Howard S. Schwartz

Howard S. Schwartz

Partner
Regional Office Head for Baltimore Corporate & Securities Group
BaltimoreWashington, DC
About

Howard Schwartz structures and negotiates mergers and acquisitions, complex collaborations, joint ventures, and financings for clients ranging from multinational bio-pharmaceutical and device companies to start-up biotechs. Additionally, he advises boards of directors and significant shareholders on disclosure issues, corporate communications policies, and fiduciary duty matters. His clients and deal experience extend throughout the United States, Europe and Asia as well to emerging markets and include all segments of the industry – pharma, biotech, medtech, diagnostics, animal health, vaccines and health services.

In addition, Howard regularly represents life sciences companies in their operational matters, such as global supply, distribution, clinical trials, manufacturing, and research and license arrangements between industry and academic institutions.

For over 25 years, Howard's practice has focused on meeting the specialized corporate, commercial, and transactional needs of the life sciences industry. He is a former co-chair of our Life Sciences practice group and is recognized as a leading practitioner in his field by his peers, including in multiple editions of The Best Lawyers in America for the practice area of Biotechnology.

Areas of FocusCorporateEmerging Growth and Venture CapitalHealthcareLife SciencesMergers and Acquisitions
Bar admissionsDistrict of ColumbiaMaryland

EXPERIENCE

  • Emergent BioSolutions Inc. in its acquisition of Cangene Corporation (2014)
  • Astellas Pharma US, Inc. in its product distribution agreements with Tecnofarma International Ltd. for Latin America (2013)
  • Kadmon Corporation in its co-promotion agreements with big pharma (2014, 2015)
  • Emergent BioSolutions Inc. in its acquisition of Bracco Diagnostics Inc.'s Healthcare Protective Products Division (2013)
  • The Medicines Company in its worldwide collaboration with AstraZeneca for cardiovascular products (2012)
  • Asklepion Pharmaceuticals, LLC in its sale to Retrophin of Cholbam (2015)
  • Emergent BioSolutions Inc. in its US$250 million Convertible Senior Notes (2014)
  • Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. in its worldwide collaboration with Salix Pharmaceuticals, Ltd. for Rifaximin (ongoing)
  • ARMGO Pharma, Inc. in its worldwide collaboration with Les Laboratoires Servier for cardiovascular disease and skeletal muscle disease (ongoing)
  • Kadmon Corporation in an undisclosed worldwide collaboration with a multinational pharmaceutical company for a critical compound in a blockbuster drug (2013)
  • Kadmon Gene Therapy in its global formation, acquisition of product development rights and launch (2015)
Languages
  • Russian

Awards

Chambers USA

  • Band 2, Maryland Corporate/M&A (2026)
  • Band 3, Maryland Corporate/M&A (2023 – 2025)
  • Band 4, Maryland Corporate/M&A (2020 – 2022)

The Legal 500 United States

  • Recommended, Healthcare: Life Sciences (2022)
Additional Awards
  • Named a BTI Client Service All-Star (2024)
  • The Best Lawyers in America®, Biotechnology and Life Sciences (2010 – 2021)
Education
  • J.D., University of Virginia 1992
  • B.A., Brown University 1988
    Phi Beta Kappa
    magna cum laude

Seminars

  • Speaker, "The Boardroom and the Fight for Twitter," presentation to ACC
  • Guest Lecturer, Mergers and Acquisition Seminar, Georgetown University Law School
  • Presenter, "Medical Device Regulation and Due Diligence," DLA Piper Webinar
  • Speaker, "Negotiating Essential Critical Terms with Built-In Milestones to Maximize Profitability," ACI Conference on Pharmaceutical/Biotech Collaborative Agreements
  • Speaker, "Negotiating Critical IP Terms and Compensation Structures to Accelerate Development and Maximize Profits: Deal Structuring in Uncertain Times," ACI Conference on Pharmaceutical Collaborations
  • Speaker, "Biotech and Pharma Public-Private Partnerships – Valuing Early Stage IP In Industry/Research Institution Deals," ACI Conference
  • Speaker, "Building a Sustainable Company: Practical Advice for Bioentrepreneurs," Mid Atlantic BIO, Washington, DC
  • Speaker, "Joining Forces in BioTechnology" Biotechnology M&A and Collaborations Seminar with Law Seminars International

Memberships And Affiliations

  • American Bar Association (Business Law, Intellectual Property and Taxation Sections)
  • Maryland State Bar Association
  • District of Columbia Bar Association

My latest insights

Past event

China’s life sciences boom: Navigating risk for growth

10 March 2026 .1 minute read

News

DLA Piper advises Kadmon Holdings in its acquisition by Sanofi

13 September 2021 .2 minute read

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Phone

+1 410 580 4251
(Work, Baltimore (Mount Washington))
+1 202 799 4755
(Work, Washington, DC)