Phelim J. O'Doherty

Phelim heads our London Life Sciences Group. He advises life sciences and tech clients on private M&A, joint ventures, restructurings and licensing transactions. Phelim has specific expertise in complex cross-border M&A transactions and carve-outs.

Healthcare Life Sciences

• Haleon: Advising in relation to sale of their GBP 500 million ex-US NRT business to Dr Reddy’s and various other brand disposals.
• GSK: Advising in connection with various transactions including: (i) their consumer healthcare joint venture with Pfizer in 2019 and subsequent listing of combined business from GSK to form Haleon; (ii) on the sale of a Brazilian manufacturing plant to Haleon; (iii) the disposal of a Chinese vaccines manufacturing site to Parr BioPharma; and (iv) the divestment of a urology business, including a Chinese manufacturing site to TradeStar.
• Astellas: Advising on various matters including (i) the acquisition of Quethera, a clinical stage gene-therapy company spun out of Cambridge University; (ii) on an investment into AviadoBio, a biotech focused on gene therapy to treat neurodegenerative diseases; and (iii) the acquisition of Nanna Therapeutics, a clinical stage UK biotech leveraging AI to target age related diseases.
• Novo Nordisk: Advising on USD 800 million acquisition of an early-stage company spun out of Bristol University.
• Medtronic: Advising Medtronic, a global medical technology company, on (i) the multi-country carve-out and subsequent spin-off of MiniMed, its diabetes division, as part of a strategic restructuring of its global operations; and (ii) the aborted multi-jurisdictional divestment of a business unit to a financial investor, including structuring and regulatory considerations.
• AbbVie: Advising on the sale of a UK biologics plant in the cell and gene therapy space to Pharmaron.
• Walgreen Boots Alliance: Advising on (i) the disposal of a UK manufacturing business; and (ii) the sale of its Russian pharmaceutical wholesale business.
• Aeterna Zentaris: Advising Aeterna on out-license of rights in Macrilen, a ghrelin receptor agonist for treatment of adult growth hormone deficiency, to Strongbridge.
• PharmaKrysto: Advising PharmaKrysto, a renal-focused biotech, on its out-license of proprietary technology to a US pharmaceutical company and on structuring put and call option arrangements.
• Mid Europa Partners: Advising on its acquisition of a stake in Walmark, a Czech headquartered consumer healthcare group.
• Zimmer Biomet: Advising Zimmer Biomet, a global medical device company, on a minority equity investment forming part of a broader commercial relationship with medical centers in Asia, to support regional growth and strategic partnerships.

Technology

• Accenture: Advising in connection with over 20 acquisitions and disposals including the complex carve-out and sale of Duck Creek, a SaaS business and also their exit from the Russian market.
• Lyft: Advising Lyft on the proposed acquisition of TBR Global, a UK-headquartered chauffeur and executive ground transportation business with global operations.
• FGS Global: Advising FGS Global, a leading strategic communications and advisory firm, on the acquisition of Edmond Elders, a UK-based management consultancy, from its founder shareholders.
• PA Consulting: Advising PA Consulting, a UK-based innovation and transformation consultancy, on the acquisition US based design business Essential Design from founder sellers.
• Avanade: Advising Avanade, a global digital and cloud services provider, on the acquisition of (i) Altius Group, a UK-based specialist in data performance management and AI-driven solutions, from institutional investor MML and management sellers, to strengthen Avanade’s data and analytics capabilities; and (ii) Cloud Talent, a UK-based IT infrastructure consultancy focused on cloud migration and digital transformation, from management sellers.
• Gi Group: Advising Gi Group, a global staffing and HR services company headquartered in Italy, on the carve-out and acquisition of the European staffing business of Kelly Services, a US-based workforce solutions company.
• Uniphore: Advising Uniphore, a global conversational AI and automation company, on the acquisition of Red Box Recorders, a UK-based voice capture and AI analytics specialist, from private equity firm LivingBridge, to enhance Uniphore’s voice AI capabilities.
• MGI: Advising Media and Games Invest, a European digital media and gaming group, on the acquisition of Dataseat, a UK-based mobile demand-side platform specializing in contextual user acquisition for privacy-compliant advertising.
• Lam Research: Advising Lam Research, a US-based semiconductor equipment manufacturer, on the acquisition of Metryx, a UK-based specialist in mass metrology solutions for advanced semiconductor manufacturing processes.
• Ingram Micro: Advising Ingram Micro, a global technology and supply chain services company, on the acquisition of Anov Group, a European provider of electronic device repair and regeneration services, to strengthen its lifecycle services offering.

HealthTech / Digital Health

• eMed: Advising eMed, a US-based digital health company, on the acquisition of Babylon’s UK business via a pre-pack administration process, securing key assets to expand eMed’s telehealth and AI-driven healthcare capabilities.
• Lyra: Advising Lyra Health, a global mental health platform, on the acquisition of ICAS, a provider of mental health and employee assistance solutions, from Rox Equity Partners, to strengthen Lyra’s international footprint in workplace wellbeing.
• Icometrix: Advising on the sale of Icometrix, a Belgium-based AI-driven medical imaging company providing neurological analytics services to pharmaceutical companies, to GE Healthcare, enhancing GE’s precision diagnostics offering.
• Astellas: Advising Astellas on the acquisition of Nanna Therapeutics, a UK clinical-stage biotech leveraging AI-driven drug discovery to target age-related diseases and mitochondrial dysfunction.
• PA Consulting: Advising PA Consulting, a UK-based consultancy, on the aborted acquisition of a US-based digital healthcare solutions provider, focused on patient engagement and technology-enabled care.

Legal 500 rank Phelim as a ‘Leading Partner’ while Chambers include the following client quotes:

“Phelim is a master tactician and skilled negotiator. He has an appreciation for detail across diverse practice areas and gives us confidence that the client's best interests are always being served.”

“He is very good with the financials, especially the details…”

“Phelim has good commercial awareness, is very responsive and communicates well.”