A&O Shearman fields a highly experienced healthcare and life sciences team with a strong record across both contentious and non-contentious mandates. Drawing on deep industry insight, the practice advises clients in the biotech, medtech and pharmaceutical sectors on high-stakes patent work, commercial collaborations, regulatory challenges and growth-stage transactions. Leadership of the practice is shared by Frits Gerritzen, whose IP litigation expertise spans complex disputes involving pharma products, antibodies and medical technologies, and Christiaan de Brauw, a corporate specialist who frequently represents biotech companies and venture capital funds in M&A and investment mandates. The ‘very effective’ Jort de Groodt plays a central role in the team’s life sciences and technology offering.

Well-regarded for its ‘deep sector expertise’ and ‘commercial, down-to-earth approach’, AKD offers extensive experience on commercial, corporate, procurement, and regulatory matters in the healthcare space. The practice is co-led by Joris Rijken, who is routinely instructed on complex contractual frameworks and high-stakes procurement matters across the healthcare landscape. Fellow co-head Barbara Mutsaers brings a wealth of regulatory insight, drawing on significant expertise in clinical trial work, marketing authorisations, administrative challenges and product liability issues. A further key contact is Marlou Jannink, who advises healthcare providers on contentious and contractual matters. Maartje de Jong left the firm in December 2024.

Housing a ‘strong team with thorough industry knowledge’, Hogan Lovells International LLP is well-placed to advise on a broad suite of EU and domestic regulatory and commercial matters. Practice head Hein van den Bos leads the regulatory offering, regularly assisting pharmaceutical companies and healthcare professionals with approval pathways, exclusivity questions, advertising rules and wider compliance matters. The practice also benefits from the litigation expertise of Gertjan Kuipers, a leading patent specialist who handles technically complex infringement disputes and frequently appears before the European Patent Office and the Unified Patent Court.

Highly sought-after for its  ‘in-depth market knowledge’, Loyens & Loeff advises on a wide spectrum of healthcare and life sciences matters, from clinical trials and regulatory compliance to investments, procurement issues and competition mandates. Leadership of the team is shared by Tom van Helmond, who is recognised for his broad procurement and competition law capabilities, and Vincent van der Lans, whose expertise covers cross-border M&A and strategic restructurings. Regulatory expert Dieuwke Hooft Graafland is described as a ‘sharp advisor.’ Former practice head Kim Lucassen departed the firm in July 2025.

BarentsKrans‘ ‘very approachable, down to earth’ team is frequently engaged on high-impact regulatory disputes, data-sensitive matters and public procurement proceedings across the healthcare and life sciences space. At the helm is Jaap Bremer, who handles complex pharmaceutical patent litigation and advises on distribution and licensing arrangements. Tim Raats brings significant experience in competition and procurement matters for healthcare tenderers, while Annelies van der Ploeg serves as a key contact for contractual issues. The practice also benefits from Marc Elshof’s expertise in data privacy and compliance matters.

Combining ‘excellent technical advice’ with a ‘forward-looking and pragmatic’ approach, Bird & Bird is active across the full spectrum of life sciences work, from data protection and transactional matters to major patent infringement proceedings and exclusivity issues. At the helm of the practice is a trio of experts: Wilfred Steenbruggen, who stands out for his ability to combine ‘deep legal knowledge with a keen understanding of the regulatory and business realities’; Hester Borgers, who focuses on regulatory issues and is a key contact for digital health work; and Marc van Wijngaarden, who represents global pharmaceutical companies in complex patent litigation.

Jointly steering CMS’ life sciences practice, Ellen Gielen and Gertie Lintjens head a team engaged in a wide range of regulatory, commercial and contentious matters. Gielen advises on pharmaceutical and medical device regulation, including compliance, market-access pathways and reimbursement issues, while Lintjens focuses on R&D projects, early-access schemes and product-development questions. The practice is supported by Judith Kok, who regularly handles licensing mandates, distribution arrangements and product-specific regulatory issues.

De Brauw Blackstone Westbroek advises across the full spectrum of life sciences mandates, from high-value patent litigation to investment and refinancing work. The practice is jointly headed by Anne Marie Verschuur, whose experience covers trade secrets and contested patent matters, and Gaby Smeenk, who acts on M&A and capital markets transactions. Bertrand ter Woort is a regular adviser to medical device and pharma clients, while Stephanie de Beer brings further expertise on patent validity and infringement disputes.

Standing out for its 'high level of knowledge' in the healthcare and life sciences segment, Houthoff offers expertise on contentious, regulatory, and restructuring mandates. Practice head Huib Lebbing is an expert litigator regarding health and safety and product liability. A further key contact is Lucas Dröge, who acts for public sector entities, corporates, and insurers on class actions, collective damages claims, and coverage disputes in the medical devices space. Former co-head Freeke Heijne retired from the practice in April 2025, Thijs van Aerde left the firm in November 2024, while Weyer VerLoren van Themaat departed in December 2024.

