Freshfields Bolsters Life Sciences Practice With Addition of Partners Kristen Riemenschneider and Vinita Kailasanath

New Washington and Silicon Valley based lawyers follow hiring of leading life sciences transactions partner Adam Golden

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP has further strengthened its preeminent life sciences and technology offering with the addition of two partners. Kristen Riemenschneider and Vinita Kailasanath have joined the firm in Washington and Silicon Valley, respectively. They will work closely with partners Adam Golden, head of US life sciences transactions, and Jennifer Bethlehem, global head of Freshfields’ consumer and healthcare practice, to serve clients on their critical transactional needs.

“I am thrilled to welcome Kristen and Vinita to our growing, cutting-edge life sciences practice,” said Mr. Golden, who joined the firm in May 2021. “Freshfields is committed to bringing on board leading lawyers who fit our culture and reinforce our position as the preeminent team for legal advisory in the areas and at the intersection of life sciences and technology. Kristen and Vinita will be tremendous assets to our clients across pharmaceuticals, biotech and, importantly, the growing areas of medtech and digital health.”

Ms. Riemenschneider represents clients on their most significant transactions for life sciences products and technologies at all stages of the biopharmaceutical product lifecycle, focusing on strategic license and collaboration transactions. She also advises life sciences companies on the unique IP principles associated with US government-funded research and development.

Ms. Riemenschneider is highly regarded for her work representing several high-profile vaccine manufacturers in their agreements to develop and deliver COVID-19 vaccines in the United States. During the pandemic, she represented more than a dozen companies in their negotiations with the US government for COVID-19 countermeasure funding and support.

In 2021, Ms. Riemenschneider was recognized in Bloomberg Law’s They’ve Got Next: The 40 Under 40 list for Healthcare and Life Sciences; ranked as a top DC patent transactions professional in the IAM Patent 1000 list; and ranked in the Legal 500 US for Technology Transactions. In 2020 she was recognized as a financial and corporate US Rising Star by LMG Life Sciences, and in 2019 she was honored as a DC Rising Star by The National Law Journal.

Ms. Kailasanath brings extensive experience advising clients on intellectual property and data-driven transactions involving the development, protection and commercialization of cutting- edge products and technologies. She has particular expertise in life sciences, medical device and digital health transactions, including those with an artificial intelligence/machine learning component.

In 2021, Ms. Kailasanath was named a Trailblazer by The American Lawyer and a Next Generation Partner in Life Sciences by The Legal 500. Notable matters she has handled include representing a Fortune 10 company on the development of wearable and other mobility devices; and advising an industry leader in the comprehensive genomic profiling space and a leading provider of electronic medical record technology and real-world evidence data solutions, in a multi-million-dollar collaboration with OneOncology to advance personalized cancer care.

“Kristen and Vinita are a powerhouse team who strengthen our exemplary bench of life sciences attorneys globally,” said Ms. Bethlehem. “Their experience and expertise will be of the utmost value to our clients as they continue to navigate an evolving landscape of technology-backed life sciences innovation and changing government regulation.”

Ms. Riemenschneider said, “Freshfields has an exceptional cross-border practice and depth of experience in the life sciences sector. I am eager to collaborate with my colleagues to assist our clients as they navigate increasingly complex technical and legal challenges on a global scale.”

“I am excited to join Freshfields’ globally integrated practice, which provides a powerful platform for supporting our clients’ digital health and medical technology transactions, wherever they occur around the world,” added Ms. Kailasanath. “I look forward to contributing to the team’s continued success.”

About Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP

Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer LLP is a global elite law firm with a long-standing track record of successfully supporting the world's leading national and multinational corporations, financial institutions and governments on groundbreaking and business-critical mandates. Our 2,800-plus lawyers deliver results worldwide through our own offices and alongside leading local firms. Our commitment, local and multinational expertise, and business know-how means our clients rely on us when it matters most.

Freshfields is ranked by Chambers Global in Band 1 across the six areas of antitrust, corporate/M&A, litigation, international arbitration, tax, and public international law. For more information visit Freshfields.us.

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