Health Care & Life Sciences

For nearly 50 years, we have helped clients anticipate – and solve – legal challenges so they can keep their focus where it belongs: on pioneering breakthrough products, increasing access to essential medicines and devices, and advancing patient care.

Whether we are helping a health system structure a compliant joint venture, advising a medical technology company on responding to a civil investigative demand, assisting a tech company in launching a novel AI solution, or defending a life-saving drug in product liability litigation, everything we do is grounded in a deep understanding of the life sciences and health industry – and a keen appreciation for the difference our clients make in the world.

Our clients tell us we stand out for the following reasons:

Multitude of market-leading practices. We have earned a national reputation for product liability defense, False Claims Act investigations, digital health, data privacy and protection, drug pricing, targeted regulatory due diligence in industry transactions, and core life sciences and health care regulatory counsel. Clients can confidently work with us as a one-stop shop, trusting they will receive across-the-board, high-quality health care and life sciences counsel.
Seamless service. We collaborate closely with colleagues throughout our firm, ensuring you get one-team service with any cross-practice or multi-jurisdictional need. Whether we are partnering with corporate, employment, benefits, tax, or antitrust colleagues to drive your deal or collaborating with partners around the world to provide 24/7 service on a time-sensitive investigation, you will experience single-team, non-siloed service. We are also happy to partner with clients’ trusted counsel at other firms in a virtual law firm model where that best meets your needs.
Commerciality of counsel. We concentrate not only on providing top-quality legal advice, but on tailoring that advice to each client’s unique business goals and risk tolerances – and on helping clients actually implement our guidance into their systems, processes, and technology.
Future-focused advice. We do more than help clients solve their current legal challenges: We draw on nearly a half-century of industry experience to anticipate the issues and opportunities just over the horizon, and help clients mitigate risk and position themselves to capitalize on opportunities.

We invite you to explore the pages below to learn more about our services, and we look forward to working together.

“Reed Smith LLP has a well-regarded healthcare practice with strength across the board, including notable experience in handling high-stakes fraud and abuse investigations, regulatory due diligence and reimbursement matters. The firm has standout expertise in post-acute care for hospitals, nursing homes and hospices. The team offers additional expertise in transactions, such as M&A and joint ventures, as well as dealing with various issues affecting payors.”
Chambers USA

“Reed Smith is a highly regarded group based across the country, noted for its expert handling of life sciences disputes. It is equally adept serving in a national coordinating and lead trial counsel role in a number of high-profile drug and device trials, as well as leading negotiations for out-of-court settlements. The firm also offers strength in disputes such as toxic torts involving alleged asbestos exposure. It draws on a notable litigation bench with experience in defending against claims filed across the US.”
Chambers USA

“Reed Smith LLP provides comprehensive regulatory counsel to life sciences clients, handling all aspects of FDA regulations and ensuring compliance with drug and medical device safety standards. A leader in digital health and AI applied to healthcare, the firm focuses on data privacy issues and addressing AI biases. With notable geographical reach, it handles complex cross-border matters and advises clients launching products in new jurisdictions.”
The Legal 500 USA

“The ‘cross-functional’ practice at Reed Smith has extensive experience working with leading pharmaceutical companies, providing advice on complex regulatory issues. The team works closely with other offices of the firm, across the EU, and internationally.”
The Legal 500 Belgium

Areas of focus

Key contacts

Meet Melissa

Melissa A. Geist

Partner

Princeton

+1 609 514 5978

Co-chair of Reed Smith’s global Life Sciences Health Industry Group, and a trusted advisor to leading health care companies and investors navigating regulatory, transactional, and litigation matters

Meet Scot

Scot T. Hasselman

Partner

Washington, D.C.

+1 202 414 9268

Advises life sciences and medtech companies on FDA and state regulation and enforcement in the U.S. health care ecosystem while maintaining global perspective on product lifecycle and compliance

Meet Rebecca