DLA Piper rounds off exceptional year for Life Sciences with Mergermarket M&A award

DLA Piper has been recognized as the Healthcare Legal Advisor of the Year at the 2025 edition of the Mergermarket European M&A Awards. This victory rounds off a truly outstanding year for the sector.

Held at London’s Natural History Museum, the awards honour the most creative and strategic advisory work on complex deals and are a true mark of distinction in the fast-paced, competitive world of M&A.

DLA Piper’s Life Sciences M&A team delivered an exceptional year of performance, innovation and impact. The team of 50 lawyers advised leading global clients including Sanofi, GE Healthcare, ResMed, Pierre Fabre, Dexcom and Dechra on some of the most complex and high-profile transactions in the market.

Notable transactions from the past 12 months include:

• Advising on elements of Sanofi’s EUR16 billion sale of a controlling interest in Opella to Clayton Dubilier & Rice.
• Mid Europa’s acquisition of a controlling stake in FAMAR.
• Dechra Pharmaceuticals’ sale of its Avishield poultry vaccines portfolio and R&D business to Vaxxinova.

The Mergermarket award follows the recognition given to DLA Piper at the LMG Life Sciences Awards in the summer, in which it walked away with three awards, including Impact Deal (again for the carveout of Sanofi’s Heathcare Division (Opella).

Victoria Rhodes, International Life Sciences Corporate co-lead, commenting on the Mergermarket award, said: “At DLA Piper we pride ourselves in clarifying the legal complexity that exists within the life sciences sector, helping our clients achieve their goals and improving patient outcomes. It is, therefore, really rewarding to have been recognised by Mergermarket in this way. We all look forward to 2026 and to partnering with our clients to make it the best year yet.”

Marco de Morpurgo, Global Co-Chair of Life Sciences at DLA Piper, added “What a fantastic year it has been for DLA Piper’s Life Sciences team. I am so proud that the firm continues its winning streak and is gaining recognition from the industry. M&A is a priority area for our Life Sciences practice, so it is particularly pleasing to receive this Mergermarket award. As always I have to thank our wonderful clients for putting their trust in us to advise on their most complex deals and to the outstanding Life Sciences team here at DLA Piper, without whom none of this would be possible.”