Technology and Life Sciences
New tech and life sciences companies can grow quickly and reach very high valuations. We work with them from launch to exit, to increase the chances of success and enable everyone involved to fully reap the benefits.


With great vision, sound judgement, the right financing, hard work and, on occasion, some good fortune, a tech start-up can define a new business segment or develop a new foundational technology; and a life sciences business can develop a cutting-edge therapy or a new category of medical device.

We’ve been involved in advising tech and life sciences companies for decades – including pioneers in software development, AI, data science, SAAS offerings, video games or other digital media, semi-conductor or optoelectronics/laser design, drug discovery, biotech research, medical device development, pharmaceutical marketing, and much else besides. They range from the earliest start-ups (including many that have raised significant VC rounds before successful liquidity events, and Scotland’s first unicorn), to large international corporates (helping many of them with acquisitions of UK tech/life sciences businesses).

We are also an active part of the entrepreneurial ecosystem through a number of pro bono mentoring arrangements and our work with various incubators and accelerators.

Scotland’s deep research base generates a diverse range of technology and life sciences innovations, and our clients have been active across the breadth of that research and development – including in drug discovery, medical device development, specialty pharmaceuticals, semiconductor design, battery tech development, optoelectronics and laser devices, codec technologies, AI, data science, network and cyber security and video games and other digital media. We bring to bear our experience in all these sectors to help our clients accomplish their goals.

Our lawyers understand the commercial drivers of technology and life sciences businesses and have the experience to foresee potential issues before they arise – because we succeed when our clients do, and we have a decades-long track record of helping our clients to do so.

Our expertise includes:

  • Start-ups, scale-ups and venture capital
  • Private equity
  • Mergers and acquisitions
  • Collaborations and joint ventures
  • Corporate tax
  • Equity incentives
  • Employment and immigration
  • Data protection and privacy
  • Intellectual property and brand protection
  • R&D arrangements, clinical trial agreements and technology transfers
  • Competition and regulatory advice
  • Commercial contracts
  • All other “go to market” matters

We have expertise in all areas of technology and life sciences, including:


Sophie Bailey

Senior Associate

Joanna Boag-Thomson

Partner

Leonore Dupont

Director

Joseph Fitzgibbon

Senior Associate

Nikki Forde

Solicitor

Roddy Forgie

Director

Madeleine Gill

Solicitor

Olivia Greener

Solicitor

Joanne Griffin

Consultant Solicitor

Morag Hutchison

Partner

Cameron Kane

Senior Solicitor

Ruairidh Leishman

Associate

Gillian Moore

Director

John Morrison

Partner

Alison Rochester

Partner

Euan Small

Senior Solicitor

Donald Smith

Partner

Tom Swan

Partner

Stephen Trombala

Partner

John Vassiliou

Director and Head of Immigration

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Related articles and insights: Technology and Life Sciences

31 July 2024

The Court of Appeal’s decision on the patentability of computer-implemented AI inventions.

Contributor: Ruairidh Leishman

The Court of Appeal has determined that a computer-implemented AI invention fell within the “computer program” exclusion from patentable subject matter because the invention did not make a “technical contribution”. 

14 March 2024

Subsidies in Space

Contributor: Ruairidh Leishman

In January, the Competition and Markets Authority’s Subsidy Advice Unit published their report assessing the UK Space Agency’s plans for a subsidy scheme that will help firms based in Great Britain to develop their satellite communications capabilities.

10 February 2023

The Metaverse series – Part 5 – Employer considerations in the metaverse

Contributors:
Joanna Boag-Thomson, Gillian Moore

In the fifth and final article of our metaverse series, we will discuss the use of immersive online technology in an employment context and set out some of the considerations that employers will be grappling with if looking to harness this technology in the workplace.

9 February 2023

The Metaverse series – Part 4 – Protection of intellectual property rights

Contributors:
Joanna Boag-Thomson, Carly Duckett

Harnessing the metaverse technology provides a real opportunity for brand owners. However, it is also important for organisations to consider protecting the brand’s intellectual property (IP). This is previously unchartered territory and, as with the regulatory approach to advertising, there is a lack of clear legal guidelines or precedent. This article sets out the key points that brand owners should be considering and discusses some practical steps that can be taken at this stage to protect their IP.

8 February 2023

The Metaverse series – Part 3 – Brand considerations in the metaverse

Contributor: Joanna Boag-Thomson

The metaverse offers businesses an invaluable opportunity for advertising. However, there are still grey areas and it is not particularly clear what rules will apply to brands looking to advertise in the metaverse. This article discusses what advertising looks like in the metaverse and how brands can advertise responsibly. 

7 February 2023

The Metaverse series – Part 2 – Non-fungible tokens (NFTs)

Contributor: Joanna Boag-Thomson

In the first article of this series we explored the concept of the metaverse. In this article, we will delve deeper into NFTs. Many iterations of the metaverse depend upon the use and trade of NFTs, making them a crucial component of this virtual world.

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