Fielding a ‘business minded’ team, NautaDutilh acts for pharmaceutical, biotech and medical device clients on transactional matters, patent disputes and class action claims. The team is spearheaded by the ‘extremely experienced’ Ruud Smits, who assists start-ups, scale-ups and investors with financing and broader deal-related work. Paul van der Bijl is a standout expert on high-value capital markets deals and public M&A in the life sciences space. Stijn Franken and Thijs van Aerde, who joined the firm in November 2024, are key contacts on contentious mandates. Former practice co-head Jeroen Boelens departed the firm in July 2025.

Van Doorne offers deep sector expertise across digital health and the broader healthcare landscape. Leadership sits with Willemien Bischot, Dimitri van Hoewijk and Nick Suurmond: the 'excellent' Bischot advises healthcare providers, academic hospitals and care organisations on corporate and governance matters; leveraging deep regulatory expertise, van Hoewijk acts for a wide range of healthcare institutions on high-value transactions; and Suurmond focuses on joint ventures and investment mandates. Elsewhere in the team, Siego Boslooper handles restructurings and acquisitions, while Daniëlle Westerhoff specialises in tax matters.

Dirkzwager legal & tax is highly sought-after for its ‘very thorough knowledge’ across a broad spectrum of healthcare matters. Leadership sits with Koen Mous, Marieke van Dongen, Ernst-Jan van de Pas, Louis Houwen and Luuk Arends, whose combined expertise covers insurer disputes, corporate and governance issues, IT and tech procurement, and sector-specific commercial matters. Mous focuses on claims against health insurers and contracting; van Dongen advises on M&A, restructurings and governance issues; van de Pas specialises in hospital IT and procurement work; Houwen remains a key contact for hospitals and care providers; and Arends frequently acts for mental health and elderly care organisations.

Standing out for its ability to provide a ‘broad range of in-depth knowledge of the healthcare sector’, Kennedy Van der Laan advises on the full spectrum of transactional and IP matters within the industry. Heading the practice is Maarten Schut, who boasts longstanding expertise in R&D collaborations and licensing arrangements. The team also includes Eline Lam, who focuses on collaboration and governance issues within the sector, and Anne ten Brummelhuis, whose practice includes tariff regulation and related compliance matters. Fenna van Dijk retired in December 2025.

La Gro advises across a wide range of corporate and contentious healthcare matters, with notable experience in restructuring work and UPC infringement proceedings. Practice head Marleen van den Horst is noted for her work on SPC and regulatory issues, and is a key port of call for major pharmaceutical companies on clinical trial questions and orphan medicinal product matters. Benjamin Niemeijer brings expertise in IP litigation and frequently assists healthcare providers with tech-focused transfers and related commercial issues.

Maverick Advocaten N.V. brings a competition-focused lens to healthcare work, regularly guiding mental health providers, medical device companies and GP cooperatives through investigations and procurement disputes. Leadership is shared between Diederik Schrijvershof, Martijn van de Hel and Cyriel Ruers, who together cover the full spread of healthcare mergers, state aid questions and ACM representations. Further key contacts include Annabel Kingma and Leah Peeters, who provide support the practice.

Housing a team of ‘exceptionally committed and dedicated’ lawyers, Pels Rijcken is regularly instructed by Dutch governmental bodies, insurers and major healthcare providers. Leadership of the practice sits with Wemmeke Wisman, Marije Batting and Elisabeth Pietermaat: Wisman handles international public law disputes concerning access to medical treatment; Batting focuses on reimbursement, approval and pricing issues for medicinal products; and Pietermaat is highly regarded for her regulatory expertise across both public and private healthcare markets.

Pinsent Masons LLP offers a focus on life sciences IP work, with the team frequently at the centre of high-stakes patent disputes and market-authorisation challenges for pharma and biotech clients. Judith Krens, who co-leads the team, is a key figure in multi-jurisdictional SPC and patent litigation, while fellow practice co-head Arjan Reijns regularly advises on contentious issues tied to generic launches and other product-related disputes.

Rutgers & Posch’s healthcare team, led by Anouk Jagt, is closely involved in the sector’s disciplinary and transactional work. Offering a wealth of knowledge within the sector, Jagt advises across financing, governance and regulatory issues. Dirk Jan Rutgers is well-versed in employment matters affecting healthcare professionals and institutions, while Jeanne Plettenburg assists regularly with procurement questions and collaborative projects within the hospital and care landscape.

Taylor Wessing is noted for its work on UPC matters and infringement disputes for clients in the pharma and medical device sectors, with regulatory advice forming a further core part of its practice. Practice co-head Wim Maas regularly covers patent litigation matters, while fellow co-head Bas Berghuis van Woortman, who joined the team from Simmons & Simmons, specialises in the full breadth of intellectual property law, with an emphasis on patent and technology-focused litigation. Charlotte Garnitsch and Eelco Bergsma left the firm.