along with patent specialist Kristina Scandore who comes from Hamilton, Brook, Smith & Reynolds. They will work alongside Boston-based Withers attorney Andrew Gay, who joined the firm in 2018.

The new team will represent clients on regulatory and approval processes for the US Food and Drug Administration, IP advice including patent and trademark protection, litigation and the licensing of technology, and venture capital deal structuring.

James Shaw, global head of the Withers tech team, said: “For many of our clients who are managing private capital funds, the tech and life sciences sectors are major focuses, and the devastating damage of COVID-19 has hugely reinforced life sciences as an attractive investment target.

“The addition of our Boston team affirms our commitment to technology, life sciences and venture capital clients in the US and establishes a really robust network to back all of our clients working and investing in the sector around the world.”

Serio said he was excited to be “getting closer to colleagues we have worked with for many years” on projects.

“For our team, this move provides a strong international platform which will deliver a full suite of legal services to our clients wherever they're operating, but I would also underscore the significance of extending the Withers tech team to one of the US's life sciences hubs. We look forward to continuing to grow Withers tech's presence across the US," said Serio.

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