Alexandre Regniault, Partner

Legal trends herald

era of opportunity

Our mission has been to uncover the trends affecting healthcare and life sciences (HLS) companies today, and how these issues might play out tomorrow. In particular, our focus is on the sector’s emerging legal requirements at a time of great opportunity but also risk.

We’ve conducted wide-ranging research among senior counsel and other C-suite decision-makers who work in HLS companies around the globe. We also supplemented our survey with in-depth interviews among a panel of in-house legal experts.

The results are very exciting, giving us an extensive view of the entire HLS industry's landscape.

Public perception has improved

The COVID-19 pandemic threw focus on HLS. More people paid attention to the sector than ever before, and many have positive views of the sector. Yet respondents are concerned about the public perception of companies profiteering from product development, meaning more must be done to create transparency - particularly around pricing.

“Society should be proud of the healthcare

industry, which produced vaccines at amazing

speed. But the sector has failed to communicate

the price and the value of medicine.”

of respondents think the public now have a positive perspective of the healthcare and life sciences sector.

Digitalisation is gathering pace

As we move into a more digitalised world, accelerated by the recent pandemic, there are many opportunities for the sector to grow and develop, which legal teams need to respond to.

of respondents name telehealth as

the top opportunity for growth

in the next five years.

Digitalisation is speeding up the negotiation process: 32% of respondents said growth will come from acquisition of development companies.

The war on talent continues

Identifying, recruiting and retaining the expertise needed to make the most of current opportunities in healthcare and life sciences is becoming a key battleground.

COVID-19 pandemic on the workforce and

“new normal” ways of working is the

biggest emerging employment law theme.

“We are recruiting in digital metrics and

medical technology. It is definitely an area

we would like to explore.”

of respondents in the US argued that hybrid working has a positive impact, compared to only 22% of respondents in the Middle East.

ESG is becoming a key focus

While corporations around the world are making more noise about environmental, social and governance (ESG) many healthcare and life sciences companies are yet to set out a cohesive strategy - though they have already taken positive steps.

with a supplier running its business

terribly - not environmentally friendly,

for instance - that can actually impact

us from a legal perspective.”

of respondents want to prioritise ESG.

of respondents already have diversity and inclusion practices in place.

The legal landscape is changing

In addition to digitalisation, war on talent and ESG considerations, there is also greater scrutiny across the legal landscape and increased risk for legal teams to tackle.