Freshfields Strengthens U.S. Life Sciences Practice & Boston Office with Partner Andrea Devoe

Global law firm Freshfields continues to expand its U.S. Life Sciences platform with the addition of Boston-based partner Andrea Devoe. Based in one of the world's leading biotechnology hubs, she strengthens the firm's ability to advise pharmaceutical, biotech and medtech companies, as well as the private capital investors funding innovation across the sector. Andrea’s appointment builds on a series of strategic investments across Freshfields' U.S. platform and reflects continued client demand for integrated counsel across transactions, regulatory, intellectual property and disputes matters.

“The life sciences sector continues to be a strategic priority for Freshfields, and Andrea's arrival reflects our commitment to investing in the markets, clients and capabilities that are driving innovation across the industry,” said U.S. Managing Partner Damien Zoubek. “This move is a clear signal of our strategy: to be the go-to advisor for complex, transformative transactions, not just for the world's largest healthcare and pharmaceutical companies, but for the emerging biotech and medtech innovators and the private capital investors backing them.”

Head of U.S. Life Sciences Kristen Riemenschneider added: “I have worked closely with Andrea for many years, so I know firsthand the quality of her advice, her commercial instincts, and the collaborative way she operates — all of which make her a natural fit for Freshfields. Her joining adds real depth to our Life Sciences practice at a pivotal moment, accelerating our ability to serve earlier-stage biotech and medtech companies alongside the private capital investors who finance them. Paired with our integrated capabilities across corporate, regulatory, intellectual property and litigation, we are well-positioned to support life sciences clients at every stage of their journey.”

Andrea brings significant experience advising life sciences companies and investors on strategic transactions, including complex licensing and collaboration agreements, joint ventures, M&A, and minority equity investments, and the legal and operational implications of these transactions throughout their lifecycle. She joins from Flagship Pioneering, a Cambridge, Massachusetts-based life sciences venture firm that invents and builds innovative companies, where she served as Head of Strategic Transactions, advising both Flagship and its portfolio companies. She also previously held senior legal positions at AbbVie and Sanofi.

Andrea noted: “Joining Freshfields presents a unique opportunity to play a meaningful role in shaping the strategic direction of a life sciences practice that is already on a remarkable growth trajectory, while working alongside the exceptional transactional teams across M&A, capital markets, and private capital. Above all, it was the firm's collaborative culture, global platform, and genuine commitment to building integrated transactional capabilities for life sciences clients that confirmed this was the right move.”

Boston Office Managing Partner Matthew Goulding added that he is “thrilled to welcome Andrea to the Freshfields team. We’re excited to continue growing our elite life sciences team in Boston where Andrea’s deep experience and technical legal skills are an excellent match with our collaborative culture and commitment to excellent client service.”

Andrea's arrival marks the sixth strategic U.S. partner addition this year, underscoring Freshfields' continued investment in building leading capabilities across key client priorities, including M&A, private capital, restructuring, litigation and Life Sciences. These partners include M&A partner Keith Hallam, Employee Benefits and Executive Compensation partner Kathleen Emberger, Restructuring partner Amit Trehan, and litigation partners Alessio Evangelista and Nema Milaninia.

The firm's recent Life Sciences matters demonstrate the breadth of client demand driving continued investment in the sector, including: advising Terns Pharmaceuticals in its $6.7 billion acquisition by Merck, SERB Pharmaceuticals on its €115 million acquisition of European and MENA rights to Idefirix® from Hansa Biopharma and Eli Lilly on a strategic research collaboration and licensing agreement with Amplitude Therapeutics.