International law firm McDermott Will & Emery LLP today announced the addition of Kristian A. Werling as a partner in its Corporate Advisory Practice Group. Mr. Werling brings considerable senior-level experience as the Firm moves to expand its transactional life sciences capabilities. The appointment adds new Corporate capabilities to McDermott’s already robust Life Sciences team, which also spans the Firm’s top-ranked Intellectual Property, Health and White Collar Practice Groups.
Mr. Werling, who will be based in the Firm’s Chicago office, previously served as chair of the Life Sciences group at his former AmLaw 100 law firm. Krist acts on behalf of both corporates and Private Equity Funds in their acquisitions in the Life Sciences area.
“We’re very pleased to welcome Krist to the Firm,” said David Goldman, partner and head of McDermott’s Corporate Advisory Practice Group. “He is a seasoned, talented lawyer who enjoys a strong practice at the cutting edge of life sciences law. Our clients in this space — both corporates and Private Equity funds — are aggressively exploring new opportunities for growth and will benefit tremendously from Krist’s deep knowledge and experience. McDermott’s private equity practice, well known for its industry-specific focus in such areas as health and energy, will be further enhanced with the life sciences industry background that Krist brings to that team.”
Mr. Werling, who previously served as in-house counsel to a pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturer, advises medical technology manufacturers, biotech companies, diagnostics manufacturers and distributors of medical products, as well as Private Equity Funds engaged in such businesses, for their transactional and regulatory needs, conducting legal due diligence, executing acquisitions and divestitures, as well as providing the full range of corporate and commercial transactional services to life science companies.
Mr. Werling also helps his clients navigate the dynamic regulatory and compliance landscape and will work closely with the Firm’s nationally recognized Health practice in delivering these services.
“McDermott is focused on growing a fully-integrated Life Sciences practice that provides deep transactional experience to client companies and private equity funds in that sector,” added Byron Kalogerou, partner and chair of McDermott’s Life Sciences Industry Group. “Krist will deepen our ability to provide legal services to strategic companies as well as private equity acquirers.”
McDermott provides fully integrated, multidisciplinary legal services to the life sciences industry. The Firm’s group of 135+ lawyers, patent agents and scientific advisors provides the full range of legal services required by life sciences companies, regardless of their stage of development. The corporate lawyers in McDermott’s Life Sciences Group work with clients in all stages of development, from formation through exits, such as dispositions and public offerings. McDermott also represents a range of investors, investment banks, venture capital firms and large medical device and pharmaceutical companies. The Firm has significant experience in representing life sciences companies and private equity investors in the full range of private and public financing transactions.
